What Kind Of Hazards Can Safety Signs Warn About

Safety signs are one of the easiest and most effective ways of reducing accidents in the workplace. They let you instantly warn visitors and staff about the identified hazards and can also give advice on how to reduce the risk of injury or avoid any potential incidents.

Different types of hazards require different types of safety signs but certain types of workplace hazards are more likely than others to be prevented by a simple warning sign. This isn’t quite as clear cut as you might think. Whilst many psycho-social issues such as stress, bullying or ‘burn out’ are hardly going to be stopped by a simple sign, signs which warn people to be prepared for the harassment from outside the organisation, or even just remind employees to take breaks, can help reduce injury in the work place.

However generally speaking, warning signs are more suited for physical hazards. A brief list of these includes:

Mechanical Hazards

Danger of noise or vibration damage (e.g. heavy machinery such as roadwork)

Danger of Barotrauma (e.g. the danger of pressure changes such as underground construction)

Danger from lighting (e.g. bright lights that may obscure vision, flashing lights that may cause seizures)

Danger of radiation (e.g. x-ray machines or industrial materials)

Danger of crushing or blunt trauma (e.g. operating heavy machinery)

Biological Hazards

Danger of bacterial infection (e.g. cuts in dirty environments)

Danger of viral infection (e.g. working in close quarters, hygiene awareness signs)

Danger of fungal infection (e.g. inhaling mold in renovation work)

Danger of blood-borne pathogens (e.g. waste disposal or medical work)

Chemical hazards

Danger of acids (e.g. irritation, corrosive or toxic harm)

Danger of base materials (e.g. irritation, corrosion or explosive reactions with other industrial materials)

Danger of lead poisoning (e.g. ingestion, inhalation or prolonged exposure to lead)

Danger of particulates (e.g. inhaling silicate or asbestos particles)

Danger of fire/explosion (e.g. flammable materials)

Environmental hazards

Danger of workplace traffic (e.g. vehicles crossing or HGV parking areas)

Danger of exposure (e.g. dehydration due to heat or aridity, or tissue damage/hypothermia due to cold)

Danger of slipping or tripping (e.g. wet floor signs)

Danger of Confined spaces (e.g. the danger of becoming stuck or hitting your head)

Danger of falling objects (e.g. hard hat signs)

Danger of falling (e.g.edge of railing signs on scaffolding or roof work)

Workplace Safety Hazards

Canada has a very long history of workers struggling for their rights and it is actually stupid not to use the results of their struggle. The employee is guarded by a number of employment laws and Acts that aim to prevent injuries and provide benefits to people who were injured. For example the Canadian Workplace Safety and Insurance Act S.O. 1997, c. 16, Sch. A., (also known as ‘Worker’s Compensation’) regulates the no-fault plan that provides benefits for the people injured in the workplace, when there is no side to cover the compensation. The Occupational Health and Safety Act covers the standards of workplace safety, investigations and punishment of the safety breach. And the Criminal Code has laws that can be used to sue person who is responsible for the injury or accident. So as you see a worker in Canada is very well protected.

Safety of workplaces itself is governed by the Occupational Health and Safety Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. O-1. This act obligates Canadian employers to keep the workplaces safe. It ensures that all required equipment and protective devices are provided and properly maintained; that required safety and emergency procedures are in place and followed; that equipment and materials are properly used; and that workers receive sufficient information, instruction, training (additional training) and supervision to carry out their jobs safely. From the other side it also obliges the workers not to operate any equipment in a manner that is unsafe, not to operate the devices without prescribed safety wear for example. The act also states that ant worker in Canada can refuse to work with dangerous materials or do a dangerous work. The fact of refusal must be immediately reported and the cause of danger must be inspected.

The Canadian Workplace Safety and Insurance Act guarantees compensation to all workers injured during the working process, but it still has a number of conditions and limitations. First the status of the worker. The act covers only a worker who is under a contract of employment; independent contractors, self-employed workers, or workers whose employment is on a casual basis are generally not insured by the Act. The compensation is available for injuries suffered instantly or gained during the course of employment (chronic pain, environment-related diseases). It is important to remember that stress is not covered under this Act. The worker must submit the claim 6 months of an accident and it is also very important to be careful with the medical documents and bills, they will be required in case of a trial, that falls within the jurisdiction of the Board.

The Criminal Code secures the rights of the injured worker after the accident occurred, it guarantees the fact that the person who is responsible for the accident will be brought to justice. It also has an additional effect: it lays additional responsibility on the person who has the authority to direct how work is performed, so the person is interested in keeping the work process secure and avoid any accidents.

A small taste of the most unusual workplace safety training video ever produced… A Reaper’s Guide to OHS. This 4 minute scene can be shown as an icebreaker for any workplace safety training session. The complete 19 minute version, whilst entertaining and engaging, it provides a general overview of occupational health and safety. More information available at www.channel1.com.au