There are many workplace hazards that can cause injuries or illnesses, especially to younger workers. A few of the most common reasons workers become sick or get injured on the job include their use of unsafe equipment, a lack of proper training or supervision, or an overall stressful environment. Young workers in particular are often put at risk when tasked with jobs they are not of age to perform.
Here are some examples of different work environments and their hazards:
Retail Work
Hazards include injuries from heavy lifting, slippery floors, repetitive motions, the use of different equipment, and the potential for the occurrence of violent crimes.
Food Service
Hazards in the food service industry include working with hot cooking materials, sharp equipment, heavy lifting, the potential for violent crime, and working with electricity.
Maintenance/Janitorial Services
Hazards in the janitorial fields include slippery flooring, heaving lifting, biohazards, dangerous cleaning chemicals, and electric equipment use including working around water.
Office Work
Hazards in an office environment include repetitive motions, stress, and strain from sitting for long periods of time.
Construction Work
Hazards in construction include use of machines and tools, electrical work, hazardous materials, falls, confined working areas, vehicle accidents, and the presence of loud noises.
Industrial Work
Hazards included in industrial work are working with hazardous materials and chemicals, using heavy equipment, excessive heat, and loud noises.
Agricultural Work
Hazards in agricultural work include working with large, heavy equipment, falls, working with electricity, using chemicals, environmental dust, and sun exposure.
Outdoor Work
Hazards associated with outdoor work include exposure to the sun and weather elements such as lightning, working electricity, working near water, use of chemicals and hazardous materials, heavy lifting, falls, and excessive loud noises.
