Lesson Element
Unit 3: Health, safety and security in health and
social care
LO1: Understand potential hazards in health,
social care and child care environments
Hazard spotting
Instructions and answers for tutors
These instructions cover the learner activity section which can be found on page 12. This
Lesson Element supports Cambridge Technicals Level 3 in Health and Social Care.
When distributing the activity section to the learners either as a printed copy or as a
Word file you will need to remove the tutor instructions section.
The activity
In this Lesson Element the learners are tasked with understanding how potential hazards
can arise for both adults and children as well as the impact these may have.
Suggested timings
1 hour
ABC – This activity offers an
opportunity for English skills
development.
Version 1
123 – This activity offers an
opportunity for maths skills
development.
1
WORK – This activity offers
an opportunity for work
experience.
© OCR 2016
Activity 1
Ask learners to look at Hazard Checklist 1 and explain that this checklist relates to identifying
potential hazards and their impact for adults who may live in or access health or social care
settings. Explain that learners will need to identify and access one outdoor setting and one
indoor setting. Tutors could choose locations for the learners to use or learners could use
settings they may come across if they have work placements.
Three examples of potential hazards must be included, as well as the type of hazard each
example represents and the potential impact of each hazard.
Now ask learners to look at Hazard Checklist 2 and explain that this checklist requires the
same information as the first but is aimed at identifying potential hazards and their impact for
children who may live in or access childcare settings.
During both explanations draw learners’ attention to the examples of hazards that have
already been provided on the checklists under each relevant section.
In relation to identifying the types of hazards ensure learners understand that these must be
drawn from the types of hazards identified in Learning Outcome 1, Teaching Content 1.1.
When learners consider the potential impact of each hazard remind learners that hazards
will not only affect the individuals who require care and support but also all those others who
may access and/or live in the setting.
Sample answers are provided below:
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Hazard Checklist 1
Indoor setting for adults: An individual’s home
Potential hazards
Equipment e.g. hoists,
wheelchairs
Type of hazard
Impact of hazard
1. Walking frame
1. Environmental and
Working practices
1. A walking frame not
stored correctly may
become a trip hazard for
individuals, staff and
visitors.
2. Hoist
2. Working practices
2. If staff members do not
follow the correct
techniques for the safe
use of the hoist then the
individual in the hoist may
fall or become injured and
the staff members may
also injure themselves.
3. Wheelchair
3. Working practices
3. If an individual is not
supported correctly in
their wheelchair, i.e. in
terms of sitting
comfortably and securing
the waist belt, then the
individual may become
distressed or fall out of
the wheelchair. This may
in turn cause the staff
member or visitor
supporting them to also
become injured.
1. Environmental and
Working practices
1. If electric heaters are not
switched off when
unattended then they may
overheat or develop a
fault that may cause a fire
that may potentially injure
Fittings and fixtures e.g.
heaters, floors with spillages
1. Heaters
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Potential hazards
Type of hazard
Impact of hazard
all those in the area
2. A wet bathroom floor
2. Environmental
2. A wet bathroom is a slip
hazard. Water spilt on a
bathroom floor may not
be seen by an individual,
a staff member or visitor
and may cause a person
to slip and injure
themselves.
3. Blood on the floor
3. Biological and Working
Practices
3. If a blood spillage is not
cleaned or not cleaned
correctly then this could
cause the spread of
infectious diseases.
1. A hot cup of tea
1. Working practices
1. If a staff member gives an
individual who has
dementia a hot cup of tea
then the individual may
drink it not realising that it
is too hot to drink or may
drop it and scald
themselves or someone
else close by.
2. Medication left
unattended
2. Chemical and Working
Practices
2. If a staff member leaves
medication unattended
then it may ‘fall into the
wrong hands’, i.e. an
individual may take it in
error, a visitor may
remove it from the
premises.
3. Cleaning disinfectant left
in a public area
3. Chemical and Working
Practices
3. If a staff member leaves
cleaning disinfectant out
in a public area then it
may get spilt or it may
accidentally be mistaken
for another liquid and may
Materials e.g. hot drinks,
medication
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Potential hazards
Type of hazard
Impact of hazard
be used incorrectly or
even ingested by an
individual. This has the
potential to cause lifethreatening injuries or
fatalities.
Outdoor setting for adults: An individual’s garden
Potential hazards
Equipment e.g. gardening
tools, waste
Type of hazard
Impact of hazard
1. A rake left out on the
lawn
1. Environmental
1. A rake left out on the
lawn may not be seen by
an individual, a staff
member or a visitor who
may go out into the
garden and trip over it.
