Risks in University Workplaces
Legislative Decree 81/08 requires employers to prevent and eliminate risks associated with work activities. To this end, it is necessary to identify and classify the risks to which workers may be exposed.
General risks are those that are widely encountered in all activities and can, therefore, affect all individuals, regardless of the specific work circumstances in which they are involved. These include, for example, the general risk of fire, the consequences of adverse weather events, seismic risk, and situations affecting public safety (reporting or identifying the presence of explosive devices, armed threats, the presence of a mentally unbalanced person, terrorist acts, etc.).
Specific risks, on the other hand, are those specific to the context in which the activity is carried out.
The individual form for the assessment of potential exposure to occupational risks.
The individual form collects a series of information, necessary to assess the risk and activate health surveillance where required.
Completing the individual form is an integral part of the risk assessment process and the identification of prevention and protection measures, including the indication of any personal protective equipment and protective clothing required.
The individual form must be:
- completed before the start of the activities, by the person responsible for teaching or laboratory research, the Department Director, or the Directorate, through specially authorized personnel
- signed by the interested party for acknowledgement
- sent via email to the interested party.
The individual form does not need to be filled out for students who do not attend laboratories, for staff employed by companies operating at the University, or for guests whose presence is limited to the duration of events (conferences, conferences, congresses, etc.).
What risks might I encounter?
In a research or analysis laboratory it is possible to encounter risks linked to physical agents such as radiation, which are divided into two main groups:
- Ionizing radiation (includes X-rays, gamma rays, etc.), has sufficient energy to induce ionization (creation of electrically charged atoms or molecules - ions) in the matter with which it interacts
- Non-ionizing radiation (NIR), which does not induce the phenomenon of ionization.
The effects on health depend on several factors, including the type of radiation, the amount of exposure, and how it occurs. Ionizing radiation (X-rays, gamma rays, etc.) is present in the medical sector, for example, in diagnostic radiology or radiotherapy equipment. In research laboratories, for example, equipment that generates X-rays: diffractometers, imaging systems, irradiators of biological preparations, and unsealed radioactive substances.
Non-ionizing radiation (NIR) is linked to the presence of electromagnetic fields (electrical substations, microwave cooking and/or sterilization ovens, metal detectors, anti-theft systems - RFID), artificial optical radiation (UV lamps).
Furthermore, there are risks associated with the use of chemical agents such as substances or preparations with toxic, harmful, irritant, sensitizing, carcinogenic, and mutagenic properties. The risks arise from exposure through inhalation, ingestion, or skin contact.
Finally, biological risks associated with working in an environment where biological agents such as viruses, bacteria, or parasites capable of causing infections, allergies, or poisoning may be present. The risk arises from possible accidental contact, ingestion, or inhalation, which could occur, for example, in a laboratory where human blood samples potentially contaminated by such agents are analysed.
In a hybrid space where academic and productive activities overlap, such as in the facilities of the School of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, it is possible to encounter additional risks.
In these places there are substances that are dangerous for safety, which can therefore cause accidents or injuries if not used or stored correctly, such as chemical agents:
- flammable substances, which if stored in areas with poor ventilation and air exchange can cause fires
- explosive substances
- oxidizing substances (which react with a fuel to cause combustion)
- corrosive substances (which cause corrosion if an acid is spilled on living tissue).
Added to these risks are those due to physical agents such as noise.
Exposure to noise can cause noticeable damage; for example, very loud noises can cause a tear in the eardrum. However, even less loud noises but above 80-85 decibels, can cause hearing loss in case of long periods of exposure.
Or the risks associated with mechanical vibrations transmitted, depending on the case, to the hand-arm system or the entire body, which can cause vascular, osteoarticular, neurological, or muscular disorders. For example, driving a tractor on uneven terrain can cause lumbago and spinal trauma in particular.
In any workplace, attention must be paid to manual handling of loads, which involves the transport or support of a load by one or more workers, including lifting, placing, pushing, pulling, carrying, or moving a load. These activities, due to their characteristics or as a result of unfavourable ergonomic conditions, can pose health risks such as biomechanical overload disorders, particularly dorsal-lumbar. The risk of developing these disorders can also be linked to repetitive movements of others during work.
Safety signage
Safety signage is one of the main prevention tools and is a quick and effective way to attract attention. The term "signage" includes signs, colours, light or sound signals, verbal communications, and hand signals that provide an indication or instruction regarding safety and health in the workplace.