Hazards in a care home and in a school

by liamcooper (student)

Stephanie Cooper Mrs Guest

Below are some of the hazards in depth and how they can affect an individual in a care home and in a school environment.

Chemical Hazards

There can be many hazards found round a care home, chemical hazards that could be found include, cleaning chemicals being left out, this is an easy way that the residents could pick them up and they could drink them. The chemical can be harmful to the residents because if they pick it up, depending on what the chemical is, it could burn them. The chemicals could blind the residents if they put it in contact with their eyes. If cleaning chemicals are not put back in the correct place where they should be stored and they are needed for an emergency, they won’t be able to be located. Chemical hazards can also include medication. Medication is a big part of a care home, as older people in a care home do need medication. If medication is not labelled up correctly and if it is given to the wrong person or the wrong dosage is given, can cause many hazards and incidence as it can cause death if the wrong dosage is given and given to the wrong person.

In a school environment there are many chemical hazards. Just like in a care home there is cleaning chemicals that are used by cleaners or teaching staff. These chemicals could be left out and not put away in the correct place meaning that the children could handle these chemical and cause harm to themselves and others. In a school the children may not know what the chemicals are and drink them and if they think its water they could put their hands in and burn themselves depending on what chemicals it is. Medication is always being brought into school by parents and children, these medications could cause harm to other children if taken. The medication that is brought in should be kept in a safe and only given when needed and to the right person.

Biological Hazards

Biological hazards occur from the handling of waste containing human tissue, blood or other bodily fluids or excretions, drugs or other products such as, swabs, dressing or syringes etc. These may all be classified as clinical waste. Also soiled laundry that is contaminated with a variety of different bacteria and germs can be classed as a biological hazard. Hazards such as these should be identified and they are put under the requirements of the COSHH Regulations 1999. Procedures for the safe handling, segregation, storage, spillage control and disposal should be put in place and staff should be trained appropriately. Staff should be protected against these hazardous substances that they may use in their work activities. Staff in a care homes setting are particularly at risk from clinical waste, including soiled laundry. Therefore, staff should be trained in safe working procedures and hygiene standards, as well as being provided with appropriate protective equipment, such as gloves and bags to collect the contaminated laundry and waste.

The biological hazards that you may come across in a school are things such as the children’s body fluids; such as runny nose, dirty diapers and blood. To prevent theses hazards to become hazardous to you, you should always wear gloves when coming into contact with any biological substance.

Scalds and Burns

At water temperatures over 45°c there is a risk of scalding which rises with increasing temperatures. The risk is increased in care homes as residents maybe elderly and may be prone to sensory loss. It is recommended that water temperatures should not exceed 45°C in areas that the residents can access. In a care home there are safe hot water systems installed so the temperature does not exceed the 45°c.Residents may suffer burns if they come into contact with temperatures that exceed 45°c. Managers should ensure that surfaces cannot be accessed, for example beds should not be ...

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Scalds and Burns

There are many situations when children have scalded themselves with hot water or hot drinks. In a school there is times when children may come in contact with hot drinks, as younger child may grab cups from a desk and pull it onto themselves. When students cook at school they may accidently catch the pan and pull it off of the cooker and then the pan spills down them and burns them.

All radiators should be covered so none of the surface of it is being shown; there are many types of covers. The Wire mesh radiator covers prevent physical contact by enclosing the radiator with a metal grill barrier that does not hold heat so is safe to touch.

Child may slip or trip over toys that have been left out on the floor and they may fall on something hot such as heaters or hot water. To prevent this happening, always make sure that equipment and toys are put away in a safe and secure place.

Another hazard in a school environment involving scalds and burns are with hot food. The kitchen staffs have to make sure that the food isn’t too hot that the children do not burn themselves when eating the food but they also have to make sure the food is not too cold that it will be hazardous in other ways.

Electrical hazards

All electrical equipment should be installed and maintained by an able and qualified person. Fixed electrical equipment should be inspected and tested at least once every five years. Portable appliances should be tested regularly, managers should ensure that any portable appliances, such as hairdryers, and electrical tooth brushes, bought into the home by residents are checked before they use them in the house and are included in any regular testing. Extension leads should not be used in a care home as they are dangerous, because the cable is easy to trip over and the elderly are not stable on their feet. If there aren’t enough sockets in the care home, an electrician should be employed to provide additional sockets if they are required. If the plugs/ sockets are found to be faulty, they can could cause a fire or be dangerous to the person who is using it. If there is a faulty plug/ socket in the care home, a carer should report it to the manager and they should then employ an electrician to resolve the problem. If an elderly person is using an electrical item with wet hands they are in danger of electrocuting themselves. Also the care home workers should make sure that plugs and electrical items are not near any water.

All the electrical equipment in a school should be installed and maintained by an able and qualified person. Fixed electrical equipment such as plug sockets should be inspected and tested at least once every five years. Portable appliances should be tested regularly, caretakers should ensure that any portable appliances, such as laptops, computers, phone charges and other portable electrical equipment that is in the school should be tested and checked before they are used in the school and go through a regular testing process making sure they are safe to use. Visible wires in a school should be kept to a minimum, but as you walk around an average classroom you might see wires here and there. Wires are necessary to provide both power and networking capabilities. Some cords over hang from the teacher's desk, making loops and at times even becoming possible shock hazards, especially for younger children. Even though students have become quite visible to these wires and accepting of these, there are many situations that could happen. Not only could injuries be caused from falling or tripping on a wire, the wires could be pulled off causing objects or equipment which could then cause further injuries. People at risk include the students, volunteers, staff, and visitors. This could include family and friends who come to see school programs.

Plastic PVC or other plumbing pipe and wire covers can be used to organise dangling and looped electrical wires and computer cables in order to prevent injuries. Floor runners are to cover a minimal number of cords.

