Definition of occupational risk - What it is, Meaning and Concept

The concept of risk is linked to the closeness, contiguity or imminence of possible damage .The notion, in this way, is associated with the possibility of produce damage. Labor , meanwhile, is that related to the work.

With these definitions clear, we can affirm that the idea of occupational risk mentions the lack of safety at work.This means that in a job there is a greater occupational risk when there is a high probability of an accident or a health problem.

The person who works in the administrative sector of a company, answering phone calls and answering emails in an office, is exposed to a reduced work risk: it is unlikely that he will suffer a deterioration of his health For the work activity he develops.

Instead, the coal mine worker, the journalist who serves as a war correspondent or the scientist who handles radioactive materials are people that must deal with significant occupational hazards.A human error or a structural failure, in fact, can cost them their lives.

It should be noted that workers are protected against occupational hazards, both with safety mechanisms and specialized clothing and through the coverage provided by an insurance company.

The notion of occupational risk, on the other hand, can refer to the instability that exists in a job in terms of maintaining the source of employment.If in a company of one hundred workers lay off forty, the remaining sixty may feel they are in a work-risk situation.

Chemical occupational risk

Certain chemicals are dangerous even for people with sufficient preparation to handle them responsibly.That is why it is necessary to take certain measures to eliminate or reduce the chemical risk, since the consequences can be of a very varied severity, that goes from mild to lethal.

Psychosocial occupational risk

In general, poor working conditions carry strong risks to workers' health, which can be manifested through respiratory, cardiovascular, immune, dermatological, gastrointestinal, endocrinological diseases, Mental and musculoskeletal.The poor organization of tasks by a company can also generate stress on employees, in the sense of not being able to meet the obligations in term.

Biological labor risk

This section includes all activities that expose workers to allergies, toxicity or infections of any kind.This is related to the chemical risk , and may exist in various areas, even the least obvious; For example, certain products used in hairdressers to treat hair can be very harmful to the respiratory system, especially if the room is not properly ventilated.

Electrical work risk

It is one of the most common in most work environments although, in general, the danger of using electricity is not taken into account .It is very important to identify all tasks that may expose workers to this risk, either accidentally or through activities that are specifically based on the manipulation of high-voltage devices or connections voltage .

Risks that affect the senses

Among the most difficult risks to notice or measure are those that generate damage through our senses.For example, poor lighting in the workplace can lead to pain head, eye fatigue, stress and, consequently, unnecessary accidents; As if that were not enough, it can also have a negative impact on the position of the workers.

Noise is another enemy of every worker.In the first place, it may require an inappropriate use of the voice to be heard by other people; but the worst of the consequences is the deafness , a risk of many work environments where noise is common currency.