Workplace Safety Hazards: Physical, Chemical, and Biological Risks

SAFETY AT WORK

COMMUNICATIVE WORKPLACE ENGLISH

HAZARDS

HAZARDS

DANGERS OR RISKS

THERE ARE THREE KINDS OF

WORKPLACE SAFETY HAZARDS

THERE ARE THREE KINDS OF

WORKPLACE SAFETY HAZARDS

•

Physical

Adapted from English Express, Be Safe at Work,  Alberta Employment, Immigration and Industry 

THERE ARE THREE KINDS OF

WORKPLACE SAFETY HAZARDS

•

Physical

–

Using machines or tools, repeating the same motion over and over,

working alone, working in a loud place

Adapted from English Express, Be Safe at Work,  Alberta Employment, Immigration and Industry 

THERE ARE THREE KINDS OF

WORKPLACE SAFETY HAZARDS

•

Physical

•

Chemical

Adapted from English Express, Be Safe at Work,  Alberta Employment, Immigration and Industry 

THERE ARE THREE KINDS OF

WORKPLACE SAFETY HAZARDS

•

Physical

•

Chemical

–

Using cleaners, working in dust, handling batteries…

Adapted from English Express, Be Safe at Work,  Alberta Employment, Immigration and Industry 

THERE ARE THREE KINDS OF

WORKPLACE SAFETY HAZARDS

•

Physical

•

Chemical

•

Biological

Adapted from English Express, Be Safe at Work,  Alberta Employment, Immigration and Industry 

THERE ARE THREE KINDS OF

WORKPLACE SAFETY HAZARDS

•

Physical

•

Chemical

•

Biological

–

Handling raw meat, dealing with mould, handling blood

Adapted from English Express, Be Safe at Work,  Alberta Employment, Immigration and Industry 

IF THERE ARE HAZARDS IN YOUR

WORKPLACE

IF THERE ARE HAZARDS IN YOUR

WORKPLACE

USE SAFETY GEAR

IF THERE ARE HAZARDS IN YOUR

WORKPLACE

USE SAFETY GEAR

•

Boots, closed toe shoes

IF THERE ARE HAZARDS IN YOUR

WORKPLACE

USE SAFETY GEAR

•

Boots, closed toe shoes

•

Glasses, goggles

IF THERE ARE HAZARDS IN YOUR

WORKPLACE

USE SAFETY GEAR

•

Boots, closed toe shoes

•

Glasses, goggles

•

Gloves

IF THERE ARE HAZARDS IN YOUR

WORKPLACE

USE SAFETY GEAR

•

Boots, closed toe shoes

•

Glasses, goggles

•

Gloves

•

Mask

IF THERE ARE HAZARDS IN YOUR

WORKPLACE

USE SAFETY GEAR

•

Boots, closed toe shoes

•

Glasses, goggles

•

Gloves

•

Mask

SAY NO

IF THERE ARE HAZARDS IN YOUR

WORKPLACE

USE SAFETY GEAR

•

Boots, closed toe shoes

•

Glasses, goggles

•

Gloves

•

Mask

SAY NO

•

If you feel 

unqualified or improperly

trained 

to handle the level of hazard or if

you think the workplace conditions for

the task are unsafe, you can say no.

INJURIES AT WORK

INJURIES AT WORK

TREAT THE INJURY

INJURIES AT WORK

TREAT THE INJURY

•

Know where the company first aid kit is

located

INJURIES AT WORK

TREAT THE INJURY

•

Know where the company first aid kit is

located

•

Treat the injury or ask for help in treating

the injury

INJURIES AT WORK

TREAT THE INJURY

•

Know where the company first aid kit is

located

•

Treat the injury or ask for help in treating

the injury

•

Tell your manager and they will record an

injury report

INJURIES AT WORK

TREAT THE INJURY

•

Know where the company first aid kit is

located

•

Treat the injury or ask for help in treating

the injury

•

Tell your manager and they will record an

injury report

•

Tell your doctor and they will record an

injury report

INJURIES AT WORK

TREAT THE INJURY

•

Know where the company first aid kit is

located

•

Treat the injury or ask for help in treating

the injury

•

Tell your manager and they will record an

injury report

•

Tell your doctor and they will record an

injury report

WORKER’S COMPENSATION

INJURIES AT WORK

TREAT THE INJURY

•

Know where the company first aid kit is

located

•

Treat the injury or ask for help in treating

the injury

•

Tell your manager and they will record an

injury report

•

Tell your doctor and they will record an

injury report

WORKER’S COMPENSATION

•

If the injury requires treatment,

physiotherapy, or time off of work, you can

apply for financial assistance from the

worker’s compensation board.

INJURIES AT WORK

TREAT THE INJURY

•

Know where the company first aid kit is

located

•

Treat the injury or ask for help in treating

the injury

•

Tell your manager and they will record an

injury report

•

Tell your doctor and they will record an

injury report

WORKER’S COMPENSATION

•

If the injury requires treatment,

physiotherapy, or time off of work, you can

apply for financial assistance from the

worker’s compensation board.

•

You will need both the report from your

employer and from your doctor to claim

worker’s compensation assistance

Worker’s Compensation Board

1-866-922-9221

WCB

PO Box 2415

Edmonton,  Alberta

T5J 2S5

www.wcb.ab.ca

PREVENT

INJURIES,

KNOW THE RISKS

PREVENT

INJURIES,

KNOW THE RISKS

WHMIS

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Class A: Compressed Gas

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Class A: Compressed Gas

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This symbol indicates that the contents of the container are under pressure - anything done to

weaken the structure of the container could result in an explosion or a dramatic release of

pressure. A compressed gas is a material which is a gas at normal room temperature and

pressure, and is packaged under compression.

