It is necessary to recognize that there are occupational risks in every company, some more visible than others, so it is important to recognize them to create a contingency and training plan that minimizes the risk.
Companies must protect their employees from occupational injuries and, at the same time, protect their integrity for the continuity of their product or service. That said, we would like to share with you a sort of guide to the 7 most common risks so that you can identify the ones you face on a daily basis.
Environmental risks:
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These are unavoidable and uncontrollable risks; environmental risks are natural catastrophes that can affect any company and person without apparent warning. Companies should have a detailed plan and periodic training to prepare each member of the work routine on how best to react in the event of an environmental emergency.
In the event of an earthquake, hurricane, tsunami, volcanic eruption, etc., each team member must know how to act, where to flee and how to get to safety, including knowing the emergency phone number to call.
At this point, we can add the pressure and workload factors that can be assigned to one or more employees within the company, such as stress, work overload, overtime demands, fatigue, and monotony.
Although a common mistake is to believe that this does not depend on the company’s work routine, the human resources and occupational health and safety department must ensure that the company develops its human side and understands the needs of each employee.
It is important to mention objectivity when assessing working relationships between superiors, good working relationships, personal space, and feedback can be ideal strategies to avoid these risks. Therefore, the best way to avoid psychosocial risks is to maintain harmony and good working relationships within the company.
Ergonomic risks:
They have to do with the postures of the collaborators. Within this classification, risks are generated by poor posture in the workplace, excessive weight load, repetitive and constant movements.
Visit The damage caused to the muscles or skeleton of the employees is an ergonomic risk; the best way to avoid it is by observing the work routine of each team member.
From the chairs they sit in, to the screens they face, the machinery they use, the way they carry weights, and think of the possibilities that exist to simplify and improve the posture of each member while fulfilling their work commitment.
Mechanical risks:
Although it may seem that they are only present in industries that use heavy machinery, it is necessary to know that they are omnipresent. By this, we mean that mechanical failures occur wherever there is any type of functional device necessary to fulfill obligations.
From a wood cutting machine to a hairdryer, both are mechanical elements that can fail and cause shocks, burns, and/or injuries to the worker. To avoid this type of risk, the equipment used must be periodically checked and maintained
Physical hazards:
Within this classification fall a wide variety of elements that can affect the health of workers. Lighting, noise, vibrations or machinery movements, temperature, humidity.
Each of these physical hazards may or may not be present in a work routine; recognizing them is the basis for preserving occupational health and safety. For example, noise is a harmful element in mines and construction projects.
Companies in this area must provide their employees with the necessary equipment to protect them from such noise. The same applies to the other types of risk; ideally, all company members should have efficient protection.
Chemical risks:
They refer to the damage caused by exposure to chemicals, which may include burns, allergies, lung or neurological damage.
These types of risks are to be found more frequently in the medical and pharmaceutical industries, It is crucial to inform the personnel about the possible damages and equip them with the necessary protection methods to avoid these risks.
Biohazards:
They refer to exposure to viruses, bacteria, and fungi that can cause short- and long-term damage. This type of risk is unpredictable, as it can be caused by animals, sick people, humidity, contaminated articles, biological experimentation, etc.
