What is the difference between a workplace hazard and a risk

For example: the risk of developing cancer from smoking cigarettes could be expressed as: "cigarette smokers are 12 times for example more likely to die of lung cancer than non-smokers", or "the number per , smokers who will develop lung cancer" actual number depends on factors such as their age and how many years they have been smoking.

Factors that influence the degree or likelihood of risk are: the nature of the exposure: how much a person is exposed to a hazardous thing or condition e. For example, one substance may cause skin cancer, while another may cause skin irritation. Cancer is a much more serious effect than irritation. Risk assessment is the process where you: Identify hazards and risk factors that have the potential to cause harm hazard identification.

Analyze and evaluate the risk associated with that hazard risk analysis, and risk evaluation. Determine appropriate ways to eliminate the hazard, or control the risk when the hazard cannot be eliminated risk control. Adverse health effects include: bodily injury, disease, change in the way the body functions, grows, or develops, effects on a developing fetus teratogenic effects, fetotoxic effects , effects on children, grandchildren, etc.

Not necessarily. To answer this question, you need to know: what hazards are present, how a person is exposed route of exposure, as well as how often and how much exposure occurred , what kind of effect could result from the specific exposure a person experienced, the risk or likelihood that exposure to a hazardous thing or condition would cause an injury, or disease or some incidence causing damage, and how severe would the damage, injury or harm adverse health effect be from the exposure.

A common way to classify hazards is by category: biological - bacteria, viruses, insects, plants, birds, animals, and humans, etc.

And, there are things that could affect the likelihood and there are things that could affect the severity. In our example, the speed of the traffic, your own speed and fitness, the weather conditions, the road surface and the time of day could all affect the likelihood of being hit and the size and speed of the vehicle which could hit you will affect the severity of the injury.

In our hazard example, we used a forklift truck. There are several ways harm could occur from the use of a forklift truck, including:. Let's look at the first item on our list, contact with pedestrians, and calculate the risk level. Remember, when calculating risk, we consider likelihood x severity. How likely is it you wouldn't hear a forklift truck coming and get out of the way? Well, it could be quite likely, especially if you were in a noisy work environment and concentrating on your own job.

The driver might not see you either if they are carrying a large load. And contact with pedestrians could be pretty severe.

I wouldn't fancy being run over by a forklift, they weigh more than double a car. It's easy to see how that could seriously injure you or even be fatal.

So it sounds like our risk level is pretty high. But what about our control measures? What if all pedestrians had to wear hi-viz to make them more visible to drivers. What if we had physical barriers preventing access between pedestrians and traffic routes, only at designated crossing points that were marked and had a traffic light system.

Well, that reduces the likelihood of contact right down. And therefore, the risk level is reduced. Let's take another hazard for example. A toxic substance in the workplace would be a hazard.

It could be classified as a highly hazardous substance. And it certainly fits the definition of a hazard, something with the potential to cause harm. And what about the risks? Well if a worker accidentally ingested the substance, since it's toxic, it could make them seriously ill. Or worse, kill them. However, the risk can be controlled, by implementing management procedures. Remember, the risk is based on likelihood and severity. The danger or the harm can either be immediate or long-term.

For instance, long-term exposure to chemicals will increase the risk of contracting diseases like cancer; at the same time, chemicals like strong acids can also cause immediate injury.

Hazards in a workplace can take a variety of forms such as chemicals, electricity, machines, different processes, materials and other substances. Even if a simple condition or material can become a hazard. For example, someone accidentally spilling water on the floor can become a hazard since there is a possibility of someone slipping and falling in that place.

Risk refers to the chance or possibility of suffering loss or harm. In occupational safety or workplace safety, risk refers to the probability that harm or injury might occur when you are exposed to a hazard.

In this case, risk and hazard are interconnected. In other words, it is the likelihood of worker getting harmed in the workplace.