Your Body at Work

How does the body fight hazards?

The human body has natural defense systems which help to protect you against many hazards (dangers). These defence systems also help the body to heal (repair) itself when it gets injured or sick. However, there are hazards — arising from bacteria, viruses, chemicals, dusts, vapours, noise, extreme temperatures, work processes, etc. — to which you may be exposed (which are around you) at work or in the general environment, that can break down (weaken) the body's defence systems.

What kinds of hazards exist in the workplace? Some common hazards that may be in your workplace include:

• chemical hazards, arising from liquids, solids, dusts, fumes, vapours, gases;
• physical hazards, such as noise, vibration, unguarded machinery, unsatisfactory lighting, radiation, extreme temperatures (hot or cold);
• biological hazards, from bacteria, viruses, infestations, infectious waste;
• psychological hazards, resulting from stress and strain;
• non-application of ergonomic principles, resulting in poorly designed machinery and tools or poorly designed work practices.

Since your body's defense systems cannot always win the fight against these hazards, it is important for you to learn what hazards exist in your workplace and what controls are necessary to prevent exposures. Hazard awareness will help you when you work with your union and employer to eliminate hazards.



Points to remember

1.  Occupational exposure to hazards can break down your body's defense systems. 2.  Occupational hazards need to be controlled for a workplace to be safe and healthful. 3.  Some common workplace hazards are:

·         chemical hazards ·         physical hazards ·         biological hazards ·         psychological hazards ·         non-application of ergonomic principles

4.  It is important to learn about occupational hazards, including how exposure to such dangers can affect your health and how to protect yourself from exposure to such dangers in the workplace. 

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How do hazardous agents get into the body?

If you look at a diagram of the human body you can see that it is exposed to the outside world through a variety of surfaces. These include the skin, lungs, nose, mouth and the digestive, urinary, and genital tracts. Hazardous agents (e.g. chemicals and micro-organisms such as bacteria and viruses) can get into the body through any of these surfaces. The most common routes of entry are: A. Inhalation

More hazardous agents get into your body by inhalation (by being breathed in) than by any other route.

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Your body has several built-in mechanisms which can act as warning signals when hazards are present:

• smell
• sneezing
• coughing
• a runny nose

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B. Absorption

Your skin is also a major route of entry for hazardous agents in the workplace. Diseases can develop when chemicals and other materials used at work come into contact with your skin.

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C. Ingestion

Hazardous agents can also get into the body by ingestion.

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