There are two types of hazards: physical hazards and health hazards. Physical hazards will result in immediate injury to the body. The effects of health hazards may be felt within moments or over a prolonged period from initial exposure and are primarily concerned with illness or disease.
There are four ways hazardous materials can enter the body:
- Ingestion: Inadvertently swallowing hazardous materials.
- Absorption: Occurs when hazardous material enters the body through the skin or an open wound.
- Inhalation: Breathing in hazardous fumes.
- Injection: Occurs when a needle containing hazardous material pierces the skin.