2. Outdoor bins
overflowing
2. Biological and Working
Practices
2. Outdoor bins that are
overflowing can be the
source of infectious
diseases and could also
attract pests; both of
which have the potential
to cause harm to
individuals, their visitors
and the staff members
who support them.
3. Unstable bench
3. Environmental and Working
Practices
3. An unstable bench that is
not indicated as unstable
or removed from an
individual’s garden could
be used by the individual,
a visitor or staff member
and could cause them to
fall.
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Potential hazards
Fittings and fixtures e.g.
uneven paving, lack of
hand rails
Type of hazard
Impact of hazard
1. Uneven paving
1. Environmental
1. Uneven paving may
cause an individual, their
visitors or staff to trip and
injure themselves.
2. Lack of hand rails
2. Environmental
2. A lack of hand rails for an
individual who may be
unsteady when walking
may cause the individual
to fall over when walking
around outside.
3. Wobbly fence
3. Environmental
3. A wobbly fence has the
potential to cause harm if
there is a strong gust of
wind or an individual,
visitor or member of the
public leans on it.
1. Weed spray
1. Chemical and Working
Practices
1. Not wearing protective
equipment when using
weed spray can cause
respiratory illnesses and
burns to the skin to
individuals, their visitors
and staff members.
2. Storing white spirit in a
lemonade bottle
2. Chemical and Working
Practices
2. Storing white spirit in a
lemonade bottle may
cause an individual,
visitor or staff member to
think that it is lemonade
and they may drink it
unknowingly. This could
lead to the person
suffering burns and may
even prove to be fatal.
Materials e.g. weed spray,
storing materials in
incorrectly labelled bottles
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Potential hazards
3. Not disposing of leftover
paint correctly
Type of hazard
3. Environmental, Chemical
and Working Practices
Impact of hazard
3. Not disposing of leftover
paint correctly may lead
to damage to the
environment as well as
chemical burns being
suffered by individuals,
their visitors or staff
members that come into
contact with it.
Hazard Checklist 2
Indoor setting for children: A play room
Potential hazards
Equipment e.g. toys, tables
Type of hazard
Impact of hazard
1. Small toys left out
1. Biological and Working
practices
1. Small toys left out with
children unattended may
become potential
choking hazards. Toys
may also be shared
between children, thus
increasing the risk of
infections spreading.
2. Tables
2. Environmental
2. Tables may become trip
hazards and if they have
sharp edges could also
cause injuries to children,
visitors and staff.
3. A mop and bucket left in
the corner of the room
3. Biological, Chemical and
Working practices
3. A mop and bucket left in
the corner of a play room
may lead to children
playing with it and spilling
its contents; this could
cause skin burns, rashes
and the risk of infection
spreading if the
equipment has been
used and is not clean.
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Potential hazards
Fittings and fixtures e.g.
plug sockets, open
windows
Type of hazard
Impact of hazard
1. An uncovered plug
socket
1. Environmental
1. An uncovered plug
socket in a play room
may lead to children
putting their fingers or
other objects into the
socket; this could lead to
electrocution.
2. An open window
2. Environmental and lack of
security systems
2. Leaving a window open
may mean that children
may try to lean or jump
out of it; this has the
potential to cause falls,
injuries and fatalities. An
open window may lead to
unauthorised persons
gaining access to the
children.
3. Hot rooms
3. Working conditions and
Psychological
3. Working in rooms that
are too hot can create
uncomfortable
environments for staff,
children and any visitors.
This may also increase
staff’s fatigue levels and
lead to the perfect
conditions in which
infections can spread.
1. Environmental and Working
practices
1. Knives that are not
stored away when not
being used could
become weapons that
could injure children,
staff members and
visitors.
Materials e.g. knives,
cleaning materials
1. Knives
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Potential hazards
2. Cleaning detergent
Type of hazard
2. Chemical, Biological, and
Working practices
Impact of hazard
2. Cleaning detergent if not
used correctly could be
ineffective and lead to
the spread of infections.
It may also lead to burns
if swallowed mistakenly
by the children.
3. Washing up liquid
3. Environmental, Chemical
and Working practices
3. Washing up liquid spills
could lead to floors
becoming very slippery,
leading to children, staff
and visitors slipping over
and injuring themselves.
It could also be ingested
mistakenly by children.
