Hazards

Introduction   

In reference to the different news that came up several times regarding hazards in social works reflects that helping someone is impossible without facing any kind of hazard. Social work is a wide thing that can be defined from different aspects. Being in an NGO and then doing something for society is not what social work means. Social work is something that shields much more than that. For example, giving a loan to someone when needed irrespective of not a relative or family member also comes under social work. Apart from helping a stranger, doing the needful for stray animals is also defined as social work. However the term ‘social work’ also shields some disrespectful matters inside its glory. Typically all social workers suffer through any kind of hazard at least once in their pathway. Furthermore, in this study, we will discuss different aspects and the impacts of social hazard in several areas. 

Discussion   

Meaning of Hazard 

The term ‘hazard‘ typically refers to any potential damage, adverse effect of the concern, or any harm caused from any source. To be specific to the subject ‘social work’ hazard is a very common term that comes into the journey. In general, hazards in any workplace such as social work indicates the risks that the social workers face. It can be of two types meaning a hazard can be caused through external factors and on the other side hazard can be defined as any harm to someone’s health potentially during work. 

Hazard and social work 

For the social workers, it is difficult to help a client without accepting any reverse hazard from it. For example, the scenario of borrowing money from someone and not repaying it can make the situation hazardous for the social worker. Other than that, helping an unknown and the helping person may be deceived in a drastic situation. Many people choose to avoid when they see a driver with his car or any homeless person is stuck on the roadside but most of the people choose to drive. For social workers they do not choose driving. The risk of any kind of loss is much higher for the social workers since they have already been put in a vulnerable position as often. The type of these hazards or risks varies depending on the type of the social work and also the nature of the work environment. It includes the circumstances that motivate the social work and the workers. In most cases among the social activity aspects, the risks include “stress-related illnesses”, physical hazards, and the client’s situation. In further discussion, the study will discuss all these types of hazards.

Types of hazards social workers face 

From the aspect of social work, types of hazards can be categorized in three sections as already mentioned earlier. These are:  

• Stress-related illnesses: In several studies, it has been found that the stress level affects the performance of social work. Some responses also went on that describe that the social workers use alcohol to suppress the stress. In most common cases stress causes in social work from a jumble of complex factors. These factors include poor counseling at the workplace, oversight lack ness, over workload compared with the time. 
• Physical hazards: Physical hazards can cause through different sub-factors such as environmental hazards as the social workers frequently visit the areas that are close to or below the poverty line. Hence the work action does not take place with comfort in terms of exposure to pathogens, molds, and wrapped steps.  Therefore it increases the risk of illness or hazard. 
• Hazard developed from the client’s situation: While dealing with the clients sometimes the social workers face aggressive behavior. This also affects the mental health of the social worker resulting in stress. In this context, the most related scenario comes with the client who uses or consumes drugs. 

Hazards of working in the glass bangles industry 

Poor workers in the glass bangle industry work in potentially hazardous work conditions during glass blowing, soldering pieces, and welding. The furnaces in which the workers operate have extremely high temperatures and poor ventilation. This working environment can hamper the worker’s health. Moreover, endless work in a low light environment without any protective equipment such as protective eyewear, gloves can cause blindness. Along with that, the workers’ weld colored pieces of glass to the circle of bangles. Hence their eyes are more in tune with the darkness than the light outside. This is the reason workers in the glass bangle industry often lose their sight before reaching adulthood.

Burns and cuts are very common in the glass bangle industry. Here workers suffer from diseases such as lung cancer due to improper ventilation. These are some major hazards of working in the glass bangles industry. 

Management techniques to overcome hazards in social work 

Before moving into the management activity social workers must try to gather and determine as much information as possible about the situation before and during the intervention to ensure potential risks. Experts have mentioned that the management technique to overcome hazards in social work only will be effective if it’s properly observed. The term risk management is not a single action rather it is a complete operational process, which includes identifying the risk, assessing the risk based on its likelihood and impacts, and lastly managing the risk. 

Conclusion 

‘Social work‘ the term itself reflects a prestigious position however it has many aspects that are not so glorious. Social workers often face some hazards that impact not only their work performance but it also affects their personal life to some extent. In the discussion, it is tried to give a brief overview of these aspects with their probable resolution.