WORK PLACE HAZARD.

Running head: WORK PLACE HAZARD
WORK PLACE HAZARD
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1WORK PLACE HAZARD
Any working environment that possess threat to the body or the environment is
known as Work Place Hazard. Work Place Hazard is also known as Occupational Hazard,
and they can lead to either long term effect or consequences or the short time effect or
consequences. Work Place hazard in any employment may cause any contraction of disease
or loss of functionality and effect the mental health of the workers and employees. Accidents
or fatality can lead to loss of livelihood and can affect the society in numerous ways. That
effect the sustainable socio-economic growth of the country. Health professionals are
exposed to many types of work place hazards and therefore, in the demanding age of health
professionals there should be evident risk management and Occupational health Safety in an
organisation as well as in the society (Bahn 2013). Since, there is an advancing technology,
there has been new an introduction of new hazards in a working environment. In worldwide,
the health professionals account for 12% of the working population. And healthcare workers
and professionals are considered to be working in the most hazardous occupational settings
(Ndejjo et al. 2015). It should be also noted that there are diverse and varied types of health
hazard are associated when it comes to the nursing profession. It is also reported to have
higher prevalence of lower back pain in this type of profession. And ergonomic hazard
possess a potential risk to the overall productivity and employment. These type of work place
hazard can lead to lethal consequences and therefore, it should be neglected at any cost.
Hence, there should be occupational safety and health regulation and support in a working
environment. In the following paragraphs different types of hazard has been discussed in
detail and the impact of these are also described.
Global occupational health issues are increasing day by day as the economy of the
world is rising day by day. The global market is leading to the escalating effect on the vast
numbers of workers worldwide in the form of occupational disease, injuries and deaths.
Therefore, essential regulation of the occupational settlement and administration is required,

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among workers especially among health professionals (Lucchini 2014). For example, any
disease could amplify to a greater extent if there is no proper establishment to curb these
problems. Out of all the professions nursing can be termed as uniquely hazardous
occupation. These could be due to the illnesses and injuries associated with nursing
profession which can be due to work place environment. Nurses and midwives account for
50% of the global health work force. There is a growing demand of this profession world
wide. According to the World health Organisation there is an indication of global nurse
shortage. And there are mainly shortages of Nurses and midwives in Africa and South East
Asia (World Health Organization, 2019). Nurses are not only employed in the nursing homes
and hospitals, they are also engaged as community health workers, in clinics, schools as well
as their participation in the health maintenance and corporations. While performing their
routine duties the registered nurses or the RNs are often faced with high risk pathogens and
other hazardous components. The nurses are primarily involved in providing care and their
clinical services to the patients. They are a crucial element when it comes to the matter of
disease prevention, delivering primary health care and also in health promotion (Dressner and
Krissinger 2018). In the current working conditions the nurses are exposed to various types
of work place hazards, these type of workplace hazards can lead to short term as well as long
term effects on the nurses. There are situations when nurses have to be bending, standing
stretching and running that could lead the nurse to a potential risk of fatigue, fall, slipping and
tripping. These type of hazards are related with the short term risks of hazards. The nurses
have to sometimes even lift patients move heavy equipment’s that could elevate risks to
lower back injuries. Hence, it can be understood that the working environments and the
duties of nurses put them in to the front line of probable occupational risks and hazards
(Alavi 2014). There are number work place hazards which are inclined especially towards
nursing and work place hazards which include; Latex allergy, for example the use of vinyl

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gloves can induce mild allergic sensitivities which may cause dermatitis and anaphylaxis;
chemical exposure to different drugs and hazardous chemicals which are used for sterilizing.
The exposure to certain radiations, these especially are related to the nurses working in the
radiology department or the nurses working in the emergency rooms. They are at a high risk
of exposure to these kind of radiations. Exposure to radiations can lead to various kinds of
diseases and are exposed at a risk of DNA damage. Infectious diseases like HIV, hepatitis B
are the diseases nurses are frequently exposed to. It is important to acknowledge that the
nurses are also exposed to several threats and assaults which are evidently present in the
mental facilities like rehabs and in the emergency rooms. In the following paragraphs there is
a detailed classification and description about the types of the hazards at workplace. There
are many types of the work place hazards that are exposed in a regular working environment
few of them are discussed below:
Biological Hazards: Biological Hazards are commonly known as the biohazards are the
biological organisms or entities that pose threat to the other organisms (can be particularly to
the humans) and environment. There can be the biological that can lead to potential threats
like infections, diseases and can be also be a potential source of bio weapon and mass
destruction. There are different categories and levels of Biohazards which can cause hazards.
Bio hazards include biological vectors and transmitters (micro-organisms) like fungi, virus as
well bioactive substances. Exposure to these can have potential risk to the people involved in
healthcare as well bio chemical industries. The probable agents that could cause the
communicable diseases are like: blood, faeces, mucous and tissues that could cause potential
communicable disease. In a report the health. There are certain low frequency
electromagnetic fields act by VGCCs or voltage gated calcium channels which can in return
elevate the NO signalling, therefore, exposure to such electromagnetic fields can affect the
physiological processes (Pall 2014). Strict precautions should be taken care of when handling

