Workplace Hazards: Physical, Chemical, Biological, Organizational
Item 10. Risk Factors
1. Physical Hazards
These are different forms of energy that can affect those in their sphere of action, such as noise, vibration, lighting, thermal conditions, electrical hazards, and radiation.
a) Noise: Can damage the hearing apparatus and cause physiological and psychological effects. Noise is unwanted and annoying sound. Sound is an auditory sensation originating from a sound wave that comes from a vibration. The volume is measured in decibels (dB) and is determined by the intensity, that is, by the force of vibration. The frequency determines the tone and is measured in hertz (Hz). The sound may be continuous, discontinuous (or intermittent), or impact (a single short-duration sound event).
b) Vibrations: The oscillatory motion of the particles of solid bodies around an equilibrium point. The number of times per second this occurs is called frequency and is measured in hertz (Hz). Vibrations can lead to vascular, bone or joint, neurological, and muscle issues, as well as back pain or injury to the spine.
c) Lighting: Light is electromagnetic radiation that is visible to the human eye. It may be natural or artificial. Natural light is preferred over artificial light. Light intensity is measured in lumens.
d) Thermal Conditions:
- Heat: Effects can range from discomfort and inefficiency at work to cardiac collapse and heat stroke.
- Cold: May cause frostbite and hypothermia.
e) Electric Shock: The factors that determine the severity of a shock include the electrical resistance of the body, which is not very high (i.e., it does not oppose the passage of current).
f) Radiation: A set of physical phenomena associated with the propagation of light, radio waves, X-rays, microwaves, infrared radiation, and ultraviolet solar radiation.
- Ionizing Radiation: Has the property of causing ionization of atoms upon impact. Sources can be natural (uranium, radium) or artificial (radiology equipment, nuclear power).
- Immediate Effects: Appear when an individual receives a high dose in a short time. The effect is proportional and can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, ulcers, hair loss, bleeding, and loss of lymphocytes.
- Deferred Effects: Appear years after radiation exposure and can cause leukemia, cancer, and premature aging.
- Non-ionizing Radiation: This category includes:
- RF and Microwave: Easily penetrate biological tissue, transform energy, and affect the nervous, circulatory, and digestive systems.
- Infrared: The most affected organs are the eyes, potentially causing cataracts. It can also burn the skin. Occurs in steelwork, welding, etc.
- UV: Affects skin pigmentation and can cause burns. Found in graphic arts and photography.
- Lasers: The most affected organ is the eye, potentially causing photophobia, lacrimation, and retinal burns. They can also affect the skin and are used in medicine, communications, etc.
2. Chemical Hazards
Chemicals are substances consisting of inert matter (not alive) suspended in the atmosphere. They can be classified into:
- Dust: Suspended solids dispersed in the air, produced by mechanical processes or eddies.
- Smoke: Suspended solids dispersed in the air, produced by thermal or chemical processes.
- Fog: A dispersed suspension of liquids in the air, produced by condensation or dispersion.
Chemicals can enter the human body in three ways:
- Respiratory System: This is the most important gateway. Contaminants reach the lungs, dissolve in the alveoli, and spread within the lung’s blood vessels.
- Dermal: Absorption through the skin is an important gateway for chemical contaminants, which can pass through and join the bloodstream.
- Digestive System: Chemicals can be swallowed directly or mixed with food and saliva. Therefore, do not eat or smoke in the workplace.
3. Biological Hazards
Biological contaminants are living things, microorganisms that may be present in the work environment and are capable of producing certain diseases or infections:
- Viruses: These are the simplest form of life. To exist, they must penetrate a living organism, producing viral diseases like hepatitis and rabies.
- Bacteria: These are more complex organisms than viruses and can live off a living host. They can cause various diseases such as tuberculosis, tetanus, and salmonellosis.
- Fungi: These are a form of plant life whose natural habitat is the soil, but they can become parasites of animals and plants.
- Parasitic Worms: These are animal organisms that enter the human body through different routes (respiratory, digestive, skin), inoculating toxins and allergens.
4. Organizational Risk
In all jobs, there are a number of factors relating to the organization that are critical to the welfare of the worker. Economic stimulus alone is not a valid means of employee motivation. Psychological disturbances motivated by work organization are one of the leading causes of work disability. Increasing attention is being paid to measures necessary to combat and prevent their negative consequences, with attention to:
- Security in employment, promotion, salary, hours, shift work, and night work.
- Social relationships: communication, leadership style, and participation.
- Job content: rhythm, rotation, independence, and responsibility.
Generally, new forms of work organization (as opposed to classical organization focused solely on productivity) address the following aspects:
- Worker participation in the company, performing various significant functions.
- Rotation of jobs, avoiding permanent exposure to monotonous work.
- Extension of work to break monotony and repetitiveness.
- Leadership style that prioritizes participation and open communication.