Occupational Health

Question 1

What is a hazard?

Answer 1

Refers to agents in the workplace which have the capacity to cause harm e.g. noise, chemicals

Question 2

What is a risk?

Answer 2

The likelihood or possibility of a harmful event occurring due to exposure to a hazard
Risk = exposure x harmfulness

Question 3

Health risk assessment

Answer 3

A systematic identification of all hazardous agents in a workplace, and an assessment of the degrees to which they pose a risk to employees

Question 4

5 categories of hazards

Answer 4

Physical: noise, temperature, radiation, vibration, light/dark
Chemical: fumes, liquids, powders
Biological: animal products, viruses, bacteria, fungi
Ergonomic: workstation design, repetitive actions, awkward posture
Psychosocial: stress, shift work, nature of work

Question 5

Hierarchy of control for managing risk

Answer 5

Elimination
Substitution
Engineering
Administrative
Behaviour
PPE

Question 6

OHSA

Answer 6

Occupational health and safety act
Non-mining law, preventive
1993
Penalties, fines and jail sentences

Question 7

MHSA

Answer 7

Mines health and safety act
Mining law, preventive
1996
Penalties, fines and jail sentences

Question 8

ODMWA

Answer 8

Occupational diseases in mines and works act
Mining law
1993
Disability and death compensation designed uniquely for mines and quarries

Question 9

COIDA

Answer 9

Compensation for occupational injuries and diseases act
Mining and non-mining law
1993
Compensation act, for injuries and diseases
Cover for medical care, and compensation for loss of income as well as permanent disablement or death

Question 10

Occupational disease

Answer 10

An illness which is directly or indirectly attributable to workplace exposure