Occupational Safety and Health (OSH)

• Basic Occupational Safety and Health(BOSH) is being introduced

Objectives

• Define OSH and its three major fields
• Identify workplace hazards and their potential harm

What is OSH?

• OSH refers to practices and regulations ensuring the safety, health, and welfare of workers
• It is a discipline with a broad scope involving three major fields:
  • Occupational Safety
  • Occupational Health
  • Industrial Hygiene

Occupational Safety

• Deals with understanding the causes of accidents at work
• Focuses on ways to prevent unsafe acts and conditions in any workplace

Occupation Health

• Broad concept that explores how various hazards and risks in the workplace can lead to illness or health issues

Industrial Hygiene

• Focuses on the identification, assessment, and control of physical, chemical, biological, and ergonomic hazards in the workplace

Hazard vs Risk

• A hazard is something that has the potential to harm
• Risk is the likelihood of a hazard causing harm

Hazards vs Harm

• They are different
• Scenario: Wet floor in a lobby
  • The Hazard is Spilled liquid on the floor
  • The Harm is someone slipping and suffering a sprained ankle or a head injury

Hazard Defined

• Any source, condition, or situation with the potential to cause harm.
• Harm can be injury, illness, damage to property, environmental harm, or a combination.
• Hazard types: physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic, or psychological.

Harm Defined

• Refers to the adverse effects posed by hazards
• It is the actual injury, damage, or negative outcome resulting from exposure to a hazard

Biological Hazard

• Hazards caused exposure to harmful microorganisms or biological substances
• Examples
  • Fungi
  • Mold
  • Blood and other bodily fluids
  • Plants
  • Viruses and bacteria
  • Bird and animal droppings
  • Insect bites

Chemical Hazard

• Exposure to harmful chemicals can cause immediate or long-term health effects
• Examples
  • Liquids like solvents, acids, paints, and cleaning products, especially in unlabeled containers
  • Vapors and fumes that come from exposure to solvents or welding
  • Gases including helium, carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, propane, and acetylene
  • Flammable materials including explosive chemicals, solvents, and gasoline
  • Pesticides

Physical Hazard

• Hazards from physical conditions or environmental factors that can harm a person's body
• Examples:
  • Radiation, both ionizing and nonionizing (EMFs, radio waves, microwaves, etc.)
  • High exposure to sunlight and ultraviolet (UV) rays
  • Cold and hot temperature extremes
  • Incessant loud noise levels

Ergonomic Hazard

• Hazards related to poorly designed workstations or tasks, causing strain or injury to the body
• Examples:
  • Frequent lifting
  • Improperly adjusted chairs and workstations
  • Bad posture
  • Awkward movements
  • Repetition of a certain motor skill
  • Vibrations
  • Repeated use of force, potentially beyond one's comfort limits

Psychological Hazard

• Hazards that impact mental health and well-being due to stressors in the workplace
• Examples
  • Lack of job training
  • Unrealistic production goals
  • Threats or intimidation by management or coworkers
  • Workplace bullying
  • Excessive workloads
  • Poor work-life balance

Safety Hazard

• Hazards that can affect any employee, but are more likely to affect those working with machinery or on a construction site
• Examples:
  • Tripping and Slipping Hazards
  • Working at Heights
  • Moving Machinery
  • Electrical Hazards
  • Confined Spaces
  • Machinery Hazards

Learn the fundamentals of Occupational Safety and Health (OSH), its three major fields, and how it ensures the well-being of workers. Understand the difference between occupational safety, health, and industrial hygiene. Identify workplace hazards and assess their potential risks.