Hazards Overview

Hazards are actions, materials, or situations that can harm or kill people, destroy property, threaten a community, and or impact the environment.

In the work environment, hazards are typically classified into one of the following four types:

• Biological: those caused by living or dead organisms which can result in health problems (such as viruses, bacteria, mosquitoes, allergens, snakes, and rats).
• Physical: those caused by environmental factors, such as temperature, pressure, electricity, radiation, machines, and noise.
• Chemicals: those caused by a solid, liquid, or gas element, substance, or mixture which can result in health problems, safety issues, and pollution.
• Ergonomic: those caused by physical or psychological stresses to the human body due to repetitive motions, poorly designed work spaces, and other means.

It is outside the scope of this course to cover physical, chemical, and ergonomically hazards, but you should be aware of these potential hazards around your workplace and receive training on them as well.

Also, it is vital that you understand one type of hazard can impact other hazards. For example, rats (a biological hazard) could eat away at insulation on wiring and cause an electrical safety issue (physical hazard). Hot temperatures caused by equipment (physical hazard) and standing water can result in the growth of bacteria (biological hazard).

Companies with potential workplace hazards implement programs to protect workers, the community, and the environment from such hazards. These programs are typically called Safety, Health, & Environment (SHE, or sometimes EHS or HSE).

To learn more about Outdoor Biological Hazards visit our Outdoor Biological Hazards Online Training web page.