2.1 - Potential hazards in health and social care settings

What is a hazard

It is something that could potentially cause an accident or injury

List the 7 types of hazards

1. Biological

2. Chemical

3. Environmental

4. Physical

5. Working conditions

6. Poor working practices

7. Lack of security systems

What are the 2 types of biological hazards

• Bodily fluids

• Disease/Infection

Examples of bodily fluids

Blood, urine, vomit, saliva, mucus

List 3 examples of infection that are transmitted airborne

Tuberculosis, common cold and coronavirus

List 3 examples of infection that are transmitted through touch

MRSA, scabies and ringworm

List 3 examples of infection that are transmitted through touch

Salmonella, norovirus and listeriosis

What type of transmission is touch

It is a type of transmission where infection is spread through skin-to-skin contact or when coming into skin contact with an infected object

What are the 2 types of chemical hazards

Medication and cleaning materials

How to properly store or keep medicines

• All medicines should be kept secure in a cabinet

• Regular checks done to ensure a rapid response to any missing medicines

• There should be a record of any medicines issued, with details of dosage, when and who they were issued to

What are the 6 rights to medication

1. The right drug

2. The right dose

3. The right route

4. The right time

5. The right patient

6. The right documentation

How can cleaning materials be a hazard

• They are toxic if inhaled or ingested

• They can cause chemical burns

How should cleaning materials be stored

• They should be labelled clearly

• They should be kept in their original bottles

• They should be locked away in a safe cabinet or room

What are the 2 types of environmental hazards

Temperature and noise levels

Explain how temperature can be a hazard and how it can be prevented

Some vulnerable service users may not be able to regulate their temperature. So a service provider must ensure that they are not too hot or cold,

Explain how noise levels can be a hazard and how it can be prevented

Loud and persistent noises can damage hearing. This has been considered for certain medical equipment like MRI scans. So the service practitioner when taking these scans stands in a separate room to the machine.

What are the 2 main types of Physical hazards

• Slips and trips

• Radiation

What are the causes of trips

Trailing wires, uneven floors, steps, poor fitting footwear, poor lightning, no handrails, rugs, objects on the floor

Explain how radiation can be a hazard and how it can be prevented

Many practitioners are exposed to radiation which can cause an increase in the risk of cancer occurring. There are ways to reduce the risk of this cancer occurring e.g. dentists leaving the room when an X-ray is being taken.

What is working conditions hazard

It is a hazard where a service provider thinks of not only the safety of the service user but their safety as well

What are 2 things to consider when talking about working conditions hazard

• Moving and Handling

• Equipment used

What are the 2 main types of poor working practices hazard

• Long working hours and insufficient breaks

• Lack of supervision

How can long working hours & insufficient breaks be a hazard

Because it cause tiredness or burnouts which leads to mistakes being made. It can also lead to stress and impatience with service users

Why is supervision important during working practices

Because the supervisors will ensure safe practices are being carried out. They will observe and give feedback on how to adapt practice or might recommend additional training.

What security system do settings usually have

• Door and window locks

• Alarm systems

What are security systems used for

They are put in place to protect vulnerable individuals such as people with Alzheimer, learning disabilities etc.