There are many things that affect the health of a person, such as his environment, his lifestyle, etc. Unknown to many, work is an important determinant of health. It can influence health in a positive or in a negative way. Do you feel comfortable at work? How safe is your workplace? Do you think that you are giving all you have for your work but it seems that it never is enough?

There are just some of the questions you need to ask in order to assess whether your workplace is healthy to be in or not. A place that is safe, healthy and work-conducive entails more productivity. In fact, with a healthy workplace you will be doing more work with less effort.

Hazards and Risks in the Workplace --- Hazard is a term used to describe something that has the potential to cause harm. Risk, on the other hand, is a measure of the possibility of a specific harmful effect in given circumstances. It is very important to know the difference between a hazard and a risk.

Types of workplace hazards include:

• Safety hazards: Inadequate and insufficient machine guards, unsafe workplace conditions, unsafe work practices.
• Biological hazards: Caused by organisms such as viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites.
• Chemical hazards: Solid, liquid, vapor or gaseous chemicals, dust, fume or mist.
• Ergonomic hazards: Anatomical, physiological, and psychological demands on the worker, such as repetitive and forceful movements, vibration, extreme temperatures, and awkward postures arising from improper work methods and improperly designed workstations, tools, and equipment.
• Physical hazards: Noise, vibration, energy, weather, electricity, radiation and pressure.
• Psychological hazards: Those that are basically causing stress to a worker. This kind of hazard troubles an individual very much to an extent that his general well-being is affected.