1. Individual needs within the health and social care sectors
Hazards in health and social care environments

2. 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

3. Decide who might be at harm, and how.
The Health & Safety Executive suggests the following five-point process:
for Hazards
Decide who might be at harm, and how.
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
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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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:
coming into contact with bodily fluids or wastes.
Disposing of waste.
Caring for someone who is being treated for an infection.
Changing soiled linen.

8. 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.

9. Legislation covering particular hazards
Relevant legislation
Rooms and outdoor areas that pose a risk
Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
Unsafe furnishings
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

10. 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.
By law, all work places must have a fire risk assessment.
There must be:
A fire and evacuation procedure
One fire evacuation practice each year (some do more to ensure all employees, trainees or temporary workers are aware of how to act in an emergency)

11. Never ignore smoke or smell of burning
Fire Precautions
Never ignore smoke or smell of burning
Go to the agreed assembly point so that someone knows you are out of the building
Do not use lifts to evacuate
Store flammable products appropriately
Know where fire-fighting equipment is kept
Do not panic
Know the evacuation procedure
Do not overload electrical appliances
Ensure you know which patients are in your care

12. 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.

13. Every workplace should have an accident report form.
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.

14. 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

15. 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.