Hazards in health and social
care environments
What is the difference
between a hazard and a risk?
•Hazard is the object that
could potentially hurt
someone
•Risk is the harm it could do
The Health & Safety Executive suggests the following five-point
process:
1.
for Hazards
2. Decide who might be at harm, and how.
3. Evaluate the risks arising from the hazards and decide whether more
should be done.
For example in a nursery:
Hazard – adult-size tables
Risk – children might hurt themselves on the corners
Level of risk to children – high
Minimise risk – buy small tables designed for children
Risk – adults could hurt themselves on the corners
Level of risk to adults - low
4. Record your findings. – using an assessment form.
This should show that:
•Checks have been made
•Hazards have been dealt with
•The number of people affected has been considered
•Precautions have been taken to reduce the risk.
5. Review your assessment from time to time and revise
if necessary.
Hazards in care settings
Hazards are all around you, but carefully managed
they will do no harm. A safety audit in your chosen
care setting will identify hazards and their associate
risks and show how risks can be minimised.
Toys
 Toys are not unsafe but can be the cause
of some accidents for example:
A toy intended for an older child is given to a
younger child or a toy that has been left in the
wrong place and people trip over them.
 Toys are involved in over 40,000 accidents
each year (Royal Society for the prevention
of Accidents, 2005).
 All toys bought in the UK must conform to
the Toy Safety Regulations 1995.
Control of infectious diseases
 Hand washing – the
most important way to
prevent cross –
infection is to wash
your hands
 Wearing gloves will
offer a protective
barrier against
infection.
 Protective Clothing
must be worn when:
o coming into contact with bodily
fluids or wastes.
o Disposing of waste.
o Caring for someone who is
being treated for an infection.
o Changing soiled linen.
Employers
Employees
UK laws put obligations on employers
to ensure the health and safety of
their employers. Employers must
ensure:
Employees also have
responsibilities:
Arrangements are made to ensure the health and safety of
employees
To take care of themselves and others who may be affected
by what they do and what they fail to do.
Equipment is safe
To cooperate with their employer in implementing health and
safety regulations.
Adequate health and safety training is provided
Not to interfere with or misuse any equipment provided to
meet health and safety requirements.
The working environment does not put anyone at risk
To report any dangerous situations to the manager.
A written safety policy is in place
The workplace is kept in good condition
Personal protective equipment, e.g. Gloves, overalls,
uniforms, is provided free of charge to employees
The workplace does not emit toxic fumes or dust.
Legislation covering particular hazards
Hazard
Relevant legislation
Rooms and outdoor areas that pose a risk
Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
Unsafe furnishings
Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
Incorrect storage of chemicals
Control of Substances Hazardous to
Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002
Inadequate control of infectious diseases
Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and
Dangerous Occurrences Regulations
(RIDDOR) 1995
Fire
Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations
1997
Lack of security measures
Manual Handling Operations
Regulations 1992
Pollution of air and/ or water
Control of Substances Hazardous to
Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002
Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations
1997
BUILDING EVACUATION PROCEDURES IN THE
EVENT OF FIRE OR BOMB ALERT:
 Raising the alarm
 On hearing the alarm:
Staff in senior positions
proceed to control point
All other staff: Close windows and doors etc
Assist able colleagues
Check the locality is clear
 Assembly points
 DO NOT re-enter the building until you are told it is
safe to do so.
Go to the
agreed
assembly
point so that
someone
knows you are
out of the
building
Do not use
lifts to
evacuate
Never ignore
smoke or
smell of
burning
Ensure you
know which
patients are in
your care
Fire
Precautions
Store
flammable
products
appropriately
Do not
overload
electrical
appliances
Know the
evacuation
procedure
Know where
fire-fighting
equipment is
kept
Do not panic
Manual Handling Operations
Regulations 1992
 Poor lifting techniques
result in many
thousands of lost
working hours due to
injury.
 The Health & Safety
Executive (HSE) has
set out guidelines to
follow to avoid muscular
and skeletal injury.
Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous
Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 1995
 Information provided to
the HSE can be used to
perform risk assessments.
 Every workplace should
have an accident report
form.
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health
(COSHH) Regulations 2002
 The law is designed to
ensure that employers
control exposure to
hazardous substances in
the workplace.
 A member from the
workplace should be
responsible for
implementing the
guidelines of COSHH
Methods of disposal of waste
Type of waste
Method of disposal
Clinical waste, e.g. Used wound dressings,
bandages, nappies, sanitary dressings, soiled
gloves
Yellow bag – when the bag is full, carefully seal
and tag it indicating where the waste has come
from, e.g. Labour ward, paediatrics, accident
and emergency. This waste is burnt in an
incinerator.
Sharps, e.g. Needles, glass, syringes
Yellow sharps box – when the box is full, seal
and tag it indicating location of box.
Body fluids, e.g. vomit, urine, faeces, blood,
sputum
Wash down the sluice drain, and disinfect.
Dirty and soiled sheets and linen
Red bag – seal and send to the laundry (the
bag will disintegrate in the wash)
Recyclable instruments and equipment for
sterilisation
Blue bag – seal and return to central
sterilisation services department (CSSD) for
cleaning, sterilising and repacking.
Waste paper
Black bag – seal and tag for incineration or
shredding of confidential information.