Final answer:
Knowledge of safety procedures refers to understanding the specific actions and protocols to maintain safety, while awareness of safety hazards is about recognizing the potential risks and dangers in an environment. Both are crucial for preventing accidents and ensuring a safe workplace or laboratory.
Step-by-step explanation:
The difference between knowledge of safety procedures and awareness of safety hazards is significant. Knowledge of safety procedures involves understanding the specific actions, behaviors, and protocols that one must follow to ensure personal and collective safety in a given environment. For example, knowing where safety equipment like a fire extinguisher or an eyewash station is located and how to use them appropriately is part of safety procedures. On the other hand, awareness of safety hazards is about recognizing the potential dangers or risks in a workplace or laboratory setting. It includes understanding the meaning of common hazard signs, the risks posed by various chemicals, biological agents, or machinery, and the legal rights and responsibilities as outlined by acts like the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) and regulations enforced by organizations such as OSHA. This awareness is crucial as it enables individuals to identify and avoid or report unsafe conditions before accidents can occur.
For instance, employers are required under OSHA to inform workers about chemical hazards and train them to handle such dangers properly. Awareness of safety hazards would mean knowing that certain clothing may be a safety risk, maintaining proper personal hygiene to avoid contamination, and understanding the risks involved with different types of electric hazards, such as thermal and shock hazards. A safety engineer's concern about accidents caused by failure to follow instructions highlights the importance of both knowledge and awareness--employees need to be trained (knowledge) but also vigilant (awareness) in recognizing when instructions are necessary for safety.
In summary, the main difference is that knowledge is about the 'how-to' aspect, while awareness is about recognizing the 'what could happen' aspect in the context of safety in the workplace or a laboratory.