MLT 601 safety review

CSMLS Safety Review MLT 601Course Title: CSMLS Safety Review MLT 601Copyright Info: CC BY, CC BY-SA-NC

Page 2

Hazards vs Risks

• Hazard: Anything that presents the potential to cause injury, illness, or harm to a worker's health or safety in the workplace, encompassing physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic, and psychosocial factors.

• Risk: The probability or likelihood that a particular hazard will actually result in injury, illness, or damage occurring. This involves assessing both the chance of an accident happening and the potential severity of that harm.

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Hazard vs Risk Distinction

• Hazard:

  • Only identifies the potential for injury or harm without considering how often or severe such an event might occur.

  • Does not examine the magnitude of damage that could result from exposure.

• Risk:

  • Evaluates the real possibility of being exposed to the identified hazards.

  • Accounts for the potential extent of damage, which aids in prioritizing risks for management actions.

  • Example: Ethyl alcohol is considered hazardous due to its potential effects on health, but poses a low risk in small, diluted quantities. Conversely, the risk increases significantly when handling large quantities in poorly ventilated environments which may lead to significant health consequences.

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Definitions

• Hazard: Potential to cause harm or adverse effects.

• Risk: Likelihood or chance of a hazard causing harm, factoring in exposure conditions.

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Categories of Hazards

1. Chemical Hazards: Include flammable liquids, corrosive substances, and toxic gases which can harm workers through skin contact, inhalation, or ingestion.

2. Biohazards: Biological agents such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi that pose risks of infection or disease transmission.

3. Physical Hazards: Non-biological threats like radiation, excessive noise, and thermal stress that can cause harm.

4. Ergonomic Hazards: Poorly designed workspaces or practices that can lead to musculoskeletal disorders or repetitive strain injuries.

5. Psychological Hazards: Conditions that lead to stress, anxiety, or other mental health issues in the workplace environment.

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Job Hazard Analysis (Safety)

• Verify: Ensure the effectiveness of current control measures in mitigating risk.

• Review: Assess the availability and adequacy of control measures in place.

• Identify: Systematically recognize potential hazards at each step of work processes.

• List: Outline critical steps (typically 5-10) in the analysis to ensure focus on high-risk activities.

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Four Ways to Deal with Risks

1. Tolerate: Accepting low-probability risks that have minimal consequences for health and safety.

2. Treat: Implement modifications to procedures or equipment designed to reduce identified risks. This could include introducing better ventilation or using safer substitutes for hazardous materials.

3. Terminate: Ceasing operations or specific processes if they are deemed too risky to continue safely.

4. Transfer: Shifting the risk by transferring responsibility for certain procedures or tests to specialized laboratories equipped to handle those risks.

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The Hierarchy of Controls

1. Engineering Controls: The most effective methods to minimize hazards, including design changes to reduce exposure to risks (for instance, substituting hazardous materials with less harmful alternatives).

2. Administrative Controls: Policies, procedures, and practices designed to promote safe behavior at work, such as scheduling work to reduce exposure time.

3. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): The final line of defense; includes the use of protective gear such as gloves, masks, and goggles to protect workers from hazards.

This revision includes more detailed definitions, explanations, and examples regarding hazards and risks, which should provide greater clarity and understanding of these critical safety concepts within the context of workplace safety. Further pages can also be enhanced in a similar manner as needed.