Practice Occupational

Health and Safety

Procedures
Lesson 3
 Definition of Terms
Assess To determine the value or extent of something.
Contami To make something unclean through contact.
nate
Crucial Significant to the solution of a problem.
Discar To put away or throw away.
d
Double- A technique of putting contaminated items/things in a plastic
bag and then placing the closed bag into another plastic bag.
bagged
Fuse A device used for protecting an electrical circuit.

Potential Capable of growth, development and coming into being.

Respirator An instrument that supplies oxygen for breathing.

Hazards and Risks

Hazard is anything that may cause harm to an

individual, such as chemicals, electricity, open
01 drawers and inadequate ventilation.
Risk is the possibility that somebody could be
harmed by these and other hazards and the
indication of how serious the harm can be.
Occupational Health and Safety
Occupational health and safety is the campaign and
maintenance of the well-being of workers in every
02 occupation. It all talks about providing a safe working
environment to achieve an injury-free workplace and a
healthy atmosphere that protects every worker against
illness. As an effect it may also protect co-workers, family
members, clients and other members of the community who
are affected by the workplace environment.
Types of
Hazards
 Physical Hazards
Physical hazards are the most normal occurrences in
workplaces, they are usually easy to detect, however,
very often are neglected because people are too
accustomed to them. Another reason may be due to
lack of knowledge or people do not see situations as
hazards.
Examples of Physical Hazards that a caregiver may be
exposed to:

● Electrical Hazards – even in daycare institutions or

nursing homes where care should be of utmost concern,
improper wiring and frayed cords may still go
unnoticed. Misuse of electrical equipment also happens
in any type of work environment.
 Physical Hazards
● Endless Loud Noise – If one is going to work in a
nursing home, frequent noise from patients who are
suffering from depression is definitely a hazard.
● Spills on floors or Tripping Hazards – There are
times where even the caregivers themselves do not
mind spills on floors. This definitely poses hazard to
everyone.

Some effects of Physical Hazards

Fire
Decreased Efficiency
Annoyance
● Falls
 Biological Hazards
Biological Hazard come from working with animals,
people or infectious materials. This is, therefore, one
of the most common hazards that a caregiver faces. If
one is working in a daycare, hospital, hotel laundry,
nursing home and laboratories, he/she might be
exposed to biological hazard.

Examples of Biological Hazards that a caregiver may be

exposed to:
Blood or other bloody fluids
Fungi
Bacteria and Viruses
● Contaminated Wastes
 Biological Hazards
Some effects of Biological Hazards
● Infections
● Skin Irritations
● Allergy
● Tuberculosis
● Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)
 Ergonomic Hazards
Ergonomic Hazards occur when a caregiver’s nature of work,
body position and working conditions put pressure on his/her
body. It is difficult to spot this type of hazard because
caregivers do not immediately notice the effect to their bodies.
At first, sore muscles may be experienced. But long term
exposure to this type of hazard can cause musculoskeletal
problems.
Examples of Ergonomic Hazards that a caregiver may be
exposed to:
Performing tasks that require lifting heavy loads
Too much bending and reaching
Standing for long periods of time
Holding any body parts for a long period of time
Awkward movements, especially if they're repetitive
● Repeating the same movements over and over
 Ergonomic Hazards
Some Effects of Ergonomic Hazards
Pain in the shoulders
Back injury
Too much impact on wrists and hands
Numbness in some parts of the body
● Muscle cramps
 Chemical Hazards
Chemical Hazards are present when a worker is
exposed to any chemical preparation in the workplace
in any form (solid, liquid or gas). There may be
chemicals which are safe, but some caregivers who are
sensitive to solutions may cause skin irritation, illness
or breathing problems.
Examples of Chemical Hazards that a caregiver may be
exposed to:
Liquids like cleaning products
● Disinfecting solutions
Some Effects of Chemical Hazards
Lung Diseases
Difficulty in Breathing
● Allergy
 Psychological Hazards
Psychological Hazards take place when a caregiver’s
work environment becomes stressful or demanding.

