Essay hazards

Natural Hazards are Rarely Completely Natural Throughout the world, natural hazards are a frequent occurrence. They come in the forms of hurricanes, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and floods, to name but a few. On a range of scales they create disaster, destruction, loss of life and of livelihood.

Hazard is the probable for harm, or unpleasant effect on an employee's health. Everything that can cause injury or illness to anybody at or near the place of work may be called as hazard. Risk is the likelihood that a hazard will cause injury or ill health to anyone at or near a workplace.

When we refer to ‘hazards’ in relation to Occupational Safety and Health, the most commonly used definition is “a hazard is a potential source of harm or adverse health effect on a person or persons”. “Risk is the likelihood that a person may be harmed or suffers adverse health effects if exposed to a hazard”.

Record the risk rating for each hazard you have identified. To construct an assessment matrix, you can; brainstorm within the workplace, particularly with employees, health and safety representatives and OHS committee members – they are often a valuable source of information and experience.