Environmental Hazards

Any substance or physical agent with the potential to threaten the surrounding natural environments or adversely affect people’s health is known as an environmental hazard. They are broadly categorized into sub-groups such as chemical, physical, biological, or psychological and can be natural or human-imposed, but carry a certain degree of risk.

Here’s a detailed overview of each type of environmental hazard:

Chemical Hazards

Substances that can induce harmful physical or health effects due to their chemical properties are known as chemical hazards. These include:

• • Pollutants: Air, water, or soil pollution contains harmful substances like nitrogen oxides, carcinogens, and more from industrial activities or transportation that can lead to drastic effects.
  • Toxic Substances: Toxic waste from industrial facilities, pesticides, and heavy metals fall under this category.
  • Radon: A naturally occurring radioactive gas emitted from soil and building materials is a common environmental hazard that can leave lasting impacts.
  • Asbestos: Asbestos fibers can irritate and scar lung tissue, creating respiratory problems for those who are exposed to it.

Physical Hazards

Certain factors or conditions that can cause harm or injury due to their presence in the environment, such as:

• • Natural Disasters: Naturally occurring factors like earthquakes, hurricanes, tsunamis, and wildfires are common examples.
  • Extreme Temperatures: A common result of climate change or global warming, extended periods of long extreme temperatures cause an increase in casualties, such as heatwaves and cold snaps.
  • Radiation: Exposure to ionizing radiation from natural sources like radon or human-made sources like X-ray procedures or industrial practices like power plants.
  • Noise Pollution: Excessive levels of noise pollution that can impede hearing or cause permanent hearing loss.

Biological Hazards

A biological substance that poses a health risk to living organisms, typically humans or naturally occurring species found in the environment. They include:

• • Microorganisms: Antibiotic-resistant bacteria, deadly viral pathogens, fungi, and parasites that can cause diseases.
  • Invasive Species: Non-active plants and animals that can disrupt the natural system and create an imbalance in the natural ecosystem.
  • Biological Toxins: Poisonous substances that are created by living organisms like microorganisms, animals, and plants and can harm and pose a risk to well-being when they enter a body.

Psychological Hazards

Certain aspects of the workplace or environment that can incite feelings of depression and self-harm and cause feelings of anxiety, such as:

• • Stress and Anxiety: Often caused by climate change, global warming, and environmental degradation.
  • Displacement and Loss of Livelihoods: When a place is habitually incapable of living due to a high risk of environmental hazards and disasters, individuals may flee their homeland.

In addition to the hazards listed above, two work-specific environmental hazards include:

Ergonomic Hazards

Those working in manual labor face common ergonomic hazards like standing in awkward positions, reaching for tools, or carrying and moving heavy loads. Heavy tools should be properly labeled and work cells should be designed to work easily and efficiently.

Electrical Hazards

Electric shocks, electric arcing, and arc flashes are some of the most dangerous occupational hazards. Workplaces dealing with high amounts of electricity will need to have a lockout/tagout program, the necessary PPE, and employees properly trained on dealing with electrical hazards.

Having a health and safety program who meets regularly can key to reducing and eliminating environmental hazards. The safety team should meet periodically throughout the year to address any safety issues and conduct risk assessments. OSHA, who requires employers to maintain a workplace free from known hazards, offers comprehensive resources for starting an effective program.