Physical and Human Factor Hazards

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Reaction Paper- Physical and Human Factor Hazards
Managing physical and human factor hazards is critical in controlling organizational risks. Physical hazards are those that can trigger harm to an employee without necessarily being touched (Colin et al., 2021). They include live electrical wires, fire, and extreme temperatures. On the other hand, human factor hazards can be seen in an employee or operator. They may include violations of the rules of safety, such as fatigue, failure to be attentive, and intoxication (Gander et al., 2017). When these two types of hazards are not effectively managed, they may lead to accidents and a lack of optimal performance within the organization.
The practices and processes involved in managing physical and human factor hazards are not identical. However, some similarities exist, such as identifying the specific hazard, assessing the degree of risk, training employers and operators within the organization, and conducting continuous development and improvement toward curbing the identified risk. The differences can be traced to the varying interventions and strategies needed in the processes. For instance, managing physical hazards will require handy interventions such as the use of protective equipment such as gloves, practical engineering solutions, and devoted compliance and adherence to safety rules and standard operations. On the other hand, managing human factor hazards will require specific adjustments in how the management relates with the employees and may include managing their working hours to make them favorable, enhancing and working toward a healthy work culture, listening to employees, and taking their suggestions, and offering continuous professional education.
The same safety management systems cannot be used and applied to both hazards. Each type of hazard is unique and ...