Trips, Slips& Falls hazards

Trips and falls are a huge risk in a care home, as elderly people are unsteady on their feet. There are ramps in a care home, these can be very dangerous if they become wet or when it is icy. These hazards can be reduced by using de-icer/ salt. Electrical equipment such as hoovers have to have wires to work, these can be dangerous to the residents as they could trip over it and fall and hurt them self. If a floor has just been washed, the floor will become slippery. The employer who wet the floor should place ‘Wet floor signs’ where the floor is wet. In order to prevent trips and falls, floors should be of a non-slip design and the use of mats and rugs on polished floors should be avoided. Floors should be kept clean. The floors should be kept free of obstacles at all times. When the care home is being cleaned, the cleaners should always use the dry cleaning option where possible. During cleaning warning signs should be used to make residents and staff aware of potentially slippery surfaces. If an individual trips or falls in a care home they may break bones, an injury at a joint, caused by the ligament being stretched. If the residents or even the work force, fall or trip they may cut themself and that will result in bleeding. Bleeding under the skin will cause bruising if the skin isn’t cut open. Bath tubs can be very slippery so in a care home the manager is recommended to install showers instead of baths. Showers are easy and safe to get in and out of; elderly people find it difficult to get up from the bath. If replacing the bath tub with a shower is not achievable, there should be non-skid tape should be placed in the bath so the resident can stand in the bath without slipping and hurting them self.

In a school slips are generally the result of wet surfaces caused by puddles, spills, snow and ice. The main steps to prevent slips, trips and falls are to make sure all walking areas are dry. This can be resolved by regular monitoring of surfaces and immediately cleaning any spills. When the hazard cannot be removed or resolved, choosing the clearest, safest alternative route is the best solution.

Trips are frequently caused by frayed carpets, loose rugs, cables, cords or a slight variation in floor height. Inspecting and maintaining of hazardous surfaces will reduce the chances of there being a hazard. Slip, trip and fall hazards can only be avoided if they are recognised. Areas which are improperly lit, such as dark hallways or storage closets, are not for students or children, these places should only be used by authorised personnel and staff.

Splinters

All around a care home you will find different objects and surfaces that could cause splinters if they are not kept maintained. If the door is rough and if a person touches the door they could get a splinter in their hand. If a metal boundary is not kept up to standard the metal corrodes and the surface becomes rough and the shavings might cause the skin to be punctured. Hand rails need to be kept clean and well maintained because if they become rough or damaged anyone holding the rail to walk could damage their hand causing multi splinters. If a person in the care home gets a splinter, that splinter may become infected and the infection may lead into the blood stream.

All around a school you will find different objects and surfaces that could cause splinters if they are not reviewed and maintained correctly. If the door is rough and if a person touches the door they could get a splinter in their hand. On the outside of the school there are metal fences, and if they are not kept up to standard the metal corrodes and the surface becomes rough and the shavings might cause the skin to be punctured.

Cuts

In a care home there are many different ways that an individual can come across different objects/ surfaces that can cause cuts, from the residents or employers cutting their finger on paper to an impact puncture to the body. Outside there could be glass on the floor and if one of the resident’s falls on it, they will cut their self, the glass could then be embedded in the skin and could cause infections. Cuts can be very dangerous as they can cause bleeding and bruising, swelling if the cut becomes infected and loss of blood if the cut is severe.

In a school there are many different ways that a child or an adult can cuts themselves, from the children or staff cutting their finger on paper, to an impact puncture to the skin. Outside there could be glass on the floor and if one of the children falls on it, they will cut their self, the glass could then be embedded in the skin and could cause infections. Cuts can be very dangerous as they can cause bleeding and bruising, swelling if the cut becomes infected and loss of blood if the cut is severe.

Ingesting toxic substances

Anyone who works with or is exposed to hazardous toxic substances in a care home is at risk. Those that are exposed to more hazardous substances for long periods of time are more at risk than those exposed for short periods or to less hazardous substances. The carers should aim to prevent the contact between the residence and the hazardous substances. The cleaners at the care home come into contact with hazardous substances often, such as bleach and cleaning fluids can cause burns and skin irritation.

Anyone who works or goes to school could be at risk of exposure to hazardous toxic substances. Those that are exposed to more hazardous substances for long periods of time are more at risk than those exposed for short periods or to less hazardous substances, this means that people in school are less likely to ingest toxic substances as there are not many toxic substances around a school, the main really hazardous substances are used by adults and those who are trained. The staff should aim to prevent the contact between the students and the hazardous substances. The cleaners at schools come into contact with hazardous substances often, such as bleach and cleaning fluids can cause burns and skin irritation.

Inappropriate footwear

Wearing the right type of footwear in a care home is critical as if the correct footwear isn’t worn, serious accidents can occur. For example if slippers are worn outside and the ground is wet, the individual could slip and break a bone. Elderly people’s bones aren’t as strong as younger peoples. The cooking staffs at care homes are advised to wear suitable footwear for in a kitchen, if they don’t and they spill or drop something on their feet, they may injure their foot. The carers should wear suitable footwear as throughout the day they are delivering hot food or drinks to the elderly, if they wear for example; high heel shoes, and the heel gets caught they may fall and spill the hot food/ drink on the residents, this will cause scalding and burning.

In schools, for safety reasons children need to be able to tie their laces up tightly, because if they cannot tie their shoe laces and they are un-tied and they fall they will hurt themselves and may cause bleeding. Flip flops/open toe shoes are not suitable school footwear, as hot food and drinks could be spilt and burn an individual.

Where floors can’t be kept dry or clean for example, in the kitchen where food preparation is undertaken, the right footwear is really important, it is advised a slip resistant shoe may be required.