Physical Hazards
- Definition: Hazards that can cause physical injury without causing a chemical reaction.
- Types:
- Ergonomic hazards: Awkward postures, repetitive motions, vibration, noise.
- Environmental hazards: Heat, cold, radiation, air pollution, noise.
- Mechanical hazards: Machinery, tools, moving objects, falls.
- Electrical hazards: Electricity, lightning, electrical equipment.
- Fire hazards: Flammable materials, ignition sources.
Chemical Hazards
- Definition: Hazards that involve chemicals that can cause adverse health effects through skin contact, inhalation, or ingestion.
- Types:
- Toxic substances: Chemicals that can damage organs or systems in the body.
- Irritants: Chemicals that cause irritation to skin, eyes, or mucous membranes.
- Sensitizers: Chemicals that can cause allergic reactions.
- Carcinogens: Chemicals that can cause cancer.
- Mutagens: Chemicals that can cause mutations in DNA.
- Teratogens: Chemicals that can cause birth defects.
Key Differences
- Nature: Physical hazards involve physical forces or energy, while chemical hazards involve chemical substances.
- Exposure pathways: Physical hazards typically affect the body through physical trauma, while chemical hazards can enter the body through inhalation, skin contact, or ingestion.
- Effects: Physical hazards can cause immediate physical injury, while chemical hazards can have both acute and long-term health effects.
- Immediate danger: Physical hazards often pose an immediate danger due to their potential for immediate injury, while chemical hazards may have delayed effects.
- Control measures: Control measures for physical hazards focus on preventing exposure to physical forces or energy, while control measures for chemical hazards focus on minimizing exposure to hazardous chemicals.