Four Different Hazards as Listed under WHMIS

There are 4 different hazards as listed in the Occupational Health and Safety Act, they are listed below:

• Physical Agents
• Chemical & Biological Agents
• Psychosocial Hazards

Physical Agents are the most common in construction, and there are 4 different types being, thermal stress, vibration, radiation and noise. All of these hazards can have a life long effect and may not be able to be treated. Every employer must take into account that the health and safety of their employee's depends on the success of the business. To prevent physical agents from happening workers must wear their personal protective equipment, supervisors and employers must follow the guidelines, train and educate workers on the potential hazards involved in the workplace.

There are a number of different ways chemicals can get in the body, including, ingestion, penetration, respiration, and skin absorption. It may be bacteria, spray paint, and aerosols. These sort of agents can be prevented by taking the necessary measures for every issue that could cause illness or injury, such as cleaning up a spilled mess, notifying a supervisor or employer of unsafe chemicals around, and make sure there is a room for toxic chemicals that may pose a hazard.

Psychosocial hazards are stressors in the workplace environment that cause a significant amount of stress on the worker. Stress can possibly have some serious consequences, employees exposed to constant or high levels of stress may cause strain reactions that may be psychosocial, physical, organizational or behavioural (Kelloway & Francis, 2011, p.184).