27/08/2025
What is Occupational Health and Safety (OHS)?
Occupational Health and Safety (also called Workplace Health and Safety, WHS) refers to the policies, laws, procedures, and practices put in place to protect the health, safety, and welfare of people at work.
It aims to:
Prevent workplace accidents and injuries.
Protect workers from hazards (physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic, and psychosocial).
Promote workers’ well-being.
Ensure compliance with legal and regulatory standards.
Objectives of OHS
1. Prevention of accidents and injuries – making sure the work environment is safe.
2. Health protection – reducing exposure to harmful substances, stress, and unsafe practices.
3. Legal compliance – meeting government and international safety standards.
4. Promoting a safety culture – encouraging both employers and employees to take responsibility.
5. Improved productivity – healthy workers are more productive and motivated.
Key Components of OHS
To keep workers safe, OHS covers several important areas:
a) Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment
Identifying potential hazards (unsafe machines, toxic chemicals, heavy lifting, noise, stress, etc.).
Assessing the risk (likelihood and severity).
Controlling or eliminating the hazards.
b) Safety Policies and Procedures
Written rules and guidelines on safe work practices.
Emergency procedures (fire, accidents, chemical spills).
Proper training for workers.
c) Workplace Environment
Proper ventilation, lighting, temperature control.
Ergonomic furniture and tools to reduce strain injuries.
Clean and organized workspace.
d) Protective Measures
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) like helmets, gloves, masks, safety boots.
Safety signs and warnings.
Machine guards and safety devices.
e) Health Programs
Regular medical check-ups.
Stress management and mental health support.
Vaccinations or protection against occupational diseases.
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Types of Workplace Hazards
OHS deals with many categories of hazards:
1. Physical Hazards – noise, vibration, radiation, slips, trips, falls.
2. Chemical Hazards – toxic fumes, dust, solvents, acids, gases.
3. Biological Hazards – bacteria, viruses, fungi (common in healthcare, labs, food processing).
4. Ergonomic Hazards – poor posture, repetitive movements, heavy lifting.
5. Psychosocial Hazards – stress, harassment, long working hours, job insecurity.
6. Mechanical Hazards – moving machinery parts, tools, vehicles
