Occupational hazard

Exposure to toxins generated by insects, spiders, snakes, scorpions,^[15][16][17] etc., require physical contact be made between the worker and the living organism. Skin exposure to biological agents can cause contact dermatitis (caused by exposure to urushiol from poisonous Toxicodendron plants^[18]), Lyme disease,^[19] West Nile virus,^[20] and coccidioidomycosis (caused by exposure to fungi).^[21] According to NIOSH, outdoor workers at risk for these hazards "include farmers, foresters, landscapers, groundskeepers, gardeners, painters, roofers, pavers, construction workers, laborers, mechanics, and any other workers who spend time outside."^[18]

Health care professionals are at risk to exposure to

Other occupations at risk to biological hazard exposure include poultry workers, who are exposed to bacteria;^[25] and tattooists and piercers, who risk exposure to blood-borne pathogens.^[26]

Psychosocial hazards

Psychosocial hazards are occupational hazards that affect someone's social life or psychological health. Psychosocial hazards in the workplace include occupational burnout and occupational stress, which can lead to burnout.^[27]

According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms of occupational burnout include a cynical attitude towards work, severe lack of motivation at work, erratic sleeping habits, and disillusionment about one's occupation.^[28]

Physical hazards

Physical hazards are a subtype of occupational hazards that involve environmental hazards that can cause harm with or without contact. Physical hazards include ergonomic hazards, radiation, heat and cold stress, vibration hazards, and noise hazards.^[29]

Heat and cold stress

Heat and cold stress occur when the temperature is significantly different from room temperature (68-74 degrees Fahrenheit).^[30] When the body is exposed to heat stress, excess sweating can lead to a range of heat-related illnesses.^[31] Excessive cold can also lead to several cold-related illnesses like hypothermia, frost bite, etc.^[32]

Vibration hazards

Occupational vibration hazards most often occur when a worker is operating machinery that vibrates as a symptom of its functioning (e.g., chainsaws, power drills, etc.). The most common type of vibration syndrome is Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS). Long-term exposure to HAVS can lead to damage occurring in the blood vessels, nerves, muscles, and joints of the hand, wrist, and arm.^[33]

Noise

Each year in the US, twenty-two million workers are exposed to noise levels that could potentially harm their health.^[34] Occupational hearing loss is the most common occupational illness in the manufacturing sector.^[35] Workers in exceptionally high noise environments, such as musicians,^[36] mine workers,^[37] and even those involved with stock car racing,^[38] are at a much higher risk of developing hearing loss, when compared to other workers (e.g., factory workers, etc.).

While permanent noise-induced hearing is often preventable through proper hearing protection, limiting the amount of time one is exposed to high levels of noise is still required.

Furthermore, OSHA's development and implementation of the Hearing Conservation Program (HCP)[45] has required employers to more effectively protect their workers against noise levels that are too high. The HCP empowers workers to not only receive noise exposure testing, as well as audiometric testing, but also to have access to noise protection devices adequate for the noise levels they are being exposed to.^[46][47]

See also

• Health hazards in semiconductor manufacturing occupations
• Health and safety hazards of nanomaterials
• Health and safety hazards of 3D printing
• Hazards of synthetic biology
• Precarious work
• Occupational hazards in dentistry
• Occupational hazards of fire debris cleanup
• Occupational hazards of grain facilities
• Occupational hazards of human nail dust
• Occupational hazards of solar panel installation

References