**4. Overview of occupational hazards**

Before proceeding, it is important to define and/or explain some key terms such as occupation, and hazard. According to Dictionary.com, occupation refers to any activity or vocation in which a person is engaged. It also means a person's usual work or business which serves as a means of earning a living. Hazards refer to anything that has the potential of causing harm to people, environment and/or properties. A hazard is an unpleasant or undesirable event, situation or condition that takes place and has adverse effects on people. That is, any event that poses some level of potential threat or risk to life, health, property and the environment. While hazard is something that can cause harm, a risk is the chance that a hazard could harm somebody. To Ahmed, Dosoki and Nasr [18], hazard refers to the presence of materials or conditions that have the tendency to cause loss or harm or a combination of the severity of consequences and likelihood of occurrence of undesired outcomes. Based on this background, Breeding [19] defined occupational hazards as risks, illnesses or accidents that take place in the workplace. That is, unpleasant situations experienced by workers while doing their job. While making their contribution on the subject, Ford and Tetrick [20] described occupational hazard as an aspect of one's occupation-specific context that increases one's risk of injury. Any working condition that can lead to illness or death is an occupational hazard [21].

Hazards can occur at any time and at any place depending on the complexities of the work situation, environment and equipment used. Occupational hazards could result from the nature of materials/equipment being used, environment under which work is being done as well as the people involved in specific activities. Sadullah and Kanten [22] also classified the causes of occupational hazards into unsafe work conditions and unsafe behaviors. The fisheries industry like other agricultural activities especially in the developing countries is one that involves people of different age categories such as children and adults. Hazards are likely to occur more with children as they are not physically and psychologically matured enough to take part in fisheries operations. The use of inappropriate equipment by workers in the fisheries industry could even make adults vulnerable to occupational hazards. In fisheries, hazards could occur during harvesting/fish capture, processing, and handling and even during transportation of fish.

In relation to occupational health and safety, primary categories of hazards have been identified by authors as physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic and behavioural hazards [23–24].

#### **4.1 Physical hazards**

**Physical hazards** are materials, substances or activities that threaten a worker's physical safety. According to Harwood [25], physical hazards involve environmental hazards that can cause harm with or without contact. They are injuries that occur on one's body parts such as hands, eyes, legs, etc. They are often the most common in any workplace. They include noise, heat and cold stress, bruises from fall, illumination, vibration, and electromagnetic radiation.

**19**

**4.2 Chemical hazards**

**Figure 1.**

**Figure 2.**

*et al. [26].*

**Figure 3.**

**4.3 Biological hazards**

These are subtype of occupational hazards resulting from exposure to harmful and dangerous chemical compounds. Chemicals in the form of solids, liquids, gases, fumes, dusts, mists and vapour could have toxic effects on workers if inhaled through breathing, direct contact with the skin (absorption), or ingested by eating or drinking [5]. Hazardous chemicals include neurotoxins, immune agents, derma-

*Whitlow (finger infection). Source: www.emedicinehealth.com/fingerinfection/articleem.htm cited in Olaoye* 

These are hazards in the workplace caused by biological agents such as microorganisms and toxins produced by living organisms [26]. They exist in exposure to bacteria, virus, fungi and other living organisms. Fisheries and other occupations

tologic toxins, systemic toxins, pneumoconiotic agents, and sensitizers.

*Burn injuries. Source: www.elginburninjurylawyer.co cited in Olaoye et al. [26].*

*Occupational Health Hazards Associated with Nigerian Fisheries*

*Bruise from fall. Source: www.ibtimes.com cited in Olaoye et al. [26].*

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.94205*

Some of the physical hazards are pictorially shown in **Figures 1**–**5** below.

*Occupational Health Hazards Associated with Nigerian Fisheries DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.94205*

**Figure 1.** *Bruise from fall. Source: www.ibtimes.com cited in Olaoye et al. [26].*

#### **Figure 2.**

*Occupational Wellbeing*

occupational hazard [21].

ioural hazards [23–24].

**4.1 Physical hazards**

handling and even during transportation of fish.

among others, affect workers performance [17].

**4. Overview of occupational hazards**

It could be summarized that unsafe and unhealthy workplace environment, especially in terms of poor ventilation, inappropriate lighting, excessive noise

Before proceeding, it is important to define and/or explain some key terms such as occupation, and hazard. According to Dictionary.com, occupation refers to any activity or vocation in which a person is engaged. It also means a person's usual work or business which serves as a means of earning a living. Hazards refer to anything that has the potential of causing harm to people, environment and/or properties. A hazard is an unpleasant or undesirable event, situation or condition that takes place and has adverse effects on people. That is, any event that poses some level of potential threat or risk to life, health, property and the environment. While hazard is something that can cause harm, a risk is the chance that a hazard could harm somebody. To Ahmed, Dosoki and Nasr [18], hazard refers to the presence of materials or conditions that have the tendency to cause loss or harm or a combination of the severity of consequences and likelihood of occurrence of undesired outcomes. Based on this background, Breeding [19] defined occupational hazards as risks, illnesses or accidents that take place in the workplace. That is, unpleasant situations experienced by workers while doing their job. While making their contribution on the subject, Ford and Tetrick [20] described occupational hazard as an aspect of one's occupation-specific context that increases one's risk of injury. Any working condition that can lead to illness or death is an

Hazards can occur at any time and at any place depending on the complexities of the work situation, environment and equipment used. Occupational hazards could result from the nature of materials/equipment being used, environment under which work is being done as well as the people involved in specific activities. Sadullah and Kanten [22] also classified the causes of occupational hazards into unsafe work conditions and unsafe behaviors. The fisheries industry like other agricultural activities especially in the developing countries is one that involves people of different age categories such as children and adults. Hazards are likely to occur more with children as they are not physically and psychologically matured enough to take part in fisheries operations. The use of inappropriate equipment by workers in the fisheries industry could even make adults vulnerable to occupational hazards. In fisheries, hazards could occur during harvesting/fish capture, processing, and

In relation to occupational health and safety, primary categories of hazards have been identified by authors as physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic and behav-

**Physical hazards** are materials, substances or activities that threaten a worker's

physical safety. According to Harwood [25], physical hazards involve environmental hazards that can cause harm with or without contact. They are injuries that occur on one's body parts such as hands, eyes, legs, etc. They are often the most common in any workplace. They include noise, heat and cold stress, bruises from

Some of the physical hazards are pictorially shown in **Figures 1**–**5** below.

fall, illumination, vibration, and electromagnetic radiation.

**18**

*Whitlow (finger infection). Source: www.emedicinehealth.com/fingerinfection/articleem.htm cited in Olaoye et al. [26].*

**Figure 3.** *Burn injuries. Source: www.elginburninjurylawyer.co cited in Olaoye et al. [26].*
