Physical Hazards in the Workplace: Causes, Effects, and Control Methods

This presentation discusses physical hazards in the workplace, including their causes and effects. It also covers control methods such as elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, and PPE. The hazard control process is outlined, along with the importance of consultation in identifying and treating hazards. The presentation concludes with a discussion of follow-up and access to information about hazards.

PHYSICAL HAZARD
 A physical hazard is an agent, factor or circumstance
that can cause harm with or without contact
 Physical hazards in the workplace include:
• Objects placed on the floor
• Unsafely situated ladders
• Unstable and faulty chairs
• Slippery floors

Physical hazards may also include:
• Lifting heavy items like boxes
• Cables running across the floor
• Unsheathed electric cables
• Work pressure

Causes of the hazard
 Physical hazards in the hardware may be caused by
being crushed by equipment, falling from heights,
tripping on items, and working in a noisy place.

Effects of the hazard
• Hazards such as lifting too much heavy objects may lead
to back injury which may affect the spinal cord
• Tripping on items on the floor may result to breakage of
bones

Effects of the hazard…cont’d
• Electrocution may affect an employee’s central nervous
system
• Falling off heights like ladders may lead to injuries in
bones and muscles
• Slippery floors may result to painful dislocation of joints

Control methods for the hazard
• Elimination
• Substitution
• Engineering controls
• Administrative controls
• PPE

Hazard control process
• Identification of the hazard
• Identification of the risk
• Assessment of risk
• Risk control
• Process documentation
• Monitoring and reviewing the entire process

Importance of consultation in identifying and treating
hazards
 WHS consultants are easily able to know the causes
and ways of treating the hazard
 Its easy for employees to identify hazards

Results of consultation
• Identification and treatment of risk
• Employee awareness of the risk

Follow-up and consultation
• follow up with the WHS consultants to check for any
update regarding the control of the physical hazards
• follow up with employees to check how they go on with
their duties while integrating the safety procedures

Access to information about the hazard
• Proper documentation
• Integration of the WHS practices to the organization
culture

THE END