5 Workplace Hazards That Can Affect Your Health

Work is an essential part of life because it helps us sustain human needs, financially. However, is it still helpful if it's already harming you?

The Healthy Juan discussed the five types of working hazards: Physical, Chemical, Biological, Ergonomic, and Psychosocial.

“Ang issue na ito ay napapanahon na pag-usapan para makapagbigay tayo ng mahahalagang impormasyon sa mga manggagawa tungkol sa mga posibleng panganib sa kanilang pinagta-trabahuhan,” said Engr. Elmer G. Benedictos, the Supervising Health Program Officer of the Department of Health.

The government declared construction, agriculture, and manufacturing as the top three industries with the highest number of deaths with connection to work.

Physical hazards are caused by noise, vibration, poor lighting, excessive heat or cold, radiation, and abnormal pressure. It is most evident in construction workers who get skin allergies from dust and sweat, hearing problem, eye infection, and even electrocution from accidents with power plugs and sockets.

According to the data of the International Labor Organization, six out of 10 construction workers believe that other construction workers have health problems.

Chemical hazards, also experienced by some construction workers, come from extreme chemical exposure. On the other hand, biological hazards affect health workers who are always in contact with people and diseases. Even butchers, farmers, and fishermen are sometimes exposed to biological hazards.

Offices workers are not safe from workplace hazards, especially with ergonomic hazard. It has something to do with unsuitable designs of office tools, like chairs or tables. It is also related to redundant or monotonous work, working continuously without a break, and lifting heavy objects.

The final workplace hazard is concerned with overworking and intense pressure. The psychosocial hazard is a condition that affects a worker's mental health, particularly their disposition and way of thinking. Actress and Bubble Gang beauty Arny Ross admitted to having experienced this from doing milk tea and nail spa business and show business side by side.

Learn how to prevent these five workplace hazards in this full episode of The Healthy Juan:

Watch "The Healthy Juan: Kalusugan, Kabuhayan, Kapaligiran" with Kapuso host Susan Enriquez on GMA News TV every Monday, 7:30 PM (Replays every Sunday at 5:30 PM) and Fridays, 6:30PM (Replays at 10:30 PM). #TheHealthyJuan