What is an occupational hazard?

An occupational hazard is any condition, material or process in the workplace that may cause illness, injury or unsafe conditions for employees. In industrial environments, common occupational health hazards include airborne dust, fumes, smoke, oil mist and chemical aerosols that may create short- or long-term health risks. These hazards are often generated during cutting, grinding, welding, conveying, machining, mixing or thermal processing.