BACHELOR IN OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND

HEALTH (HONS)
OSH RISK MANAGEMENT
FAHS 3103

CHAPTER 2
CLASSIFICATION & CATEGORIES OF HAZARDS
 Learning Objectives
At the end of the lesson, students should be able to:
• Determine groups of hazards

• Explain safety, health and environmental hazards

• Classify types of hazards at workplace

 HAZARD
GROUP
HEALT
H

HAZARD
GROUP

ENVIRONMENTAL SAFET
Y
 SAFETY
HAZARD
• A safety hazard is any force strong enough to
cause injury, or damage to property.
• An injury caused by a safety hazard is usually obvious.
For example, a worker may be badly cut.
• Safety hazards cause harm when workplace
controls are not adequate.
• Some examples of safety hazards include, but are not limited
to-
i. slipping/tripping hazards (such as wires run across floors);
ii. fire hazards (from flammable materials);
iii.moving parts of machinery, tools and equipment (such as
pinch and nip points);
iv. work at height (such as work done on scaffolds);
v. ejection of material (such as from molding);
vi. pressure systems (such as steam boilers and pipes);
vii. vehicles (such as forklifts and trucks);
viii. lifting and other manual handling operations; and
ix. working alone.
 HEALTH
•
HAZARD
An occupational health hazard is any agent that can
cause illness to an individual.
• A health hazard may produce serious and immediate
(acute) affects, or may cause long-term(chronic)
problems.
• All or part of the body may be affected. Someone with
an occupational illness may not recognize the
symptoms immediately.
• For example, noise-induced hearing loss is often
difficult for the affected individual to detect until it is
well advanced.
Health hazards include:
• Chemicals (such as battery acid and solvents)
• Biological hazards (such as bacteria, viruses, dusts
and molds)
• Physical agents (energy sources strong enough to
harm the body, such as electric currents, heat, light,
vibration, noise and radiation)
• Work design (ergonomic) hazards.
 ENVIRONMENTAL
HAZARD
• An environmental hazard is a release to the
environment that may cause harm or deleterious
effects.
• An environmental release may not be obvious.
• For example, a worker who drains a glycol system and
releases the liquid to a storm sewer may not be
aware, of the effect on the environment.
• Environmental hazards cause harm when controls
and work procedures are not followed.
 CLASSIFICATION OF
HAZARDS
1) Mechanical
2) Electrical
3) Biological
4) Chemical
5) Ergonomics
6) Physical
 1) Mechanical Hazards

• Cutting
• Shearing
• Stabbing and Puncturing
• Impact
• Entanglement
• Friction and Abrasion
• Crushing
• Drawing In
• Ejection
 2) Electrical hazards
• Inadequate wiring
• Exposed electrical parts
• Wires with bad insulation
• Ungrounded electrical systems and tools
• Overloaded circuits
• Damaged power tools and equipment
• Using the wrong PPE and tools
• Overhead powerlines
 3) Biological Hazards
• fungi
• blood or other body fluids
• bacteria and viruses
• plants
• insect bites
• animal and bird droppings
 4) Chemical Hazards

• liquids like cleaning products, paints, acids, solvents

especially chemicals in an unlabelled container
(warning sign!)
• vapours and fumes, for instance those that come
from welding or exposure to solvents
• gases like acetylene, propane, carbon monoxide and
helium
• flammable materials like gasoline, solvents and
explosive chemicals.
 5) Ergonomics Hazards

• poor lighting
• improperly adjusted workstations and chairs
• frequent lifting
• poor posture
• awkward movements, especially if they are repetitive
• repeating the same movements over and over
• having to use too much force, especially if you have
to do it frequently.
 6) Physical Hazards

• Noise
• Radioactive
• Radiation ( x-gamma, alpha, beta)
• Microwave, infrared, radar, vibration
• Extreme temperatures
 HAZARD
CATEGORIES

OBVIOUS CONCEALE
D
HAZARD HAZARD

TRANSIENT DEVELOPIN
HAZARD G
HAZARD
 Hazard Categories

OBVIOUS HAZARD

• Is apparent to the senses

• Example :
– Unguarded machinery
– Building defects
– Faulty electrical
equipment
 Hazard Categories

CONCEALED HAZARD

• Is NOT apparent to the senses

• Example :
– Electricity
– Presence of toxic vapors
– High frequency noise
 Hazard Categories

TRANSIENT HAZARD

• Is an intermittent or a temporary hazard

• Example :
– Overload of machinery
– When confined space permit has expired
– A sticking safety valve on a boiler
– Intermittent electrical/mechanical defect
 Hazard Categories

DEVELOPING HAZARD

• Cannot be recognized immediately and will be

develop over the time
• Example :
– A worn tire on a mobile crane or and
frayed steel cables
 REFERENC
• Huges, P., & Ferret, ES
E. (2010). Risk Assessment. Introduction to
Health and Safety at Work (4th ed., pp. 83-93). Oxford, UK:
ELSEVIER. (Original work published 2003).

• Goest,D.L. Occupational Health and Safety

(2012).
Technologist, Engineers,
Forand Managers, ed. Upper
7th Rover. New Jersey: Prentice Hall. Saddle

• National of Occupational Safety and Health

(2008).
InstitutePractical Guide to OSH Risk Management
(NIOSH)

• Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH). (2008).

Guidelines For Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment and Risk
Control (HIRARC) (1st ed.). Retrieved from http://www.dosh.gov.my.
THANK YOU

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