Physical Hazards

These hazards can harm the body and/or influence or stop the effective functioning thereof.

Examples include:

• Fire and explosion – The hazard is the fire, where you are exposed to danger, while the risk is that the fire can cause severe burns and injuries.
• Extreme heat – working in a steel mill or very deep underground. The hazard is the extreme heat and the risk is injury due to heat exhaustion
• Extreme cold – working outdoors in winter or in a cold room. The extreme cold is the hazard while the risk is injury due to frost bite.
• Noise – working with pneumatic (powered by compressed air) tools and equipment such as drills and jackhammers or being a member of The Rolling Stones. The hazard is the loud noise, while the risk is damage to your hearing due to the loud noise.
• Radiation – from exposure to arc welding, X-rays or radioactive material. Being exposed to radiation is a hazardous condition and the risk is damage to your health due to the radiation
• Water – drowning and flooding. Water is the hazard and the risk is drowning.

Extreme physical conditions – continuous vibration experienced by drivers of heavy vehicles, the effect of extreme g-forces on fighter- and aerobatic pilots, the effect of high pressure on divers, etc.  The physical conditions are the hazards and the risks are injury