Physical Occupational Safety

Occupational safety is a vital aspect of a healthy and efficient workplace. Occupational safety is regulated in the United States of America by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The administration sets the standards followed by nearly every company in the nation.

Consequences of Failing to Regulate Safety Hazards

Thousands of people have died in the United States of America due to improperly followed or enforced safety regulations. Many workplace environments are dangerous settings for people who are unaware of potential threats, particularly if their employers have not complied with the standards set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Identification of Safety Hazards

Physical safety hazards are identified through routine inspections of the facility in which employees perform their jobs. The inspection is often performed by a qualified employee, the employers, and occasionally by officials trained or employed by OSHA. Once the risk is identified, an analysis of the surrounding processes, the employees involved in them, and any other people is done in order to identify the risk level posed by the safety hazard.

Assessment of Safety Hazards

Two approaches are taken to assess the threats posed by physical safety hazards, they are the hazard based approach and the risk based approach. The hazard based approach seeks to control or eliminate threats at their source, the approach allows no form of acceptable safety hazards.

Risk based safety hazards assessments are more commonly used by companies as they minimize cost and allow for minimal, low-risk hazards that are extremely expensive or impractical to eliminate.