Health Hazard

Health Hazard is a potential source of harm, and the hazard that would affect the health of exposed individuals with chronic or acute illness is called a health hazard. Health hazards can be physical, chemical, or biological factors that do not usually result in immediate fatal consequences but may cause measurable (ie, pulmonary function) or non-measurable (ie, feelings) signs and symptoms in the exposed person. Along with these three categories nowadays, there are two other types of health hazards considered extremely common, especially in the workplace setting: ergonomic hazards (ie, heavy lifting, repeated motion) and psychological or behavioral hazards (ie, bullying) that cause stress anxiety, fear, and depression. Sometimes health hazards are intermingled with safety hazards that cause immediate injury rather than disease. While some health hazards can be easily detectable and determined during the inspection, some invisible health hazards are either overlooked or might not seem like health hazards. Physical health hazards include noise, vibration, temperature (high or low), pressure, radiation (ionizing, non-ionizing), electricity, etc. Chemical health hazards are chemical compounds (solid, liquid, or gaseous) that include neurotoxins, carcinogens, dermatologic agents, reproductive toxins, sensitizers, and pneumonic agents. These hazards can occur at home, at school, workplace, or in the community. The common route of most chemical health hazards exposure is inhalation, although some can be through direct contact and ingestion.

On the other hand, biological health hazards are the agents of biological origin and cause severe threats and illnesses. These include bacteria, viruses, fungi, toxins, parasites, etc. Compared to other health hazards, this category requires a standardized and specific procedure to deal with. Ergonomic health hazards are workstation design, manual handling (lift, push, pull), equipment layout, and sedentary work (slip, trip, fall, sitting, or standing) that risk the musculoskeletal system. The risk analysis, characterization of hazards, and control measures through elimination, substitution, engineering control, administrative control, and proper use of personal protective equipment can be helpful to protect health in all aspects. [Md. Rakibul Islam]