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Class A: Compressed Gas

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This symbol indicates that the contents of the container are under pressure - anything done to

weaken the structure of the container could result in an explosion or a dramatic release of

pressure. A compressed gas is a material which is a gas at normal room temperature and

pressure, and is packaged under compression.

•

Helium and propane are common examples of materials that are supplied as a compressed gas

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Class B: Flammable/Combustible

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Class B: Flammable/Combustible

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"Flammable / Combustible" materials are solids, liquids or gases that will ignite and continue to

burn if exposed to a flame or source of ignition. These materials may also be explosive in

certain situations or react with other materials to produce a flammable material.

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Class B: Flammable/Combustible

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"Flammable / Combustible" materials are solids, liquids or gases that will ignite and continue to

burn if exposed to a flame or source of ignition. These materials may also be explosive in

certain situations or react with other materials to produce a flammable material.

•

Diesel and gasoline are examples of commonly used flammable materials.

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Class C: Oxidizing Materials

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Class C: Oxidizing Materials

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These materials produce oxygen or another oxidizing substances, which can cause or

contribute to the combustion of another substance.

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Class C: Oxidizing Materials

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These materials produce oxygen or another oxidizing substances, which can cause or

contribute to the combustion of another substance.

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Chlorine is an example of an oxidizing material

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Class D: Poisonous and Infectious

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Class D: Poisonous and Infectious

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D1: Materials causing immediate and serious toxic effects

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Class D: Poisonous and Infectious

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D1: Materials causing immediate and serious toxic effects

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The effects of Class D1 materials are very harmful based on short-term exposures. Very little

exposure can produce serious toxic effects or possibly death. These materials are classified for

toxicity based on information such as the lethal dose and the lethal concentration.

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Class D: Poisonous and Infectious

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D1: Materials causing immediate and serious toxic effects

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The effects of Class D1 materials are very harmful based on short-term exposures. Very little

exposure can produce serious toxic effects or possibly death. These materials are classified for

toxicity based on information such as the lethal dose and the lethal concentration.

•

Cyanide is an example of a material that causes immediate and serious toxic effects.

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D2: Other Toxic Effects

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D2: Other Toxic Effects

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Class D2 substances can produce many different toxic effects. They also have a wide variety of

classifications. For example, D2 substances can be classified as carcinogens, teratogens,

reproductive toxins, respiratory tract sensitizers, irritants, or chronic toxic hazards. Exposure

effects range from short term (e.g. dizziness, difficulty breathing), to long term (cancer, lung

disease).

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D2: Other Toxic Effects

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Class D2 substances can produce many different toxic effects. They also have a wide variety of

classifications. For example, D2 substances can be classified as carcinogens, teratogens,

reproductive toxins, respiratory tract sensitizers, irritants, or chronic toxic hazards. Exposure

effects range from short term (e.g. dizziness, difficulty breathing), to long term (cancer, lung

disease).

•

Asbestos is an example of this class of material

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D3: Biohazard Infectious Materials

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D3: Biohazard Infectious Materials

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Class D3 materials refer to any organism, or the toxins produced by these organisms, that have

been shown or are believed to be a biological hazard in either humans or animals. These

materials are usually limited to laboratory and testing environments.

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Class E: Corrosive

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Class E: Corrosive

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Class E materials are corrosives that can cause decomposition of other materials (e.g. metals)

or damage human tissue.

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Class E: Corrosive

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Class E materials are corrosives that can cause decomposition of other materials (e.g. metals)

or damage human tissue.

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Sulphuric Acid and Ammonia are examples of corrosive materials.

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Class F: Dangerously Reactive

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Class F: Dangerously Reactive

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Class F materials may react with other substances to produce a wide range of negative

reactions. These reactions can range from decomposition to condensation. The stability of

these materials may be adversely affected by exposure to certain elements such as water,

pressure, or temperature.

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Class F: Dangerously Reactive

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Class F materials may react with other substances to produce a wide range of negative

reactions. These reactions can range from decomposition to condensation. The stability of

these materials may be adversely affected by exposure to certain elements such as water,

pressure, or temperature.

•

Ozone is an example of a dangerously reactive material.

Taken from http://provincialcouncils.ca/whmisgame/

TEST YOURSELF

http://provincialcouncils.ca/whmisgame/game.html

SIGNS

SIGNS

•

You may see all sorts of warning and safety signs in your workplace besides the WHMIS

symbols.  Look at the following signs.  Write down your guess for what each sign means.  Talk

with a partner!

SIGNS

SIGNS

SIGNS

SIGNS

SIGNS

SIGNS

SIGNS

SIGNS

SIGNS

SIGNS

SIGNS

SIGNS

SIGNS

LABELS

LABELS

•

Look at each label

LABELS

•

Look at each label

•

With a partner, write down what 

sort of product, machine, or tool 

the label might be

attached to, what the 

specific caution 

is, and, if written, 

what to do 

if there is accidental

contact with the dangerous elements of the product, machine, or tool

LABELS

LABELS

LABELS

LABELS

LABELS

LABELS

LABELS

LABELS

LABELS

LABELS

INCIDENT AND ACCIDENT REPORTS

INCIDENT AND ACCIDENT REPORTS

•

Work with a partner

INCIDENT AND ACCIDENT REPORTS

•

Work with a partner

•

Using the information learned today about workplace hazards and safety warnings and labels,

imagine that an incident happened at work

INCIDENT AND ACCIDENT REPORTS

•

Work with a partner

•

Using the information learned today about workplace hazards and safety warnings and labels,

imagine that an incident happened at work

•

With your partner, fill out the sample incident investigation report, explaining what happened