5 - Physical Hazards

Abstract

This chapter discusses various types of physical and other hazards that a worker encounters. The effect of physical hazards on the worker may be twofold. Certain physical hazards may damage the health of the worker. The worker may also receive traumatic injury as a result of exposure to a physical hazard. The physical hazards that produce the possibility of traumatic injury are generally considered to be within the realm of responsibility of the safety professional. It is the job of the industrial hygienist or safety professional to identify the hazards that a worker faces on a given job and to take action to control the worker's exposure to these hazards. Although certain protective mechanisms help the human system to adapt to its surroundings, these protective systems operate only within a small range. It should be remembered that a hazard exists when the stress placed on the human system cannot be compensated for by the internal mechanisms of the system without resulting in strain. In such a situation, it is the responsibility of the industrial hygienist or safety professional to remove the stress or to cause it to be lowered to such a level that the compensating mechanism within the human system provides protection without putting any strain on the workers.