Reference: K to 12 Basic Education Curriculum Technology and Livelihood Education Learning Module

1. WORKPLACE
HAZARDS AND
RISKS

2. HAZARD
A hazard is any source of potential damage, harm or adverse
health effects on something or someone under certain
conditions at work.
Basically, a hazard can cause harm or adverse effects (to
individuals as health effects or to organizations as property or
equipment losses).
Sometimes a hazard is referred to as being the actual harm or
the health effect it caused rather than the hazard. For example,
the disease tuberculosis (TB) might be called a hazard by some
but in general the TB-causing bacteria would be considered

3. EXAMPLE OF HAZARDS AND THEIR EFFECTS
Workplace Hazard Example of Hazard Example of Harm Caused
Thing Knife Cut
Substance Benzene Leukemia
Material Asbestos Mesothelioma
Source of Energy Electricity Shock, electrocution
Condition Wet floor Slips, falls
Process Welding Metal fume fever
Practice Hard rock mining Silicosis

4. • Workplace hazards also include practices or conditions
that release uncontrolled energy like:
• An object that could fall from a height (potential or
gravitational energy),
• A run-away chemical reaction (chemical energy),
• The release of compressed gas or steam (pressure; high
temperature),
• Entanglement of hair or clothing in rotating equipment
(kinetic energy), or
• Contact with electrodes of a battery or capacitor
(electrical energy)

5. RISK
Risk is the chance or probability that a person will be
harmed or experience an adverse health effect if exposed
to a hazard. It may also apply to situations with property or
equipment loss.
Factors that influence the degree of risk include:
• How much a person is exposed to a hazardous thing or
condition,
• How the person is exposed (breathing in a vapor, skin
contact)
• How severe are the effects under the conditions of

6. TYPES OF HAZARD
• Chemical Hazard
• Electrical Hazard
• Ergonomic Hazard
• Psychological Hazard
• Radiation Hazard
• Biological Hazard
• Physical Hazard

7. CHEMICAL HAZARD
A chemical hazard is any substance that can cause harm,
primarily to people. Chemicals of all kinds are stored in our
homes and can result in serious injuries if not properly
handled. Household items such as bleach can result in
harmful chlorine gas or hydrochloric acid if carelessly used.
Gasoline fumes from containers for lawnmowers or boats
can result in major health hazards if inhaled.

8. ELECTRICAL HAZARD
An electrical hazard can be defined as dangerous condition
where a worker could make electrical contact with
energized equipment or a conductor, and from which the
person may sustain an injury from shock or there is
potential for the worker to receive an arc flash burn,
thermal burn, or blast injury.
Working near an electrical hazard is dangerous and can be
fatal. Any work on or near energized equipment must be
done only when measures are in place to provide
protection from electric shock and burn. With adequate
safety measures in place, every electrical injury and fatality

9. ERGONOMIC HAZARD
Ergonomic hazards impact employers and workers and
their families. Poor workplace design, awkward body
mechanics or postures, repetitive movements or other
ergonomic hazards induce or contribute to a staggering
number of cumulative trauma disorders. This is a physical
conditions that may pose risk of injury to the
musculoskeletal system.

10. PSYCHOLOGICAL HAZARD
Psychological hazard is any occupational hazard that
affects the psychological well-being of workers, including
their ability to participate in a work environment among
other people.

11. BIOLOGICAL HAZARD
Biological hazard or biohazard is anything coming from
living organisms (pollen, fungi, animals, insects, bacteria,
and viruses) that could be a threat to someone’s health.

12. PHYSICAL HAZARD
Physical hazards are those substances which threaten your
physical safety. The most common types of physical
hazards are:
–Fire
–Explosion
–Chemical Reactivity

13. • Hazards that may be encountered when using the sewing
machine include:
–Cuts and injuries from sharp edges, knife, blades,
scissors and pins
–Finger injuries while sewing
–Back injury from poor posture and improper lifting
procedures
–Eye strain from poor lighting