TYPES OF WORKPLACE HAZARDS
A workplace hazard is any tangible object that has the potential to cause harm due to its ability to move on its own, or to be moved by another force. The ability of a hazard to move on its own or to be moved by another force, is also often referred to as the “closing and collision” potential of a hazard.
There are three types of hazards namely single hazards, compound hazards and multiple hazards. All three are often grouped together as physical hazards, chemical hazards or even biological hazards but in the end, due to their unique compositions, they remain either single, compound or multiple hazards.
A single hazard is any object that is a pure element on the periodic table of natural elements. Examples of such elements include pure iron, pure lead, pure oxygen and pure nitrogen.
A compound hazard is created when two or more elements on the periodic table of natural elements, also known as “single hazards”, are chemically joined. Examples of compound hazards are water, paint and metal alloys such as those found in metal hand tools.
A multiple hazard is a combination of any type of single or compound hazard that interact with other hazards on the basis of their combined characteristics. Examples of multiple hazards are electrical hand tools, pressure equipment, driven machinery and believe it or not, human beings. About 99% of the mass of the human body is made up of six of the elements listed on the periodic table of natural elements. That means that every single human being on planet earth is basically a “multiple” hazard!
If you are ever unsure whether any natural element, object or substance is a hazard, benchmark it against the characteristics of hazards which I will explain in a follow-up blog post. In short, if it is tangible, if it can move on its own or be moved by another force and if it can harm you, it is a hazard.
SAPERE AUDE by Andreo du Preez