Examples of Psychological Hazards that a caregiver may

be exposed to:
Burn out, fatigue and on call duty
Unreasonable expectations from patients or clients
Verbal abuse from dissatisfied clients
● Unreasonable expectations from supervisors and
management
 Psychological Hazards
Some Effects of Psychological Hazards
Depression
Anxiety
Less of Confidence
Loss of Concentration at Work
● Deterioration of Performance at Work
Recognizing Hazards and
Risks in the Workplace
Hazards and Risks vary from one workplace
to another. Even in daycare or nursing
homes where work routines may be the
same, hazards will differ depending on the
type of building in the establishment is
situated, and the attitude of caregivers,
clients or employees.
Recognizing Hazards and
Risks in the Workplace
The good news is hazards and risks can be
prevented! However, before thinking about what
control measures are needed, first, a caregiver has to
know whether there are health and safety problems
in his/her workplace. So, how can someone identify
the hazards in the workplace? The following are
some ways for a caregiver to determine health and
safety problems:
Recognizing Hazards and
Risks in the Workplace
A caregiver should observe the workplace.
A caregiver may examine complaints from his/her co-
workers.
A caregiver should check accident records.
A caregiver should examine the chart on results of
inspections done by the employees or private organization .
A caregiver may use checklists and inspect the workplace.
1. A caregiver may study reports or any other vital
information about the nursing home.
 In a Nutshell…
Nursing home and daycare institution services are of great value to
everyone. As such, owners of these establishments are highly reliant on
their staff, particularly the caregivers, for the delivery of safe, efficient
and responsive service. It is, therefore, the responsibility of the
management to ensure a safe and healthy work environment. Every
caregiver, on the other hand, should also take part in determining the
hazards and risks in the workplace in the attainment of the conducive
organizational climate within the nursing home or daycare he/she is
working for.
EVALUATING AND CONTROLLING
HAZARDS AND RISKS
Once you recognize a hazard in the workplace, then you can
proceed with risk assessment, that is focusing on the risks
that really matter in the workplace. Evaluating hazards and
risks is the process of determining the level of risk created by
the hazard and the likelihood of injury or illness occurring.
Most of the time, simple measures can be done, with no
trouble, to control risks. An example of this is making sure
that cabinet drawers are kept closed so that people do not
trip.
Needless to say, the concern for control increases as the
recognized level of risk increases. A person identifying
the risk of harm or injury from a hazard in a nursing
home or day care should consider these questions:

How likely it is that a hazard will cause harm;

How serious that harm is likely to be;
● How often (and how many) workers are exposed.
It is a must that you have a record of every
risk assessment done. If a certain accident or
damage happens again, it might be that you
will trace back the original records to check if
the assessment overlooked a potential hazard.
Assessing or evaluating the hazards and risks
is crucial in making a decision on the mode of
control to be used.
CONTROL HAZARDS AND RISKS

It is possible that workplace hazards can be controlled

by a variety of methods. Of course, the very reason why
hazards should be controlled is to prevent workers from
being exposed to occupational hazards. Hazard control
comes in different processes. But one method may be
more effective than the others.
CONTROL HAZARDS AND RISKS
When we speak of controlling hazards and risks, it
means settling on the measure that will solve the trouble
most successfully. There are five major categories of
control measures: elimination, substitution, engineering
controls, administrative controls and personal protective
equipment.
 Eliminating a hazard means removing it completely.
Substitution is replacing or substituting a hazardous agent or work process
with a less dangerous one.
An engineering control may mean changing a piece of machinery (for
example, using proper machine guards) or a work process to reduce exposure
to a hazard.
An administrative control may mean working a limited number of hours in a
hazardous area is an example of an administrative control (for example, job
rotation)
1. Personal Protective Equipment includes ear and eye protection,
respirators and protective clothing.
Obviously, the best method of controlling hazards and risks is through
elimination. That is to take away or to get rid of the hazard. However,
more often than not, this is not possible. So, employers make use of any
of the remaining control measures. The general rule is that the use of
personal protective equipment (PPE) should be the last alternative in
controlling hazards and risks in a workplace. Although it is said that the
best method of control measure is through elimination of hazards, a
very good technique for a safe and healthy environment is through the
utilization of a combination of methods.
 PRACTICAL WAYS TO PREVENT
HAZARDS AND RISKS
A Closer Look at Electricity Use of Personal Protective Equipment
Caregivers should religiously abide by the
As common sense dictates, you have to ensure that all following to prevent biological hazards from
electrical equipment you use is in good condition. happening:
Check electrical cords and make sure they are not • Wear gown that is long enough to cover your
frayed. clothing. Because the outside of the gown is
Your hands should be dry before attempting to use any considered contaminated, this should not be
electrical equipment. touched when it is removed. A gown that is
Do not attempt to change fuses unless you know what wet is, of course, considered contaminated
you are doing. also. A caregiver should wear a clean gown
• Do not turn on all appliances at the same time just every client care. In case the gown is not
because you want to save time. available, an apron should be worn to mask
clothing during client contact.
 PRACTICAL WAYS TO PREVENT
HAZARDS AND RISKS
Use of Personal Protective Equipment
Caregivers should religiously abide by the • Masks should fit comfortably over the nose and
following to prevent biological hazards from mouth. The same with a gown or apron, a wet
happening: mask is considered contaminated. The front of
• Wear gown that is long enough to cover your the mask is also contaminated. Masks should not
clothing. Because the outside of the gown is be worn around the neck. For each client contact,
considered contaminated, this should not be a clean mask should be used.
touched when it is removed. A gown that is • Gloves should be used when an issue of
wet is, of course, considered contaminated contamination is present. Also, when a caregiver
also. A caregiver should wear a clean gown has an open wound on the hands, it is a must that
every client care. In case the gown is not he/she uses gloves. The outside of the gloves
available, an apron should be worn to mask should not be touched when removed as this is
clothing during client contact. considered contaminated.
Disposal of Health Care Wastes
In order to reduce the burden of disease, health care wastes should be managed appropriately.
Whether a caregiver is working in a hospital, a day care, or even at home, proper discarding
of medical wastes should be of great consideration.
Human waste products. Obviously, these wastes should be flushed down the toilet without
delay and should not be discarded in the street or in any public places.

