Hazard in a Care Home

Physical hazards

• Wet floor, carpeting, unclean surfaces, loose materials, untidiness, unmarked object, uneven surface, slippery surfaces, ladder and stairs. These sources of hazards may be a cause of: slip, trip, falls or stumble and the possible effect of hazards can be: limp factures, sprains, bruises. To prevent these hazards: staff have to be trained about fall protection, the liquid what has been spilled must be clean up as soon as possible, everyone should wear appropriate footwear (flat with non-slip soles shoes), walk slowly on the wet surface with greater attention, use handrails, hazards sing markings and ensure proper lighting, never use a ladder to replace unsuitable items such as chairs, boxes or barrels, use non-slip mats.

• Out of place objects and damaged furniture in offices and other rooms may cause: stumbles, catching a part of the body, and have effects such as: wounds, bumps, bruises and deep gashes these hazards could also do more serious injures or even death. To prevent these hazards: damaged protruding elements must be labeled with a hazard sing or marking to make sure that people are cautious when moving nearby the hazardous object.

• Needles, scalpels, scissors. Needle pricks be caused by non typical behavior of the patient, these are hazards which can cause: contact with sharp tools what could be hazards: needle stick or injury. To prevent these hazards: Staffs have to have greater attention and use personal protection (PPE).

• Overflowing bins, when bins are not regularly emptied and disposed this hazard can cause: embed around rubbish overflowing: flies, rodents, insects that spread germs and serious disease what may be a cause of many diseases such as: salmonella: typhoid, tetanus and dysentery. If bins are not emptied for a few days this can also lead to contamination of air and groundwater dangerous bacteria in this connection. To prevent these hazards: rubbish container should be emptied regularly and tightly tied.

• Poor lighting can be a hazard to people that are visually impaired or have poor vision, what can lead to falling over or disorientation it may be the consequence of bruises, injuries, fractures bones or stress. To prevent these hazards: staff must be sure there is a good contrast between objects and surroundings such as dark marks in white background.

• Damaged faulty electrical system or not following manual devices can be a cause; this may be a hazard of electric shock and have effects such as: death, heavy damage of the body, burns. To prevent these hazards: staff should use only the proper equipment e.g. plugs, switches and making measurements electrical fire.

• Hot liquids contact with hot drinks may be risks which leads to burning, which follow, wounds, ulcers, scars, burns the esophagus. To prevent these hazards: Use trays or tables on wheels when given hot drinks, warn residential in the administration of hot drink, Use dry cloths to lift hot dish, greater attention. • Microorganisms in the air - Mildew, - moist windowsills and window frames, damp walls of buildings, wooden elements, fugues on glazed in a damp, poorly ventilated bathroom or kitchen. Pose a health hazard, have a detrimental effect on the human body and can cause diseases such as: tiredness, shortness of breath, headache, dizziness, lowering the ability of concentration, memory problems, irritation of the mucous membranes, the eyes and upper respiratory tract, skin lesions and dermatitis, diarrhea, abnormal immune mechanisms and damage the liver and kidney. To prevent the hazard: • Protection rooms exposed to moisture, sealing windows and walls, drainage walls, repair damaged plaster due to moisture, removing mold

• Transfer of patients, forced body position may be the cause of damage the circuit motion because they are caring for lying patients where staffs have to lift and move the patients. The possible effect of these hazards can be: degeneration of the spine, tendon ruptures. To prevent these hazards: staff should be trained, use platforms and have access to supporting equipment.

• Sterilization, contact with hot medical tools can be a hazard of thermal burns what the cause blistering, wounds, irritated skin are. To prevent these hazards: staff must have greater attention, using the appropriate equipment.

• Fire Hazard, initiation of fire by the patient or especially in kitchens, where are present: gas, open fire, hot oil and flammable substances and may be the cause of burns, poisoning, carbon monoxide poisoning and even death. To prevent these hazards: Maintain in good electrical and check them regularly, staff must monitor patients, label roads and fire exit and watch that nothing they did not block, ensure and check fire extinguishers, install automatic fire detection and fire sprinkler system, ensure participation of workers in training against fire risk and efficient fire equipment.

Psychophysical hazards

• Aggressive behavior of patients, involuntary movement of the patient caused by the pain. Source of hazards are sick people that lead to smash, bruises, beatings, cuts and stress, head injuries, bites, severe damage to the body. To prevent these hazards: staff must be trained; equipment for personal alarms and has greater attention.

