Risks at work

When working in a risky environment, we must correctly assess the risk to which the employee is exposed:

Risk assessment is the process of determining the risk to the health and safety of the worker at work due to the circumstances of the present danger in the workplace, which includes:


 * 1) prevention of risks at work,
 * 2) providing information to workers,
 * 3) providing training to workers,
 * 4) organization and implementation of the necessary measures.


 * The non-eliminable risk must be reduced and the reduced risk checked and re-evaluated!

The EUROPEAN COMMUNITY issued DIRECTIVE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 89/391/EEC on the introduction of measures to improve the safety and protection of employees at work.

Terminology

 * Exposure is exposure of the organism to environmental factors (for example, noise, vibrations , dust, radiation) or to the effects of a substance. The objectively determined (measured) value of the load, the factors of the working environment and the time during which a person is exposed to this load at work are taken into account.
 * A hazard (hazard) is an inherent property or ability of a material, equipment, work method and practice with the potential to cause harm.
 * Risk is the probability of causing damage in the conditions of use or exposure, and the possible extent of the damage.

Occupational risk assessment procedure

 * 1) Hazard determination.
 * 2) Identification of workers at potential risk.
 * 3) Qualitative and quantitative determination of risk.
 * 4) Deciding whether or not the risk can be eliminated.
 * 5) Decisions on further measures aimed at prevention or risk reduction.

Examples of work situations and activities for risk assessment

 * Use of work equipment (rotating and moving machines, freely moving materials, transport machines, danger of explosion and fire, possibility of falling).
 * Work activity and layout of premises (dangerous surfaces, work at heights, closed spaces, influence of the use of protective equipment,...).
 * Use of electricity.
 * Exposure to substances harmful to human health (inhalation, ingestion and skin absorption of dangerous materials, use of flammables and explosives, asphyxiation, presence of caustics, reactive and unstable substances, sensitizers).
 * Exposure to physical pollutants (electromagnetic radiation – thermal, light, x-ray, ionizing ; lasers , noise and ultrasound , mechanical vibrations, hot and cold substances, liquids under pressure).
 * Exposure to biological agents (inadvertent and unintentional exposure to microorganisms, exo- and endotoxins, presence of allergens , legionella ).
 * Environmental and climate factors (lighting, temperature, humidity, flow, ventilation, pollutants).
 * Interaction of the workplace and human factors (norms of behavior, motivation for safe work, ergonomics ).
 * Psychological factors (monotony, claustrophobia, independent work, ...).
 * Organization of work.
 * Various factors.

Related articles

 * Occupational medical care in companies