promote a safe working environment

B. Prepare materials for a display to show in detail how care workers could promote a safe working environment when caring for service users with infections. Include information about:

Service users rooms
Personal safety when dealing with infection
How to deal with hazardous human waste.

It is very important that service user in care homes are living in a safe environment free from all sort of harm such as spreading of infections. It is care workers responsibility to make sure they prevent all sort of diseases spreading throughout the care home and to provide them with good and safe environment. Service users who suffer from infections and diseases have the right to be looked at in a proper manner and with respect. They can make sure that service users are clean and safe in order to prevent diseases and infections.

“Keeping patients safe from infection protecting patients from infection is the responsibility of everyone - including staff and visitors.”

(http://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/patients/infection/)

Service user’s rooms:

When service users catch an infection normally they would have to stay in one room where they would have to sleep and eat together in order to prevent others from catching the same infection. The only reason they are able to leave their room is when they need the toilet or in need of fresh air. They have to make sure there are no unusual odours and make sure that their room is clean every single day. This care is needed for the room has well because if service user is kept in a dirty room he has no chance of getting better as there will still be germs and bacteria spreading around him whom no one is able to see.

Care workers have to make sure that they do service users bedding everyday, making sure it’s clean and tidy. They have to make sure they change the bed sheets every single day if that service user has an infection. However other wise can be at least in every 3-4 days. They have to make sure they put the bed sheets in hot water and cleaning solutions in order to keep them nice and clean, hot water kills the bacteria produced.

Care workers should also make sure they clean or wipe the furniture everyday, because that service user might use furniture such as chair or desk to put his medicine of food on it. They have to make sure they use Dettol or any other cleaning products to clean it so it keeps clean and fresh everyday.

Rubbish bins should always be cleaned properly every time the bin is full because service user’s use this quite often and even touch it if it is one of the opening bins. Spreading infections can be spread easily as the bins are never clean as it contains lots of bad bacteria. This is known infection is in indirect contact.

Toilet seats should also be clean properly every time some one uses the toilet as this type of spreading infection is known as indirect contact service users don’t have their own toilets in their room and other service users will use these toilets should always consider this in mind. Infections are very easily spread through this careless method. The toilet bowl should always be cleaned by cleaning products everyday.

Toilet sinks and taps should always be kept clean from any type of bacteria that reproduces on it. Because the service users share these facilities with other service ...

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Toilet sinks and taps should always be kept clean from any type of bacteria that reproduces on it. Because the service users share these facilities with other service users, they have to pay extra attention to these items to be cleaned, one of the main things that make an individual catch an infection is when two people share their stuff and it’s not cleaned properly. It is important that it is washed properly with detergent solution and making sure it is kept clean.

After service user has eaten his meal, care worker should always make sure they clean the dishes if the food is provided in plate rather then disposable plates. They have to do this in order to get rid of germs that are produced from eaten food.

Two years ago in Greyfriers, a service user was called Amelia, she was very forgetful, one night she woke up feeling thirsty, she found a bottle of cleaning detergent next to her which was left by a careless care worker, as soon as she saw the bottle she tried to open it, however she couldn’t as it had a safety lock on the bottle. If it didn’t have a lock Amelia would have drank the liquid inside and her life could have been in severe danger, maybe it would have cost her life. Care workers have to make sure that they don’t leave any toxic products lying around in the care home for service user’s health and safety. They should all follow the management of Health and Safety at work regulation 1992.

Personal Safety:

Every one can catch an infection from care settings, even care workers. If a care worker has caught and infection they should try and not go to work as they can also spread their infection to weak and old service users. It is more likely that service users will catch an infection faster then care workers as they are old and their immune system might not be as good as care workers to fight the infection.

Even if care workers have had a cut or bruise they should always try to cover it with plaster or a cloth. It may seem a small issue to care workers but when it comes to catching the bacteria from them it can be easy for service users. Covering the cut or bruise reduces the risk of passing any pathogens to the service users; they should always try to make a safe environment for the service users by alerting themselves to health and safety risks.

Care workers should always be aware of what type of clothing they wear, they should always wear disposable clothing which they may throw after they have been used. This will protect the care workers from catching or spreading any infectious diseases from the service users or even the other care workers and at the same time it will protect them.