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biological hazards, which include not only the nurses and doctors but also the medical staffs,
clinical staffs, cleaning workers. It is because the unsafe professional could lead to systemic
respiratory infection in immunocompromised workers (Rim and Lim 2014). Healthcare
professionals can increase the over all burden infection. Prevention and proper control
measures should be taken by the organisation as well as the society. To avoid the
contamination of airborne diseases there should be separate and proper ventilation system for
the medical rooms specially made for infectious and communicable diseases. Use of
ultraviolet lights and lamp can also kill the potential pathogens and microorganisms.
Furthermore, there should be proper maintenance of hygiene which need proper protection of
eyes, nose, and hands ears. Inclusion of gloves, protective masks, eye glasses, protection suits
and shoe covers. If the involvement of any worker include in biohazard of higher levels for
example; viruses like Ebola virus then there should be inclusion of N95 or advanced
respiratory protection, which would filter the particulate as well as the liquid droplets which
could protect the workers from the airborne diseases as well potential epidemic
microorganisms. There should be an inclusion the sign of the bio hazard symbol whenever
disposing or dealing with biological hazardous substances should be labelled. Hence, there
should be proper attitude and knowledge that could reduce gaps and can provide better
interventions (Gulilat and Tiruneh 2014).
Physical Hazards: Physical hazard which can cause potential risk to the workers in that
environment which may be in contact or not in contact. The physical hazards are the common
sources of physical injuries and muscular pain. These can also be termed as occupational
injuries. The physical hazards comprises of various types of factors like noise, vibration,
radiation, electrical, hazardous manual tasks, heat sunlight. The exposure to physical hazard
may cause ergonomic hazards which are related to body stressing and hazardous manual
tasks. Whereas body stressing could lead to varied health problems due to repetitive and

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strenuous work load which leads to overexposure to environmental, psychological as well as
the biochemical stress factors lead to physical hazard. These factors possess great threat to
the older nurses and there are greater number of nurses in healthcare industries.
 Physical injuries: In a report it has been stated that the repetitive motion injuries,
falls and trips are the major work place hazards older number of nurses. Not only
that extreme noise and variable working schedules lead them to over exhaustion
and fatigue (Phillips and Miltner 2015).
 Work place violence: Physical hazard can also include the work place violence
the nurse have to face who are working especially in the mental wards (Lipscomb
and Ghaziri, 2013). Moreover there are frequent cases of work place violence that
could which are sometimes even goes without reporting (Kvas and Seljak 2014).
Work place violence can be potential challenge for nurses and other healthcare
employees and management and that could lead to potential physical and
psychological effects in nursing professionals (McPhaul, London and Lipscomb
2013). . In a survey it was reported that female gender experience different types
of violence as a significant predator of abuse (Abed Morris and Sobers-Grannum
2016).The slippery floors and unsafe equipment or machinery can also lead to the
physical hazard in workers.
 Radiation: There are different types of radiations which nurses are exposed to
every day they come in contact with. Possible exposure to radiation could cause
weakness, nausea, and diarrhoea. The sharp medical instruments and surgical
equipment can also possess threat to the healthcare worker while dealing with the
infected objects.
o Ionising radiation: There are different types of diagnostic tools which are
used to detect several disorders and treatments, for example computerised

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axial topography, and others. They can include long term effects in the
body.
o Non-Ionising radiation: Non-ionising radiation includes ultra violet ray,
lasers which are comprised of magnetic waves and field. In a survey it
was concluded that there is potential to improve as well optimise the
radiation protection for among nurses (Kang and Lee 2013). Hence, there
should be radiation safety for nurses, especially on the nurses involved in
day to day basis.
Ergonomic Hazards: The physical hazard task may lead to ergonomic hazard, which
include repetitive movement and bad positioning of the body. These could lead to potential
musculoskeletal disorder or MSD. Musculoskeletal disorders can cause disorders in the
cartilage and joints which can also possess the threat to permanent physical injury (Dressner
and Kissinger 2014).It is studied that the globally nurses are accounted for higher prevalence
in Lower back pain or LBP (Yassi and Lockhart 2013). Lower back injuries are one of the
factors due to physical hazard or occupational hazard. Some of the manual tasks done by the
nurses like lifting up the patients and transferring them back to bed, as well as carrying heavy
machines or bio equipment can lead to back pain. In a study it was reported that well
implementation and managing of lifting device can significantly reduce the lower back pain
among nurses (Burdorf, Koppelaar and Evanoff 2013)There are many nurses who face the
persistent job related musculoskeletal pain (Alavi 2014).
Chemical Hazards: The chemicals like, fumes, aesthetic agents or cytotoxic drugs that
have potential to cause dangerous or harmful effects is termed as Chemical hazards. In
healthcare or a workplace there are different types of hazardous chemicals, toxins, which can
be very harmful and some of the hazardous chemical can be carcinogens, reproductive toxins
that can cause teratogenicity, neurotoxicity, mutagenicity and respiratory irritation. The effect