• Responsibility, situations requiring an immediate reaction, contact with seriously ill patients and their families. Overload the nervous system can be a hazard of work in conditions of excessive mental load and the possible effects of hazards are: depression, difficulty in making decisions, cardiovascular disease, myocardial infarction, stroke brain, neuroses, insomnia, post-traumatic stress, occupational burnout. To prevent these hazards: staff should be trained the skills to deal with proper professional preparation.

Chemical hazards

• Chemicals including dishwashing liquids, soap , detergents for dishwashers and washing, cleaning products hose drain, oven cleaners, disinfectants, cleaning toilets, bleaches, raising hygiene and descaling preparations. Contact with these chemicals, which are irritating it can be the cause of irritation of the skin, edema, dermatitis, irritation of the respiratory tract and eyes. To prevent these hazards: Staffs have to, cleaning should be kept only in their original packaging - do not pour them into bottles of soft drink or food, all containers and bottles have the correct fitted lid , cleaning products and medicines must be keep in the upper cabinets, lockable which is inaccessible to children so that it was not mistaken for food. Containers of cleaning agents are stored must be marked in such a way that all users can see the actual risk, using the required disinfectant concentrations, When using hazardous cleaning agents must be strictly use protective equipment. Personal protective equipment should include protective masks or safety glasses, possibly respiratory protection, protective gloves, rubber apron and safety boots, greater attention, ensure manuals, ventilation.

• Spilled chemical substances (thermometer), Bruised, beaten, cracked thermometer can be a cause of severe poisoning what lead to: nausea, vomiting, stomach aches, diarrhea, often bloody, and the feeling of smoking in the gastrointestinal tract. To prevent these hazards: Replacement of mercury-free thermometers, if someone shatters a thermometer, it should be collected, enclosed in a glass jar and throws away it in the bin outside the building, avoid skin contact with chemicals, use skin care product. Never allow anyone to play a "living silver". Where are by mercury thermometers should be an appropriate set containing a special powder. Just sprinkle it spilled mercury, and after a few minutes turned into gray matter, which is easy to scoop and sweep away the container to throw away.

• Application cytostatics exposes to contact to chemical agents - mutagen, carcinogenic, the hazards could be: impaired reproductive function (including fertility disorders and occurrence of defects and the effects of toxic damage to the liver, kidney, skin, and increased incidence of diseases of the blood and the hematopoietic system To prevent these hazards: follow the instructions for dealing with cytostatics, the absolute use of personal protection equipment

• Medical tools which are made from metals (nickel, chrome) or Latex can be hazards of allergy, dermatitis, irritation of the skin and swelling. To prevent these hazards: staff must use PPE, change gloves made of latex on another material, e.g., polyvinyl chloride, wash hands after removing gloves.

Biological hazards

• Bodily fluids: urine, blood, serum, salvia and bile. Contact with any of the body fluids by injury, damaged skin, contact, the way air droplets or medical instrument may be the cause of many diseases such as hepatitis, herpes virus, papillomavirus, chlamidyle, tuberculosis, staphylococcus, thrush, Candida what possible consequence could be for example: infectious, diseases, cancer, AIDS, candidacies, damage or even miscarriage, allergy skin. To prevent these hazards: staff must use: individual personal protection (gloves, masks, sterilisation tools), compliance with sanitary procedures, preventive examinations, disinfections, sterilizations, increased attentions, using powders and soap with the addition of antifungal agents.

Hazard in a Nursery

Physical hazards

• Slippery floors, uneven surfaces, scattered toys, building blocks and food waste. Can these sources of hazards may be a cause of: slip, trip, falls or stumble and the possible effect of hazards can be: bruises, sprains, fractures. To prevent these hazards: Suitable footwear, not slippery surfaces, tidiness, hazards sing markings, focus, attention, staff training, ensures proper lighting, use non-slip mats.

• Fun and Gymnastic exercises on ladders, balance beam can be a hazard the fall of the lower level and have effects such as: bruises sprains, broken bones, concussion, and death. To prevent these hazards: training, focus, attention.

• Trips outside nursery can be a cause of the traffic accident and possible the hazards are serious injury and death. To prevent these hazards: Compliance with road traffic law heightened attention.

• Loud behavior of children, crying could be a hazard of the noise and possible effect can be hearing loss, upset nervous irritability. To prevent these hazards: Reducing exposure to noise, medical examination.

• Teaching can lead to overload strings voice and be a hazard of occupational disease, damage to the strings voice. To prevent these hazards: Training, medical examination.

