Kips IT Class 10 Chapter 25 Solutions Protecting Health and Safety at Work Part-B

A hazard is any agent that can cause harm or damage to human life, property, or the environment. A workplace hazard refers to a situation within the workplace that has the potential to cause injury or adverse health effects for people and damage to the plant or equipment. Hazards are present at every workplace and can occur due to a wide number of reasons.

At times, even with proper safety measures taken by the employers, workers still suffer injuries or illness due to some common hazards. Identifying these hazards at the workplace and educating the employees regarding avoiding potential injuries or illnesses during work can enhance their safety.

Every workplace has its own unique environment and equipment. It is important that all potential emergency situations, like accidents, injuries, and health issues should be anticipated and identified so as to be prepared with a proper response plan, when and if such incidences occur. This will result in controlling the threats to human life and damage to property. It should not be just a one-time activity but an ongoing process. Proper planning will result in an effective safety and health program at the workplace.

Exposure to Chemicals that are Hazardous to Health
• Hazardous chemicals or particulates absorbed by the skin, inhaled by a person or ingested by mistake can result in various adverse reactions, like skin problems, respiratory illness or even blindness
• Explosive or inflammable material, like alcohol-based cleaners may lead to fire
Exposure to Infectious Biological Agents
• Accidental exposure to microorganisms, like viruses, bacteria, or allergens
• By coming in contact with the infected animals, insects, or harmful plants
Environmental Factors
• Insufficiently-lit areas may result in accidental falls and trips
• Improperly-controlled temperature and humidity or inadequate ventilation at the workplace results in health issues

At the workplace, emergencies may arise due to several hazards. Often, the best protection in an emergency is to move out from where one is and shift to a safer place.

When there are emergencies, like fires, hazardous chemical spills, radiation leakages, terrorism threats, or some health crisis, the workplace may need to be evacuated.

For example, when a building catches fire, everyone in it must leave it and move out to a pre-decided safe area. The employers must advise their employees on evacuation procedures as a part of their training in order to minimise the damage caused by emergency situations.

Eating Healthy: It is said, ‘You are what you eat’. Having a healthy breakfast in the morning, lunch that is nutritious and avoiding junk and fried food are some of the key factors in maintaining one’s health. Having a well-balanced and healthy diet is important to avoid potential health problems and issues. Instead of having junk food as snacks, employees should have fruits, nuts, or other healthy food to stay in good health.
Maintaining Cleanliness and Hygiene: Office desks, copy machines, computer screens, and keyboards as well as mobile screens are some of the places that have a lot of microbes, which may cause infections. These and the other objects at the workplace must be cleaned regularly, using surface disinfectants and sanitising wipes. One must wash one’s hands regularly with soap to stay healthy and germ-free.
Maintain Distance from Sick Employees: One must avoid close contact with the employees who are suffering from some illness or disease to avoid getting infected with a communicable disease. Also, in case you are sick, you must stay at home to avoid infecting others.

Conclusion: Good health and fitness cannot be achieved overnight, which is why it is important to incorporate positive habits into your daily routine. This requires a long-term commitment and discipline, but will lead to a lot of benefits in terms of mental and physical wellbeing. Including these tips in day-to-day routine will help you in staying fit and fine.

When a workplace helps its employees to make wise food choices and active living, it leads to the following:

• Reduced risk of heart and other deadly diseases
• Motivation to work, good mood, high energy, and self-esteem
• Healthy living helps in reducing anxiety and stress
• Good mood leads to spending quality time with family and friends

The availability of healthy food at the workplace, like fresh fruits and dry fruits, healthy snacks, juices, and healthy food in the canteen as well as during official programs and meetings can establish a culture of eating healthy at the workplace. This would, in turn, result in employees making healthy food choices in their personal life too.