7WORK PLACE HAZARD
can either short term like sneezing and coughing and itching or long term like respiratory
disease (asthma). The allergic sensation in the respiratory tract can be considered as
important aspect of health problems not only in the health care industries but other
occupation industries as well. They can contribute towards multiple health problems that can
further result in respiratory hypersensitivity reactions (Cochrane et al. 2015). In a report it
was stated that there ortho phthalaldehyde or OPA which is primarily used as a disinfectant
for the heat sensitive equipment can have possible immunological effect in a healthcare
setting (Pala and Moscato 2013). The healthcare workers who use high level disinfectants
care exposed to these toxic agents that can cause skin irritation (Carraro et al. 2016). They are
certain cytotoxic agents and drugs that can be potentially carcinogenic if they are handled
improperly. The toxic or the chemical agents can be either come in contact with the skin or
the toxic substances can be inhaled or they can also be digested. However the hazard can
depend on various factor for example, how long the worker has been exposed to the toxic
chemical, and work practices habits and susceptibility towards particular health problems.
Therefore, there should be adequate protection and precautions be taken while handling such
chemical toxins.
Psychological Hazard: Psychological hazards are associated with the risk of the working
nursing professionals, when the nurses are deprived of personal well being and mental health.
The work and stress overload can not only threaten the health of nurses but also lead to
nursing turnover and fatigue (Alavi 2014). Psychological hazard are also associated with tight
and long working hours, overwork, violence and discrimination. This can lead to frustration
and depression among the nurses. This can harm not only the professional productivity but
can also lead to decrease in patient care effectiveness (Song and Lindquist 2015). Stress,
depression and anxiety or SDA can have a severe impact not only on the academic
performance but can also affect the clinical performances. Sometimes the effects of anxiety

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and depression remains undiagnosed in nurses, if it remain undiagnosed it can even lead to
suicide. It is evident that nurses involved in the psychiatric ward can suffer stressful
situations, which is another source of occupational stress (Yoshizawa et al. 2016). Social
support can decrease the depression among the nurses (Drageset, Eide and Ranhoff 2013). In
a report it has been suggested that emotional adaptation along with social support can reduce
the risk of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts (Aradilla-Herrero, Tomás-Sábado and
Gómez-Benito 2014). Mindfulness based stress reduction or MBSR can reduce the
depression, stress and anxiety in nursing students and professionals (Song and Lindquist
2015). Stress management programs and coping mechanism, efficient working schedule and
proper employee assistance program can lead to effective prevention in case of psychological
hazard.
By the above discussion and literature review it could be concluded that the healthcare
professionals are exposed different types of workplace hazards, and among the global health
workforce the nursing profession account for 50%. And in the coming years the global
demand for the nursing practice will increase. Their participation plays an important and key
segment in health promotion and for delivering primary health care in the world. But it
should be acknowledged from the above discussion that they are exposed to many workplace
hazards that could harm them mentally or physically. Among them the workplace hazards in
this assignment has been classified into five types and they are biological hazard, physical
hazard, ergonomic hazard, Chemical hazard and Psychological hazard. It could be inferred
that the effect of these types of could lead into short term as well as long term effects among
nurses. Awareness and prevention measures could effectively reduce the hazards in the
working organisations. Labelling of the hazardous (Biohazard / Chemical Hazard/ Physical
Hazard) could make a better awareness among the staff which could reduce the potential
cause of hazards. Proper hygiene and protective equipment can help prevent the biological

9WORK PLACE HAZARD
hazardous organisms, whereas in case of physical hazard the better machine handling
equipment can help reduce the work load. However, psychological hazard among all the
hazards is internal but it can lead to nursing burn out and low productivity. There are several
nurses in the psychiatric ward and the emergency ward face violence and that could also lead
to a physical as well psychological hazard. This can be overcome by the implementation of
stress management programs, coping mechanisms and evaluation of professional help can
reduce the sadness, depression and anxiety. Therefore, the mental health as well as the
physical health of the nurses should not be neglected and effective measures should be taken
to prevent these hazards.

10WORK PLACE HAZARD
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