Chapter 14

Promotion of Safety

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 14:1 Using Body Mechanics
• Muscles work best when used correctly
• Correct use of muscles makes lifting, pulling,
and pushing easier
• Correct body mechanics prevents unnecessary
fatigue and strain and saves energy

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 14:1 Using Body Mechanics (continued)
• Correct body mechanics prevents injury
• Maintain a broad base of support
• Bend from hips and knees to get close to an
object
• Use the strongest muscles to do the job
• Use body weight to help push or pull an object

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 14:1 Using Body Mechanics (continued)
• Carry heavy objects close to the body
• Avoid twisting your body as you work
• Avoid bending for long periods of time
• Get help if a patient or object is too heavy to
lift alone

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 14:1 Using Body Mechanics (continued)
• Back supports
– Required by some health care facilities
– May provide false sense of security
– Should be correct size in order to provide
maximum benefit
– Should fit snugly when needed, can be loosened
at other times

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14:2 Preventing Accidents and Injuries
• Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA)
– Division of the Department of Labor
– Establishes and enforces safety standards in the
workplace

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14:2 Preventing Accidents and Injuries
(continued)

• Two standards that affect health care

workers:
– Occupational Exposure to Hazardous
Chemicals Standard
– Bloodborne Pathogen Standard

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 Chemical Hazards
• Occupational Exposure to Hazardous
Chemicals Standard
– Requires employers to inform employees of all
chemicals and hazards in workplace
– Training for employees on procedures and policies

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 Chemical Hazards (continued)
• All manufacturers must provide Material
Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) with any
hazardous product they sell
– Specific information has to be provided on the
MSDS related to protection, precautions, and
procedures

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 Bloodborne Pathogen Standard
• Contains mandates to protect health care
providers from diseases caused by exposure
to body fluids
• Diseases that can be contracted by exposure
to body fluids include hepatitis B, hepatitis C,
and AIDS

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 Environmental Safety
• Ergonomics
– Applied science to promote safety and well-being
of a person by adapting environment and using
techniques to prevent injuries

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 Environmental Safety (continued)
• Ergonomics (continued)
– Correct placement of furniture and equipment
– Training in muscle movements
– Efforts to avoid repetitive motions
– Awareness of the environment to prevent injuries

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 Environmental Safety (continued)
• Concerns include
– Accident or injury
– Radiation or mercury exposure
– Contaminated wastes
• Health care workers have a legal responsibility
to protect patients from harm and injury

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Equipment and Solutions Safety (continued
• Do not operate or use any equipment until
you have been trained to use it
• Read and follow operating instructions
• Do not operate equipment without presence
of instructor/supervisor
• Report damaged or malfunctioning
equipment
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Equipment and Solutions Safety (continued)
• Do not use frayed or damaged electrical cords
• Never handle electrical equipment with wet
hands
• Store equipment properly
• Observe all safety precautions for equipment
• Read MSDSs for hazardous chemical solutions

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Equipment and Solutions Safety (continued
• Check NFPA codes
• Never use solutions that are from unlabeled
bottles
• Read labels at least three times
• Do not mix solutions unless instructed

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Equipment and Solutions Safety (continued)
• Avoid solution contact with eyes/skin
• Store chemicals in locked cabinet following
manufacturers’ recommendations
• Dispose of chemical solutions according to
MSDS
• Report broken equipment or spilled solutions

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 Patient/Resident Safety
• Do not perform any procedure on patients
unless instructed and authorized
• Provide privacy for all patients
• Identify your patient
• Explain the procedure

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 Patient/Resident Safety (continued)
• Observe patient closely during any procedure
• Check all areas for safety hazards
• Before leaving a patient, observe all safety
checkpoints

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 Personal Safety
• Protect yourself and others from injury
• Use correct body mechanics
• Wear the required personal protective
equipment (PPE)
• Walk; do not run
• Report any injury or accident

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 Personal Safety (continued)
• Report unsafe situations or safety violations
• Keep all areas neat and clean
• Wash hands frequently
• Keep hands away from face, eyes, mouth, hair
• Dry hands thoroughly before handling
electrical equipment

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 Personal Safety (continued)
• Wear safety glasses when appropriate
• Observe all safety precautions
• If solution comes in contact with skin or eyes,
flush immediately with cool water and report
• If particle gets in eye, report immediately
– Do not try to remove or rub eye

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 14:3 Observing Fire Safety
• Fire requires
– Oxygen—found in the air
– Fuel—any material that will burn
– Heat—sparks, matches, flames
• Major cause of fires is carelessness with
smoking and matches

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 Fire Extinguishers
• Classified and labeled according to kind of fire
they extinguish
• Main classes
– Class A: for combustibles (paper, cloth, plastic,
wood)
– Class B: for flammable or combustible liquids
(gasoline, paint, grease, cooking fat)

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 Fire Extinguishers (continued)
• Main classes (continued)
– Class C: for electrical fires such as fuse boxes,
appliances, wiring, and electrical outlets (the C
stands for nonconductive)
– Class D: for burning or specific combustible metals
• Refer to Figure 14-10 in Text

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 Fire Extinguishers (continued)
• The main types include
– Water
– Carbon dioxide
– Dry chemical
– Halon

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 Fire Emergency Plan
• Remain calm; do not panic
• RACE
– R: rescue anyone in immediate danger
– A: activate the alarm
– C: confine the fire
– E: extinguish the fire

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 Fire Emergency Plan (continued)
• Preventing fires
– Obey “No Smoking” signs
– Extinguish matches, cigarettes, and flammable
items completely
– Dispose of all waste materials in proper
containers

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 Fire Emergency Plan (continued)
• Preventing fires (continued)
– Handle electrical equipment carefully; check for
damaged cords/improper grounding before use
– Store flammable materials in proper containers
and in a safe area; immediately wipe up spills of
flammable liquids

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 Fire Emergency Plan (continued)
• Preventing fires (continued)
– Do not allow clutter to accumulate
– When oxygen is in use, observe special
precautions

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 Disaster Plans
• Disasters include tornadoes, hurricanes,
earthquakes, floods, bomb threats
• Stay calm and follow health care facility
procedures
• Provide for safety of self and patients
• Be familiar with disaster policies

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