Accidents and illnesses can result from carelessness in the workplace.

In every workplace where a

caregiver does his or her tasks, there will always be hazards and risks. The caregiver should be on the
cautious side to prevent accident or injury to person/s and/or damages to property.
Safety requires constant vigilance. It takes knowledge of the safety rules and constant awareness in the
workplaces. Be alert to danger as you work and know what hazards are present in the working area.

Risks and Hazards

People often interchangeably use hazard and risk as if these two words are one and the same. In
addition, the meaning of the word hazard can be a lot more confusing. Many dictionaries do not give
specific definitions for the word "hazard," while others comparably combine it with the word "risk."

Risk
 is the probability that a person will be harmed or will experience an adverse health effect if
exposed to a hazard.
 Risks also apply to situations with property or equipment loss, or harmful effects on the
environment.
 Risks posed by health hazards can be controlled.

The following are just some ways of controlling risks:

1. Practice good hygiene in the workplace.

2. Implement the job rotation schedules, work cycles, and time maintenance procedure.
3. Use personal protective equipment (PPE) to reduce exposure to hazards.

Hazard
 is a potential source of harm to a worker. poses a potential damage, harm, or adverse health
effects to someone under certain conditions at work.
 The effects can be critical, depending on how the person comes in Contact with the hazardous
agent the workplace.
 Once the hazard eliminated, the effects can either be reversible or irreversible.

Common Hazards Found in the Workplace and Their Corresponding Control Measures

A. Electrical Hazard
 Hazards from electrical components come from accidental contact with faulty electrical
equipment or damaged power cords and switches.
 An electrical hazard is a situation where a person could possibly make electrical contact with a
conductor which may cause one to sustain injury from shock flash burns, or blast.
 Electrical hazards could be fatal.
 The most Common sources of these hazards are exposed wires and faulty electrical appliances.

Prevention:
1. Switch off all electrical appliances before leaving the workplace.
2. Always check any electrical equipment before using.
3. Use heavy duty electrical cord. Check the cord before plugging.
4. Check all electrical outlets before leaving the workplace and unplug electrical equipment.
5. Call in a qualified electrician to check the workplace if there is any electrical burn smell.
6. Avoid using an electrical octopus adapter. This type of device is one of the common causes of fire.
B. Falls, Slips, and Trips
 May result in broken bones, strains, sprains, back or spinal injuries, and other serious injuries.

1. Falls - Falls result when you lose your balance and drop to the floor.
2. Slips-A person may lose balance due to little friction between a person's foot and the walking surface.
3. Trips- Trips accidentally happen when a person misses a step, hits an object, and loses his/her
balance.

Control Measures:
1. Clean up spills right away.
2. Use mats on slippery floors.
3. Wear appropriate work shoes.
4. Improve cleaning methods to prevent build-up of grease.
5. Provide enough storage space to avoid putting materials along aisles or hallways.
6 Provide absorbent flooring materials at the entrance area.
7. To avoid falls, use only a ladder or step stool to reach high shelves. Chairs or boxes may look sturdy,
but they may not be balanced to hold the person safely.

C. Chemical Hazard
 The use of chemicals in the workplace is indispensable.
 The Philippines' Occupational Safety and Health Standards of 1989, as amended, outlines the
established rule of threshold limit value (TLV) for toxic and carcinogenic substances and
physical agents which may be present in the work environment.
 Threshold Limit Values
o refer to the airborne concentration of substances and represent conditions under which
workers may be repeatedly exposed daily without adverse effects.
o Caregivers are exposed to chemical substances daily during their tasks. The caregiver
should exercise caution in using chemicals because they may cause skin irritation and
respiratory problems. Information on chemical hazards is found in the product label of
chemicals and in the material safety data sheets (MSDS).
o Chemicals should be stored in a safe place and far from children's reach. These should
be stored in a well-ventilated room.

