Specific Risks
Introduction
An occupational hazard or occupational hazard is a risk experienced in the workplace. Occupational hazards can encompass many types of hazards, including chemical hazards, biological hazards (biological hazards), psychosocial hazards, and physical hazards. In the United States, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) conducts workplace investigations and research addressing workplace health and safety hazards that result in guidelines.[1] The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets enforceable standards to prevent injuries and illnesses in the workplace.[2] In the EU, EU-OSHA plays a similar role.
Occupational risk as a term means short- and long-term risks associated with the work environment and is a field of study within occupational safety and health and public health.[3] Short-term risks may include physical injury, while long-term risks may be an increased risk of developing cancer or heart disease.
In a landmark study, the World Health Organization, together with the International Labor Organization, estimated that the occupational risk with the highest burden of disease is exposure to long hours of work, that is, working 55 hours or more per week, with an estimated 745,194 attributable deaths and 23.3 million disability-adjusted life years due to cardiovascular disease alone.[4].
Risks linked to security conditions
Among the main risks you can find:[5].
Chemical hazards
Contenido
Los peligros químicos son un subtipo de peligros ocupacionales que involucran químicos peligrosos. La exposición a productos químicos en el lugar de trabajo puede causar efectos perjudiciales para la salud agudos o a largo plazo. Existen muchas clasificaciones de sustancias químicas peligrosas, que incluyen neurotoxinas, agentes inmunes, agentes dermatológicos, carcinógenos, toxinas reproductivas, toxinas sistémicas, asmagenos"), agentes neumoconióticos y sensibilizadores.[6].
El NIOSH establece límites de exposición recomendados (REL) y recomienda medidas preventivas sobre sustancias químicas específicas con el fin de reducir o eliminar los efectos negativos para la salud de la exposición a esas sustancias químicas.[7] Además, NIOSH mantiene un índice de peligros químicos basado en su nombre químico,[8] Número de registro del Servicio de Resúmenes Químicos (CAS No.)[9] y Número RTECS.[10].