• Incorrect posture, forced position, wearing on the hands of children, poor posture by tilting over a child lounging on a deck chair, working at the computer; source of these hazards are load musculoskeletal: static and dynamic, a cause of hazards could be musculo-skeletal pain, spine, hands and wrists. To prevent these hazards: The correct position the chair, exercise gym, the time carrying a child on hands.

• Hitting on the desk, chair, and injury stapler. Can cause of hazards: bruises, bumps, injury, cuts. To prevent these hazards: increased attention, keep order in the workplace.

• Using electric powered devices can be a hazard of electric shock and have effects such as: death, heavy damage of the body, burns. To prevent these hazards: Inspection and testing of electrical installations, functional equipment.

• Incorrect temperature in offices, poor Air-conditioning, improper humidity these incorrect microclimate conditions can be a cause of: colds or overheating respiratory disease, heat rash and fainting. To prevent these hazards: Adaptation microclimate dependent not only on the temperature and humidity but also on clothing and personal characteristics people in the workplace, reduce the moisture content through the use of air and dehumidifier and by reducing the moisture content sources, provide supply of cool drinking water, airy clothes, for example., cotton, allowing the airflow.

Psychophysical hazards

• Constant keeping attention, responsibility for children. These sources of hazards may be a cause of: psychological stress which leads to: neurosis, diseases digestive tract, psychosis, insomnia. To prevent these hazards: Training, care of a psychologist.

• Aggression of children and parents can be a hazard which leads to: prolonged stress, discouragement, apathy, resentment, depression. To prevent these hazards: organization of work and training - how to deal with stress, counseling.

Chemical hazards

• Children’s paints, face painting, play-dough, crayons and highlighter inks, glues there are chemical substances and mixtures sensitizing when children painting, gluing, drawing and playing play dough they are exposed are in contact with hazardous substances which can found in these subjects. These substances can enter the body through the skin and oral which cause allergies, irritation of the mucous membranes, respiratory tract, eyes and many other ills. To prevent these hazards: Use crayons and pencils made of synthetic resin, make sure that the paints, glue, pencils and highlighters or play dough does not contain toxic substances, wash hands after each use, do not let the children put anything to the mouth, ask parents of allergic children, check information that come with the product.

• Paint, wallpaper, lacquered furniture, insulation materials, carpeting, furniture made of chipboard, chemical pollution of atmospheric air entered by functioning in the premises ventilation systems, cosmetics used by employees. Effects of these hazards are: burning eyes, runny nose, irritation of the upper respiratory tract, cough, choke in the chest, feeling of pressure in my head and heart palpitations, carcinogenic effect, shaking hands, insomnia. To prevent the hazard: Replace PVC polyvinyl chloride products of wood: floors, doors and windows, linen and cotton: coverage and carpets, apply paint and lacquers safe for surroundings use insulation materials which are not harmful to health, apply filters for ventilation and to exchange them regularly, use cosmetics based on natural ingredients.

• Disinfection there are substances and mixtures of chemical irritants and possible effect of these hazards are: Skin irritation and airways runny nose. To prevent these hazards: Medical examinations, change agents, ventilation of rooms, use of measures in accordance with the Safety Data Sheet.

• Bodily fluids: urine, blood, serum, salvia and bile. Parents leave children in the nursery; they want to be sure that they will stay in a safe, hygienic environment. Infections spread by droplet infection among children and oral, body fluids and close contact with other children and staff and may be the cause of many diseases such as bacterial, fungal, viral infections, cancer, AIDS, candidacies, damage or even miscarriage. To prevent these hazards: staff must use: individual personal protection (gloves, masks, sterilisation tools), compliance with sanitary procedures, preventive examinations, disinfections, sterilizations, increased attentions, using powders and soap with the addition of antifungal agents.

Biological hazards

Children and staff spread germs and viruses, dust. Dirty toys, dust, unwashed hands and fruits or vegetables there are causes of: viral diseases, infections, fungus, irritated airway, inflammation of the eyes which are spread by touch, by body fluids, respiratory droplet way or contagion from other sick people To prevent the hazard: • Regular ventilation of rooms, cleaning rooms (use height efficiency vacuum cleaner) , ask parents of allergic children, compliance with the rules of hygiene( followed is regular hand washing, changing nappies positions are immediately cleaned and used once, employees have the command wash dirty hands of children, after using the toilet, before eating, after blowing their nose because dry hands do not pose a threat, children should be taught to cover the mouth of the arm during coughing), disinfection.

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