Occupational safety is a cornerstone of Occupational Health, Safety, and Environment (OHSE), focusing on the protection of workers from injuries, accidents, and hazardous conditions in the workplace.
The primary goal of occupational safety is to prevent workplace incidents that could result in injury, death, or damage to property and to ensure that all employees can perform their duties in a safe environment.
This chapter will delve into the various aspects of occupational safety, including the importance of hazard identification, the role of energy sources in causing trauma, and the implementation of safety practices to minimize risks.
The Role of Energy in Occupational Safety
One of the most critical aspects of occupational safety is the management of energy within the workplace. The errant or unplanned release of energy often results in workers being injured or even killed. Workplaces are filled with various energy sources, ranging from potential energy (stored energy) to kinetic energy (energy in motion). Examples include stacked materials (potential energy) and operating machinery like a jackhammer (kinetic energy). These energy sources are often the primary causes of trauma-related deaths and injuries.
Trauma is defined as an injury produced by force—whether it be physical violence, thermal, chemical, or another external agent. Occupational trauma typically occurs due to contact with or the unplanned release of energy in the workplace. Unlike other health issues, trauma-related events are more visible and easier to evaluate because:
Trauma occurs in real-time, with no latency period.
The sequence of events leading to trauma is immediate.
The outcomes of trauma are observable within minutes or hours.
Root causes are more easily identified.
The cause-and-effect relationship is clear.
Deaths and injuries resulting from trauma are relatively easy to diagnose and are often highly preventable.
Statistics on Workplace Injuries and Fatalities
The importance of occupational safety is underscored by statistics on workplace injuries and fatalities. For instance, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that in 2010, there were 2.9 million traumatic workplace injuries, accounting for 94.9% of all workplace injuries and illnesses. Additionally, the National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries for the same year indicated that 4,547 workers died due to workplace incidents. These figures highlight the critical need for focused attention on occupational safety to prevent such occurrences.
Key Principles of Occupational Safety
Occupational safety revolves around several key principles designed to minimize the risk of injury and ensure a safe working environment:
Preventing Harm: Occupational safety involves doing things in a manner that prevents harm to people and damage to equipment or products. This includes the application of sound engineering design, thorough personnel training, and the use of common sense to avoid bodily or material harm.
Systematic Planning and Execution: Safety requires the systematic planning and execution of all tasks to produce safe products and services while ensuring the safety of people and property.
Hazard Control: The goal of occupational safety is to protect people and equipment from hazards that exceed normal risk levels. This involves applying techniques and controls to minimize hazards associated with specific events or operations, with consideration of potential personal injury and property damage.
Accident Prevention: Safety also involves a proactive process to prevent accidents by conditioning the environment and the individual toward safe behavior.
Risk Minimization: Occupational safety is about functioning with minimum risk to personal well-being and property, through the art of controlling exposure and hazards that could cause injury or damage.
Control of People, Machines, and Environment: Occupational safety is achieved by controlling the actions of people, the operation of machines, and environmental conditions that could lead to accidents.
Sources of Safety Hazards
Safety hazards in the workplace are numerous and varied, encompassing a wide range of potential dangers. Some common sources of safety hazards include:
Category
Examples
Abrasives
Abrasives, Acids, Caustics
Biohazards
Blood-borne pathogens, Biohazards
Blasting
Blasting, Explosives
Chemicals
Chemicals, Flammables, Hazardous chemical processes
Compressed-Gas Cylinders
Compressed-gas cylinders, Gases, Liquefied gases
Confined Spaces
Confined spaces, Excavations
Electrical Equipment
High voltage, Electrical equipment, Power sources
Environmental Factors
Environmental factors, Weather phenomena
Fires
Fires, Hot items, Hot processes
Falls
Falls, Stairways, Ladders
Forklifts and Heavy Equipment
Forklifts, Heavy equipment, Trucks
Fumes and Mists
Fumes, Mists
Generators and Power Tools
Generators, Power tools
Hand Tools
Hand tools, Power tools
Hazardous Waste
Hazardous waste, Storage facilities
Hoists and Rigging
Hoists, Rigging
Housekeeping/Waste
Housekeeping/waste, Walkways and roadways
Lasers and Radiation
Lasers, Radiation
Lifting and Loads
Lifting, Loads
Machines
Machines, Operating tools
Noise
Noise, Environmental noise
Platforms and Scaffolds
Platforms, Scaffolds
Respirators
Respirators, Safety masks
Ventilation
Ventilation, Airflow systems
Welding and Cutting
Welding, Cutting
Conclusion
Occupational safety is an essential aspect of OHSE that focuses on protecting workers from injuries and accidents by controlling the hazards present in the workplace. The need for occupational safety is driven by the potential for trauma and injury from the unplanned release of energy and other hazardous conditions. By adhering to the principles of safety and effectively managing risks, organizations can create a safer work environment, reduce the incidence of workplace injuries, and protect both their employees and their assets.
