Health hazard

Health hazard is a term used to describe any biological, chemical, or physical property that may cause an adverse health effect. Health hazards can be found in various environments, including the workplace, home, and outdoor settings. They can be acute, causing immediate harm, or chronic, causing long-term health effects.

Definition

A health hazard is any agent that can cause harm or adverse health effects in humans. This can include substances, situations, or environments that can cause harm, potential harm, or risk of injury or disease.

Types of Health Hazards

There are several types of health hazards, including:

• Biological hazards: These are organic substances that pose a threat to the health of living organisms, primarily humans. This can include medical waste, virus and bacteria, insect bites, and toxins from a biological source.

• Chemical hazards: These are type of hazard caused by exposure to chemicals in the workplace. This can include exposure to any chemical in any physical form, solid, liquid or gas.

• Physical hazards: These are factors within the environment that can harm the body without necessarily touching it. This can include radiation, exposure to sunlight, and exposure to extreme temperatures.

• Ergonomic hazards: These occur when the type of work, body positions, and working conditions put strain on your body. This is the hardest to spot since you don’t always immediately notice the strain on your body or the harm that these hazards pose.

Prevention

Prevention of health hazards involves identifying the hazards, assessing the risks they pose, and taking steps to manage those risks. This can include using personal protective equipment (PPE), implementing safety procedures, and providing training and education.

See Also

• Occupational safety and health
• Public health
• Environmental health

References

Health hazard Resources
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