Youth @ WorkLESSON TWO: FINDING HAZARDS

Hazards1. Safety hazards can cause immediate accidents and injuries. Examples: hot surfaces or slippery floors.2. Chemical hazards are gases, vapors, liquids, or dusts that can harm your body. Examples: cleaning products or pesticides.3. Biological hazards are living things that can cause diseases such as

flu, AIDS, Hepatitis, Lyme Disease, and TB. Examples: bacteria, viruses, or insects. In the workplace, you can be exposed to biological hazards through contact with used needles, sick children, animals, etc.

4. Other health hazards are harmful things, not in the other categories, that can injure you or make you sick. These hazards are sometimes less obvious because they may not cause health problems right away. Examples: noise or repetitive movements.

Chemicals How can chemicals get inside your body?

When you breathe them in, swallow them, or get them on your skin. How can chemicals harm you?

Chemicals can cause many different kinds of symptoms, such as dizziness and breathing problems, and health effects like burns and more serious diseases like cancer, or failure of a vital organ such as the liver.

What are some ways to find out how a chemical product might harm you and how to protect yourself from it? The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is the federal government

agency that enforces worker health and safety laws. Some states also have state OSHA programs.

OSHA says that workers have a right to get information about the chemicals used in their workplace. Employers must train workers in how to use those chemicals safely, and teach them what to do if there is a chemical spill or other chemical emergency.

Other Information

To find out more about the chemicals in a product, you can:

Check the label

Ask your supervisor

Get training

Call a resource agency or check their website

Look at the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for the product.

Find the Hazards: Fast Food

Find the Hazards: Grocery Store

Find the Hazards: The Office

Find the Hazards: Gas Station