When entering a company, an aspect that applicants and subsequent collaborators often overlook is that which corresponds to occupational hazards. Although an obligation that employers have is to guarantee affiliation to ARL, what is an occupational risk must be taken into account. According to the NCH18000, of the Risk Management System, it is “the combination of the probability of damage occurring and the seriousness of the consequences it produces ” in the occurrence of an accident or illness at work that may reach to put at risk the health and both physical and psychological stability of the workers.
Below we tell you about the types of occupational risks that a collaborator can have when joining a company, since according to Gina García, labor lawyer and specialist in occupational safety and health, they can be classified by the level of exposure and also for the factors:
– Physical risks:
They are caused by extreme thermal contacts, exposure to solar radiation, exposure to extreme temperatures, lighting, ionizing radiation, noise, ambient temperature, vibrations and abnormal atmospheric pressure.
– Chemical Risks:
These occupational risks are produced by uncontrolled chemical agents and by the environment.
– Biological risks:
Biological risk is one that arises from occupational exposure to biological contaminants (microorganisms that can cause damage to the worker), and accidents caused by living beings (animals and insects).
– Mechanical risks:
In this, the use of tools that can cause an accident in the worker who manipulates them, entrapment in facilities, entrapment by or between objects, entrapment due to overturning of machines or loads, hit by a vehicle, fall of people to the same is contemplated. level, work at heights, fall handling of objects, confined spaces, collision with immovable objects, collision with moving objects, collision with detached objects, direct electrical contacts, indirect electrical contacts, collapse collapse, uneven surfaces, handling of explosives, handling of products flammable, projection of particles.
Also, puncture of lower extremities, immersion of liquids or particulate material and handling of sharp tools.
– Ergonomic risks:
They are derived from inappropriate positions and postures, overexertion, handling of loads, indoor air quality (Carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration levels in offices greater than 1000 ppm generate discomfort and fatigue), forced positions, workstation with screen of data visualization, thermal comfort (heat produced by the body) and repetitive movements.
– Psychosocial risks:
These risks are caused by factors such as rotating shifts, night work, work under pressure, high responsibility, mental overload, meticulousness of the task, monotonous work, job instability, communication deficits, inadequate supervision, inadequate or deteriorated interpersonal relationships, demotivation, family uprooting, aggression or mistreatment, dealing with clients and users, criminal threat and emotional instability
– Environmental risks:
These are the only ones that we cannot control, since they are the possibility of a catastrophe occurring due to human action or a natural phenomenon.
Once the risks have been identified, their possible elimination, substitution, engineering control, administrative control and/or the use of equipment and personal protection elements must be verified.
Knowing the typology of occupational risks that a collaborator may face; we tell you which are the most common in face-to-face and remote work environments:
With regard to occupational accidents, the ones that occur the most are traffic accidents, entrapment of extremities in machinery, which can generate blows, cuts and amputations of upper or lower limbs. In addition, falls, from height or level, which can cause trauma. And if we talk about diseases, the most common in Colombia are carpal tunnel syndrome, unspecified lumbago and bilateral sensorineural hearing loss (gradual hearing loss).
With work done remotely, ergonomic risks are the most common. Neck pain, shoulder strain, forearm tenosynovitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and De Quervain’s syndrome can occur due to poor posture. It should be noted that there is also a psychosocial risk, since working remotely can trigger stress or depression in many cases.