Blood and bloody fluids. These must be removed right away. It is best if they can be directly
flushed down the toilet. If clothes are contaminated, they should be washed separately using
hot water and should be dried. Dressings with blood need to be double-bagged in plastic and
disposed of based on existing community or local rules.

Needles (sharps). Sharps should be kept in a container which is not easy to pierce like metal
(coffee can). Some items may be kept while some should be discarded right away. It is
advisable to discuss with the supervisor for the best disposal method.
Disposal of Health Care Wastes
Medical equipment. If the equipment is contaminated, it should be thrown away. It is ideal that the
equipment be double-bagged and disposed of based on the existing regulations in the community.
Also, this should be discussed with the immediate supervisor as to whether or not the said equipment
can be kept or should be disposed of already.
Proper Handwashing
As you touch people, tables, chairs, books, sinks, handrails, and other objects and surfaces, there is a
possibility that you contaminate your hands. The germs that have accumulated when touching things
may be the means for you to get sick and spread illness to others. The importance of hand washing
comes in. It is by far the best and simplest way to prevent germs from spreading and to keep the people
around you from getting sick. Though it is said that hand washing is the first line of defense against the
spread of illnesses, you should be aware of the proper way of doing it. Otherwise, you may just be
wasting your time doing it because you do not really wipe out what should be eliminated. The
following steps will help you in performing proper hand washing to rid yourself of germs in no time.
Proper Handwashing
1. Prepare your materials before washing your hands: paper towel, bar or liquid soap.

2. Turn on the faucet and wet wrists and hands thoroughly. Use a generous amount of soap.

3. Rub your hands together and between fingers. Be sure to use friction when washing as this helps in
cleaning your hands. Do not forget the surface of your hands, palms, the spaces within the fingers and
above the wrists. Do this process for at least 20 seconds.
You might want to sing “happy birthday” twice slowly to make sure you attain the minimum number of
seconds in washing your hands.

4. Clean your nails by rubbing the soap later through them. If your nails are long (it is advisable that
health care workers do not grow their nails long), use a soft stick or the nails of the other hand to remove
the dirt under them.
Proper Handwashing
5. Rinse your hands thoroughly under running water. Remember to rinse
from above the wrist down to the fingers.

6. Use a paper towel to dry your hands and discard immediately.

7. Use a new paper towel to close the faucet being careful not to
contaminate your hands. This paper towel should be discarded right away.
Put a Stop to Ergonomic Hazard
Efficient control measures are now being utilized by employers to avoid
ergonomic hazards among health care workers. Manual handling of
patients, for example, has become less stressful due to some paraphernalia
being used that facilitates the task. Adjustable height work stations,
improved tool design, and adjusted work pace are now part of a worker’s
life. Unfortunately, ergonomic hazard effects continue to happen. Why? At
times, the workers themselves invite these hazards due to the wrong way
they do their tasks. Conscious or not, they have to examine their work
routine and consider these simple rules:
Put a Stop to Ergonomic Hazard
• Avoid twisting the body.

• Bend knees if it is needed.

• Avoid too much stretching when reaching for something.

• Use a ladder when reaching for hard-to-reach materials or objects.

• Ask for help from someone if the task cannot be done by one person.
 CAREGIVERS’
ACCOUNTABILITY
A caregiver has to have a sense of duty for her own health and safety at
work. He/She has the responsibility, therefore, to follow safety
instructions in the workplace. In addition, he/she has to use tools,
equipment and paraphernalia with care. When hazards or injuries
happen, the caregiver must report the same to the person in charge or
directly to the immediate supervisor. Although a health worker’s concern
primarily focuses on his/her safety, he/she has to take all reasonable care
not to put other people at risk. After all, a caregiver gives care not only
to the client but also to co-workers, supervisors, and the people within
the working environment.
Thank you for
listening!
Do you have any questions?
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