Concept
Workplace hazards are potential sources of harm or adverse health effects on individuals within a work environment, encompassing physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic, and psychosocial risks. Effective management of these hazards involves identification, assessment, and implementation of control measures to minimize or eliminate risks to ensure a safe and healthy workplace.
Relevant Fields:
Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) is a multidisciplinary field concerned with the safety, health, and welfare of people at work, aiming to create a safe working environment by preventing work-related injuries, illnesses, and fatalities. It involves the implementation of safety standards, risk assessments, and employee training to ensure compliance with legal and ethical obligations towards workers' well-being.
Concept
Risk assessment is a systematic process of evaluating potential risks that could negatively impact an organization's ability to conduct business. It involves identifying, analyzing, and prioritizing risks to mitigate their impact through strategic planning and decision-making.
Concept
Hazard identification is the process of recognizing and cataloging potential sources of harm in a given environment, which is crucial for effective risk management and ensuring safety. It involves systematic examination and evaluation to prevent accidents and mitigate risks before they manifest as incidents or emergencies.
Concept
Control measures are strategies or actions implemented to mitigate or eliminate risks and hazards in various environments, ensuring safety and compliance. They are essential in fields like public health, engineering, and business management to maintain optimal operational standards and protect stakeholders.
Concept
A Safety Management System (SMS) is a systematic approach to managing safety, including the necessary organizational structures, accountabilities, policies, and procedures. It is designed to ensure that safety risks are managed effectively, providing a framework for continuous improvement in safety performance within an organization.
Concept
Ergonomics is the science of designing workplaces, products, and systems to fit the people who use them, aiming to optimize human well-being and overall system performance. It involves understanding human capabilities and limitations to create environments that enhance comfort, efficiency, and safety.
Concept
Industrial Hygiene is the science and art dedicated to the anticipation, recognition, evaluation, and control of environmental factors or stresses arising in or from the workplace that may cause sickness, impaired health, or significant discomfort among workers. It involves implementing measures to protect workers from exposure to chemical, physical, biological, and ergonomic hazards through proactive assessment and intervention strategies.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is essential for minimizing exposure to workplace hazards that can cause serious injuries and illnesses. It acts as a barrier between the wearer and potential hazards, ensuring safety and compliance with health regulations.
Concept
Incident investigation is a systematic process aimed at identifying the root causes of an incident to prevent future occurrences and improve safety measures. It involves data collection, analysis, and the formulation of corrective actions to address both immediate and underlying issues.
Concept
Human factors is an interdisciplinary field focused on understanding the interactions between humans and other elements of a system to optimize human well-being and overall system performance. It involves designing systems, products, and processes that accommodate human capabilities and limitations to enhance safety, efficiency, and usability.
Occupational Health Surveillance is a systematic approach to monitoring the health of workers to identify and mitigate health risks associated with workplace exposures. It aims to prevent occupational illnesses and injuries through early detection and intervention, ensuring a safer working environment.
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