Virus Composition & Occupational Hazards

Unsafe Acts and Unhealthy Conditions

• Unsafe acts are behaviors that deviate from standard job procedures, safety rules, regulations, or common practices. These acts frequently occur due to worker attitudes, physical limitations, or insufficient knowledge or skills.
• Unsafe conditions are physical or chemical properties of materials, machines, or environments that can lead to injuries, damage to property, or other losses.
• Examples of Unsafe Acts include: operating equipment without authorization, removing safety devices, using defective equipment, improper or non-use of personal protective equipment (PPE), horseplay, and working while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
• Examples of Unsafe Conditions include: inadequate guards/protection, defective tools/equipment, congested/blocked exits, inadequate warning systems, slippery floors, hazardous atmospheric conditions, excessive noise, extreme temperatures, and inadequate illumination/ventilation.
• Workplace accidents are unexpected events that cause damage, loss, injury, or death.
• Hazards are dangerous conditions, substances, or activities that can lead to injuries, illnesses, or property damage.
• Risk is the probability of a hazard causing harm.
• Common types of accidents include: falls from heights, slips and trips, being struck by objects, being caught in or between objects, electrocution, and fires.
• Costs related to accidents can include medical expenses, insurance premiums, penalties, litigation, damaged equipment replacement, and wasted raw materials. These are only the tip of a larger iceberg representing the total costs to workers, families, companies, and communities.
• Understanding unsafe acts and conditions is crucial for preventing workplace accidents.

Objectives

• Discuss the fundamental causes of workplace accidents.
• Define unsafe/unhealthy acts and conditions, and differentiate them.
• Explain the association between unsafe/unhealthy acts and conditions.
• Recognize and enumerate different situations/practices that constitute unsafe/unhealthy acts/conditions.
• Detail strategies for promoting safety awareness.

Workplace Hazards

• Workplace hazards are categorized into Safety Hazards and Health Hazards.
• Safety hazards are things that have the potential to cause injuries.
• Health hazards have the potential to cause illness.
• Subtypes of health hazards include: physical hazards, ergonomic hazards, chemical hazards, and biological hazards.
  • Physical hazards include heat, cold, light, and noise.
  • Ergonomic hazards include improper work design, awkward body postures, and repetitive movements.
  • Chemical hazards include gases, heavy metals, organic solvents, and vapors, fumes, and smoke.
  • Biological hazards include viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites.

Risk Evaluation (Assessment)

• To determine the level of worker exposure to health hazards.
• To determine the effectiveness of existing controls.
• To identify the relationship between exposure levels and the risk of disease.
• Examining frequency, duration, and intensity of exposure are important parts of risk evaluation.

Control of Health Risks

• Prioritize control measures at the hazard source, not the worker.
• Aim for hazard elimination, not just reduction of exposure.
• Target controls below permissible exposure limits.
• Use personal protective equipment (PPE) as a last resort.
• Utilize a hierarchy of controls—with elimination and substitution as the ideal approaches—in risk control strategies.

Other Methods to Control Health Risks

• Provide comprehensive training and instruction to workers.
• Ensure worker supervision and monitoring of exposure.
• Establish health surveillance programs.
• Create safe first aid and emergency facilities with readily accessible resources.
• Designate and implement warning signals.

Hierarchy of Risk Controls

• A prioritized list of safety strategies.
• Strategies are ranked in order from most to least effective.

Methods of Recognizing Occupational Health Hazards

• Walk through the workplace.
• Review the work process.
• Understand the raw materials used.
• Gather worker complaints.
• Employ Safety Data Sheets (SDS).

Risk Evaluation (Assessment)

• Identifying appropriate safety measures/protocols.
• Understanding the level of worker exposure.
• Evaluating the effectiveness of the current control measures.
• Determining the link between exposure level and disease risk.

Risk Conclusion

• Evaluating risk exposure based on qualitative and/or quantitative assessment.
• Assessing work practices and personal factors.
• Evaluating the adequacy of existing controls.

Types of OSH Training

• General safety training (fire safety, first aid, emergency procedures).
• Job-specific training (safe handling of equipment and hazardous materials).
• Emergency response training (evacuation plans, disaster response).
• Basic Occupational Safety and Health (BOSH) training.
• Construction Safety and Health (COSH) training.

OSH Legislation

• Covers policies and regulations that ensure safety, health, and welfare for all workers.
• Aims to create a safer working environment by controlling accidents, illnesses, and hazards.

Principles of OSH

• Hazard identification and assessment.
• Prevention and control of workplace hazards.
• Workers' rights to safety and health.
• Employer's responsibility for OSH compliance.
• Continuous monitoring and improvement.
• Focusing on prevention over reaction.

Questions

• Why might some workers not follow safety rules?
• How do employers ensure proper PPE use?
• Which safety measure (training, inspections, or PPE) is most important?
• Why are administrative controls important, even with engineering controls?
• Why eliminate hazards before using PPE?

Management of OSH

• Structured approach to protect workers from workplace hazards.
• Well-implemented OSH systems produce safer environments.
• Improves worker well-being, reduces accidents, and boosts overall productivity.
• Includes legal, ethical, and moral components.

OSH Training

• Educates employees about workplace hazards, safety procedures, and emergency responses.
• Essential for equippping workers, ensuring proper PPE use, and effective response to emergencies.

Importance of OSH

• Prevents workplace injuries and illnesses.
• Improves productivity and job satisfaction.
• Ensures compliance with labor laws and industry standards.

Worker Participation in OSH

• Involves employees in developing, implementing, and improving workplace safety measures.
• Promotes collaboration between workers and management.
• Encourages a strong safety culture, improved hazard identification, risk prevention, and compliance with safety policies.

Impact of Training

• Reduces workplace incidents and accidents.
• Increases confidence in safety risk management.
• Promotes safety culture, and helps companies boost productivity and reduce cost.

Conclusion

• OSH legislation commits to workplace safety, health, and prevention culture.
• Non-compliance leads to significant penalties, but the real cost is in potential human lives, and financial costs.
• A safe workplace is essential for productivity, trust, sustainability, and better overall well-being.

This covers topics regarding viruses including their composition of either DNA or RNA. Additionally, it covers occupational health hazards, risk evaluation, and unsafe body postures. It also considers common beliefs after workplace accidents.