Outdoor setting for children: A Park
Potential hazards
Equipment e.g. broken play
equipment, lawn mower
Type of hazard
Impact of hazard
1. A broken slide
1. Environmental
1. Children may play on the
slide not realising that it is
broken and injure
themselves.
2. A groundsman using a
lawn mower
2. Working practices
2. If children are not
supervised they may run
in front of a groundsman
using a lawn mower; the
groundsman may not be
able to stop the lawn
mower in time and
injuries may result to both
the children and the
groundsman.
3. Wheelchairs
3. Environmental
3. Wheelchairs can be trip
hazards for children, staff
and anyone else in the
park if they are not kept to
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Potential hazards
Type of hazard
Impact of hazard
one side when not being
used.
1. Loose fence
1. Environmental and lack of
security systems
1. A loose fence may be at
risk of collapsing on a
child, staff member or
anyone else in the park.
2. Water fountain
2. Environmental
2. If children are not
supervised then a water
fountain can be the
source of slips for anyone
walking by because the
surrounding area will be
wet. Children may play in
the water not realising
how deep it is and may
drown.
3. A broken park gate
3. Lack of security systems
3. If children are not
supervised they may exit
the park without anyone
realising; they could place
themselves in danger by
running out into the road
or coming into contact
with strangers.
1. Rubbish
1. Biological
1. Rubbish and discarded
waste left out in the open
may cause the spread of
infection if children come
into contact with them.
2. Leftover paint
2. Chemical
2. Leftover paint may be
spilt or used by children;
they may not be aware
that if it comes into
contact with their skin
Fittings and fixtures e.g.
loose fence, water fountain
Materials e.g. rubbish,
leftover paint
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Potential hazards
Type of hazard
Impact of hazard
and/or eyes it may cause
burns and rashes.
3. Used needles and
syringes
3. Biological
3. Used needles and
syringes could potentially
carry infectious diseases;
children may come into
contact with these or may
accidentally hurt
themselves if they fell on
one.
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Lesson Element
Unit 3: Health, safety and security in health and
social care
LO1: Understand potential hazards in health,
social care and child care environments
Learner Activity
Hazard spotting
Identifying potential hazards in health, social care and child care environments is very
important for ensuring the health, safety and security of everyone. You are going to complete
one activity containing two hazard checklists, one checklist aimed at potential hazards for
adults in health and social care settings and the other aimed at children in child care
settings.
Activity 1
One of the most important aspects of working in health, social care and child care
environments is identifying the potential hazards that may cause injury, pose a danger or
harm the health of an employee, a visitor or an individual who requires care and support.
Below are two hazard checklists for you to complete.
For each checklist you will need to identify and walk round one indoor setting and one
outdoor setting where potential hazards may exist.
Hazard Checklist 1 is aimed at identifying potential hazards for adults and Hazard Checklist
2 is aimed at identifying potential hazards for children.
You will then need to identify three examples of potential hazards, the type of hazard for
each example and the impact of each hazard.
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Hazard Checklist 1
Indoor setting for adults: _____________________________________________________
Potential hazards
Equipment e.g. hoists,
wheelchairs
Type of hazard
Impact of hazard
1)
2)
3)
Fittings and fixtures e.g.
heaters, floors with spillages
1)
2)
3)
Materials e.g. hot drinks,
medication
1)
2)
3)
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Hazard Checklist 1
Outdoor setting for adults: ___________________________________________________
Potential hazards
Equipment e.g. gardening
tools, waste
Type of hazard
Impact of hazard
1)
2)
3)
Fittings and fixtures e.g.
uneven paving, lack of hand
rails
1)
2)
3)
Materials e.g. weed spray,
storing materials in
incorrectly labelled bottles
1)
2)
3)
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Hazard Checklist 2
Indoor setting for children: ___________________________________________________
Potential hazards
Equipment e.g. toys, tables
Type of hazard
Impact of hazard
1)
2)
3)
Fittings and fixtures e.g. plug
sockets, open windows
1)
2)
3)
Materials e.g. knives,
cleaning materials
1)
2)
3)
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Hazard Checklist 2
Outdoor setting for children: __________________________________________________
Potential hazards
Equipment e.g. broken play
equipment, lawn mower
Type of hazard
Impact of hazard
1)
2)
3)
Fittings and fixtures e.g.
loose fence, water fountain
1)
2)
3)
Materials e.g. rough cut
wood, paint
1)
2)
3)
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