D. Physical Hazard
 This type of hazard involves activities that require the use of force exerted by the caregiver to
lift, push, pull, or carry appliances in the workplace.
 These can result in injuries to any part of the body. Improper handling of tools may cause harm
or injury, too.

Prevention:
1. Lift the load smoothly and slowly, but safely.
2. Keep the load as close to your body as possible.
3. If an item is too high, use a stepladder or stool to help you.

The most common types of physical hazards are:

1. fire
2. explosion
3. chemical reaction
4 sharp or pointed tools and equipment
Fire Safety in the Workplace
There should be an emergency exit route in the workplace. This is the easiest route by which the clients
and caregivers can leave the house or building safely.

Control Measures:
1. Keep all escape routes and fire exits clear. Regularly check to ensure these are safe to use in case an
emergency happens.

2. Fire extinguishers should always be available and located in a specified location.

3. Store chemicals away from sources of heat.

4. Switch off and unplug all electrical appliances after every use.

E. Ergonomic Hazard
 Ergonomics is the study of the design and arrangement of the equipment and furniture in the
workplace so that they can be used safely and easily.
 It aims to reduce stress, injuries, and disorders associated with space, equipment, furniture, and
physical design of the workplace.

Tips to Lessen Stress and Ensure Safety in the Workplace

1. Lift objects by bending the knees and not the back. Stooping down too low loses the normal lumbar
curve and strains the back.

2. Slowly and carefully push or pull the object or client by being firmly grounded on your feet while
standing on the side.

3. Maintain a sturdy and broad base support and keep the feet in a stable position.

4. Keep the weight of the object close to your body to make the load lighter rather than lifting the object
with your arms.

5. Make use of proper lighting to be able to read clearly the medicine label and avoid errors.

6. The room should be well-ventilated to make the patient feel comfortable

7. Provide or utilize the wheelchair safely and properly for the patient.

8. Always keep the room clean and free from clutter.

F. Biological Hazard
 This hazard is caused by living organisms like molds, bacteria, fungi, viruses, and insects which
may arise from defects in housekeeping practices, unsafe provision of potable water, waste
management, food handling, and/or personal hygiene.

Prevention:
1. Wear personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect the client or patient from any spread of virus if
you have colds or cough and also to protect yourself from the spread of diseases in the workplace.
2. The caregiver should exercise caution in using chemical substances used in the patient's room and
consider the threshold limit value (TLV) of these chemicals.

How to Avoid Injury When Using Appliances

Using electrical appliances saves time and is convenient, too. However, safety practices should be
employed in using these in order to avoid injury.

1. Check first the electrical appliances and their cord before using to make sure that they are fully-
assembled, fully-functional, and well-maintained. Check also their adjustment settings carefully before
using.

2. Evaluate the work place. Check the ergonomics of the workplace. Find out first if the chair is
ergonomically correct in terms of its height or back support before using.

3. Follow instructions laid out in the manual when using electrical appliances.

4. Avoid using fingers to poke the machine when in use.

5. Turn on the light of a room upon entering it.

6. Use electrical appliances correctly.

7. Provide fire extinguishers in the workplace.

6. Implement hazard management in the workplace. The most important duty of a caregiver and all
workers is to keep the workplace as safe as possible for the client or patient. Here are the four SAFE
steps:
Spot the hazard.
Assess the hazard.
Fix the hazard.
Evaluate the result.
Safety Operating Precautions in Using Electrical Appliances

1. Only one person should operate the tool or appliance.

2. Do not touch the electrical appliance when in use.
3. Turn off the equipment when making setting adjustments.
4. Do not use any equipment unless you have instructions and training in its safe use and operation.
5. Read and understand the manual completely and make a safety test first.

RECAP
1. Hazards and risks are found everywhere. It is the responsibility of the caregiver to exercise caution in
performing tasks to prevent any untoward incidents.
2. The common hazards found in any workplace are electrical, chemical, physical, biological, and
ergonomic.