Lesson 4: Evaluate and control Hazards and Risks

Schedule: Monday and Wednesday, 7:30-9:30 am - Cassiopeia Time Frame: 2 weeks

Monday and Wednesday, 1:00-3:00 pm - Cepheus

OBJECTIVES:
By the end of the lesson, the students will be able to:

 Follow Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) procedures in dealing with and for controlling
hazards and risks
 Establish organizational protocol in providing appropriate assistance in workplace
emergencies

What Do You Already Know?

Health and safety of workers, patient, coworkers, an employer is a primary concern in

caregiving. As in any other occupations, there are moral, social, and economic implications
when a worker or the patient meets an accident while in the nursing home.

Pre – Assessment

I. Directions: Write True if the statement is correct, or False if it is incorrect.

1. ______Human wastes should be discarded in the street.

2. ______Every time a risk assessment is done, details should be recorded.
3. ______Engineering control is the best control measure for hazards and risks.
4. ______Appliances may be turned on at the same time to save time
and effort on the part of the caregiver.
5. ______A wet mask is not considered contaminated.

II. Directions: Match the picture in Column A with that of the description in
Column B. Write the letter of your choice in the space provided in each item.

Column A Column B

A. It protects a caregiver’s clothing from contamination.

pg. 1 (CAREGIVING)
 2

B. It is used to protect the hands from contamination.

C. This may be used when gown is not available.

D. It is used to avoid droplets of saliva from reaching

other people.

What Do You Need to Know?

w
Words for Study

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.

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.

pg. 2 (CAREGIVING)
 1. Eliminating a hazard means removing it completely.
2. Substitution is replacing or substituting a hazardous agent or work process with a less dangerous
one.
3. 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.
4. 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)
5. 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

 As common sense dictates, you have to ensure that all electrical equipment you use is in
good condition.
 Check electrical cords and make sure they are not frayed.
 Your hands should be dry before attempting to use any electrical equipment.
 Do not attempt to change fuses unless you know what you are doing.
 Do not turn on all appliances at the same time just because you want to save time.

Use of Personal Protective Equipment

Caregivers should religiously abide by the following to

prevent biological hazards from happening:

 Wear gown that is long enough to cover your

clothing. Because the outside of the gown is
considered contaminated, this should not be
touched when it is removed. A gown that is wet is,
of course, considered contaminated also. A
caregiver should wear a clean gown every client
care. In case the gown is not available, apron
should be worn to mask clothing during client
contact.
 Masks should fit comfortably over the nose and
mouth. The same with a gown or apron, a wet
mask is considered contaminated. The front of the
mask is also contaminated.
Masks should not be worn around the neck. For each client contact, a clean mask should be used.
 Gloves should be used when issue on contamination is present. Also, when a caregiver
has open wound on the hands, it is a must that he/she use gloves. The outside of the
gloves should not be touched when removed as this is considered contaminated.

Gloves

pg. 3 (CAREGIVING)
 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.

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.

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.
4. You might want to sing ―happy birthday‖ twice slowly to make sure you attained the
minimum number of seconds in washing your hands.
5. 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.
6. Rinse your hands thoroughly under running water. Remember to rinse from above the wrist down
to the fingers.
7. Use a paper towel to dry hands and discard immediately.
8. Use a new paper towel to close 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 facilitate the task. Adjustable height work stations, improved tool design,
pg. 4 (CAREGIVING)
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:

 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.

pg. 5 (CAREGIVING)
 Activity Sheet

Name: ______________________________________________________ Date: _______________

Grade/Section: ___________________________________________

How Much Have You Learned?

Show that you learned something by
doing this activity

Activity 1
Directions: Walk around your house and list down 10 possible hazards and risks that you
may find. Explain why these things that you have identified or listed pose
danger to the members of your family. Follow the format given.

Reason/s why it poses danger to me

Possible hazard/risk
and my family

How do you apply what you have learned?

Performance Task

Directions: Work with a partner and read the situation given. Then, answer the
questions that follow:

Case Study:

pg. 6 (CAREGIVING)
 On December 20, 2011, Velanie Lopez was working in the kitchen to prepare an
apple- watermelon smoothie for her client. Paper towels or floor mops were not in
sight. When she left the kitchen, another caregiver named Rafael went inside to
prepare a meal. The next day, Velanie found out that Rafael was brought to a hospital.

Situation:

The blender which Velanie used on December 20 was found in the kitchen still
plugged in the outlet. There was a spill on the floor which seems to be a fruit shake.

The Accident:

After Rafael finished his client’s meal, he hurriedly went out of the kitchen moving his
way through the floor where the spill was situated. He badly fell on the floor and
heavily bumped his head to it.

Guide Questions:

1. What do you think were the reasons which caused this accident to happen?
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
2. How could this misfortune have been prevented?
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
3. Who is to blame in this scenario, Velanie or Rafael? Defend your answer.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________

Let’s test ourselves

Assessment

I. Directions: Write True if the statement is correct, or False if it is incorrect.

1. _________ Twisting the body when doing a task is important to avoid ergonomic hazard.
2. _________ Proper hand washing is the first line of defense against the spread of illness to other
people.
3. _________ A wet gown is considered contaminated.
4. _________ The best method of control measure is through substitution.
5. _________ Providing improved tools and equipment to workers to prevent hazard is an example
of engineering control.

II. Directions: Give an example for each type of control measure.

1. Elimination
2. Substitution
3. Engineering control
4. Administrative control
pg. 7 (CAREGIVING)
 5. EPP

pg. 8 (CAREGIVING)