2.1 potential hazards in health and social care settings

What is a hazard?

Something that could cause harm

What is a risk?

How likely the hazard will cause harm

Hazard example

A wet floor

7 types of hazards

1. Biological

2. Chemical

3. Environmental

4. Working conditions

5. Physical

6. Poor working practices

7. Lack of security systems

Big cats eat waffles playing ping-pong loudly

Two types of biological hazards

1. Bodily fluids

2. Disease/infection

Where do biological hazards come from?

Either a living organism or their byproduct

Examples of bodily fluids (biological hazards)

• blood

• Urine

• Faeces

• Vomit

• Saliva

Examples of contact with bodily fluids (biological hazards)

Dentist - saliva

Hospitals - blood

How to prevent the spread of infection through biological hazards

• Clearing up bodily fluids promptly

• PPE changed between different service users - reduce risk of cross contamination

• Toilets should be cleaned regularly

• Beds and other surfaces should be cleaned between service users

Example of vulnerable service users more suspect to disease and why (biological hazards)

• Young people - do not have a fully developed immune system

• Ill people in hospital - weakened immune system

• Elderly people - weak immune system

What are chemical hazards

Substances that can cause harm through contact, inhalation or digestion

Two types of chemical hazards

1. Medicines e.g overdose

2. Cleaning e.g bleach

How can medicine be hazardous (chemical hazard)

• patients can be allergic to medicine

• New medication can react with old medication

• Risk of overdose which can be fatal

What do professionals need to know about medicine

• How to handle and dispose of it

• How to monitor the individual taking it

• Fully trained on how to administer it and training updated regularly

What must happen to medicine in HSC settings (chemical hazard)

• clearly labelled and prescribed

• Locked away

What must happen to cleaning materials in HSC settings (chemical hazard)

• follow instructions for storing and using them

Who is most at risk of chemical hazards

• dementia or confused patients as they mistake chemicals or medicine

Two environmental hazards

1. Temperature

2. Noise

Who is most vulnerable to extreme temperatures (environmental hazard)

• very young children - not able to regulate body temperature

• People who are ill

• Older people

Risks of temperature (environmental hazard)

• Too hot - dehydration

• Cold environments - hypothermia, increased illness risk

How to reduce risk of heat exhaustion (environmental hazard)

• access to cold drinks

• Appropriate clothing

What should settings do to reduce the risk of falling outside in cold weather (environmental hazard)

Clear ice to prevent slipping on the way in

Risk management of temperature (environmental hazard)

• heating and cooling systems

• Adequate ventilation

• Regular monitoring of room temperature

Examples of noise hazards (environmental hazard)

• Beeping equipment

• Staff talking loudly

• Maintenance work

• Televisions - on a high setting if someone has a hearing impairment

Risks of noise hazards (environmental hazard)

• High noise levels - stress and anxiety

• Communication difficulties - mistakes in care

• Hearing damage

Two types of working conditions hazards

• Moving and handling

• Equipment used

A type of moving and handling + example (working condition hazard)

• Manual handling (movement of people or objects)

• e.g transferring a patient to a bed from a trolley

Impact of manual handling (moving and handling, working condition hazards)

Too much strain on the back → long term damage

How can equipment used cause harm (working condition hazard)

• electric beds can crushing injuries

• Hoist can crush individuals if not used correctly

Impacts of poor working conditions (moving and handling + equipment used)

• physical harm

• Poor physical health

• Poor standard of care

Two types of physical hazards

1. Slips and trips

2. Radiation

Causes of slips and trips

• Uneven floors

• Poor fitting footwear

• Objects left on the floor

How to reduce exposure of radiation and why (physical hazard)

• Workers stand behind a protective screen during x rays

→ causes damage to cells and can lead to a higher risk of cancer

Two types of poor working practices

• Working hours and breaks

• Supervision

Impact of long working hours with insufficient breaks

• Extreme tiredness - fustrated with service user

• Lack of concentration - mistakes

• Burnout - go off sick - understaffed

Impact of lack of supervision ( poor working practices)

• mistakes going unnoticed

• Procedures not carried out properly

• Leave service users in vulnerable situations

Impacts of poor working conditions

• Illness

• Poor mental health

• Poor physical health

• Physical harm

• Infection

• Poor standard of care

Two types of a lack of security systems

1. Door/window locks

2. Alarm systems

Importance of security systems in HSC settings

Vulnerable service users are easier targets for criminals

What do door/window locks help to do (lack of security systems)

• prevent intruders entering the setting

• Door locks - prevent harm to vulnerable patients (with dementia)

• Window locks - prevent service users falling or jumping out of windows

What do alarm systems help to do (lack of security systems)

• notify when someone comes into the building

• If a vulnerable patient has tried to get out

Impacts of a lack of security systems

• physical harm

• Poor mental health

• Financial loss

• Poor standard of care