In health and social cares, safety is very important. Most employees in care setting are not allowed to wear any type of jewelry or garments which are going to put them at risk or service users at risk i.e. getting their dangly earrings caught in service users hair. Safety of the service user and the care worker is very important. So it is therefore it is significant that the service users should also avoid wearing any type of jewelry such as dangly earrings, huge rings and necklaces. As well as reduces risk it also reduces spread of infection.

Annabel is very fond of jewelry, she bought some earrings from Christmas sale, so when he came back to care home, she showed her friend her earrings which she tried on. Her friend told her they looked great on her and asked her if she could try them on as well. When her friend tried the earrings on, her ears started to itch a lot, she had caught infection from share of jewelry.

Also in care settings sensible shoes are a must have. Care workers should always try to wear flat shoes which they are able to walk properly in them. Walking in high heel will not only make them walk slower but also put themselves and others at risk. For example if a care worker fell down the stair while service user was trying to come up the stair, that care worker will also drag them along with them.

Washing hand is one of the most important things in care settings. When care worker is going to carry out their task, they should always ensure that they wash their hands before and after. There are many things that care workers will come in contact with such as:

Blood
Soiled linen
Clinical waste
Bodily fluids such as sweat, vomit or mucus.

They have to make sure they wash their hands properly even if they had gloves on, to be on a safe side. They should always make sure they wash their hand in running water as still water can still have infections, they should wash their hands with soap or anti bacterial hand wash. Also make sure that they pay rather more attention to their fingers, thumbs or even under their wedding rings which is permitted in care settings in such occasions.

In care settings, care workers should make sure they wear disposable clothing so they don’t spread infection from person to person. Wearing protective clothing such as apron can also help prevent spreading of infections; they should be used when carrying out procedures which are going to include bodily contact such as changing clothes of service users who don’t have the ability to do it themselves. After use they should make sure they are disposed properly. New apron should be worn for every new service user they carry out task for.

Care workers should also make sure they wear a disposable hat if their hair is not tied back as this can come in contact with the service user whose care is being provided for. Not tying back their hair could result in their hair getting caught in equipments or even spreading infection to service users. Care workers should make sure they clean their hair regularly so it stays nice and clean.

Wearing a mask is also important when it comes to taking care of service users. This can prevent car workers breathing into service users by spreading bacteria to them. As soon as the care workers have finished their job of taking care of service users they should ensure that they dispose their mask and wear a new mask if they going to care for another service user.

Care worker should also wear disposable gloves when caring for service users as it is very important. They should mainly be worn if there is going to be any danger with body fluids such as blood or sweat. Gloves should also be worn when there is blood of service users have dripped when taking care of them so that they don’t catch any infections on their hand too. They should also ensure that gloves are not torn or contain holes in them.

Another thing that is important in care settings is when care workers take care of an individual they should ensure that they wear over shoes to prevent spreading of infections from place to place. They should immediately dispose their overshoes after they have been used in a room.

Dealing with hazardous human waste:

“Waste is considered 'hazardous' under environmental legislation when it contains substances or has properties that might make it harmful to human health or the environment. This does not necessarily mean it is an immediate risk to human health, although some waste can be.”

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Hazardous waste can be from many places such as house, factory or hospitals. Percutaneous exposure passes on blood-borne viruses mostly in health and social settings; this is mainly when a sharp instrument contains contaminated blood of infected person. There are many circumstances when a risk of infection is passed on such as:

1 in 3 for hepatises B, some people are affected some carry them only in their genes.
1 in 0 for hepatitis C
1 in 300 for HIV (human immunodeficiency virus).

Health and Care settings plans are to provide safety and protection for service user’s well beings. There should always be a policy to prevent any harm that will cause to service users through sharp object such as syringes. Service settings usually use syringes for service users only if they really have to. They should make sure they are properly dealt with and after use should be properly disposed in a labelled boxes especially made for their purpose. There are some protections which have to be done to prevent hazardous infections such as:

When cleaning the equipment gloves should be changed. Also when dealing with other service users health.
To wear protective eye-wear to prevent any leaks entering the eyes of care workers.
Cover their wounds and cuts with protectors i.e. plasters.
When dealing with bodily fluids, gloves should be worn.
Care workers to take extra care of sharp objects and their way of disposal.
To wear overshoes to prevent spreading infection from room to room.
Cleaning up bodily mess such as blood while wearing gloves.
Washing of hands after and before the procedure being carried out.

Sonya from Greyfriers had paper cut herself while she was reading the daily newspaper. The care worker told her to cover it so it prevents pathogens spreading around to other service users. This is one of health and safety rules which are very important in health and care settings.

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