Explain six potential hazards that could be found in a health and social care setting

2. Access to Medication (health) :

If any medication is left outside the medication room/locker, this can be a hazard to any of the service users because they will be able to get unauthorized access to the medication and they will abuse the medication which may result in the service user harming themselves. To avoid this hazard, the any medication should always be locked up to reduce any risk of the service users harming themselves.

3. Wet Floors (Safety) :

If the cleaners clean the floor with any liquids and the floor is left still wet, this will be an obvious hazard to the service users and other workers because if a service user slips over the wet surface they will hurt themselves. To reduce the risk, the cleaners should always put up “wet floor” hazard signs so that the service users and other workers are more aware and careful while walking on the wet surface.

4. Loose Wires (Safety) :

Any loose wires on the floor can be a hazard to the service users as if the wires are not sorted out in an appropriate manner they will trip anyone and this could cause serious damage to the service users. To reduce the risk, loose wires should always be kept together and well away from the walking paths as they are a dangerous hazard to the service users.

5. Used towels/bandages/gloves should be disposed away (Health) :

The carers should always dispose any used towels or bandages in the bin away from the service users because if the towels/bandages are left in the clear to the service users, they are more likely to spread diseases among the people around and to reduce the risk of this happening, the carers should always dispose the used materials away from the service users and into the right coloured bin.

6. Blocked fire exits (safety) :

Fire exits should always be clear of any heavy material at all times, so that the hazard risk is reduced. In case of a fire if the exit door is blocked, this could prevent the service users or any other people in the building escaping the fire which is why it is a huge hazard if the fire exit is blocked.