PRACTICE OCCUPATIONAL

HEALTH AND SAFETY

PROCEDURES
 HAZARDS AND RISKS

• Hazard is anything that may cause harm to an

individual such as chemicals, electricity, open drawers,
and inadequate ventilation.
• Risk is the possibility that somebody could be harmed
by these and other hazards and the indication of how
serious the harm can be.
 OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND
SAFETY

• Occupational Health and Safety is the campaign and

maintenance of the well being of workers in every
occupation. It talks about providing a safe working
environment to achieve and injury-free workplace and a
healthy atmosphere that protects every worker against
illness. As an effect, it may also protect co-workers,
family members, clients and other members of the
community who are affected by the workplace
environment.
 TYPES OF HAZARDS

• Physical Hazards are the most normal

occurences in workplaces. They are usually easy
to detect, however very often are neglected
because people are too accustomed to them.
Another reason may be due to lack of
knowledge or people do not see situations as
hazards.
Examples of physical hazards that a caregiver
may be exposed to:
• Biological Hazards comes from working with
animals, people or infectious materials. This is,
therefore one of the most common hazards that
a caregiver faces. If one is working in a day care
hospital, hotel, laundry, nursing home,
laboratories, he/she may be exposed to
biological hazards.
• Ergonomic Hazards occur when a caregivers
nature of work, body position and working
conditions put pressure on his/her body. It is
difficult to spot this type of hazard, because
caregivers do not immediately notice the effect
to their bodies. At first, sore muscles may be
exrerienced. But long term exposure to this type
of hazard can cause muscoskeletal problems.
• Chemical Hazards are present when a worker is
exposed to any chemical preparation in the
workplace in any form (solid, liquid, or gas).
There may be chemicals which are safe, but
some caregivers who are sensitive to solutions
may cause skin irritation, illness or breathing
problems.
P Y S C HO L O G I CA L H A Z A R D S TA KE S P L AC E W H E N
A C A R E G I V E R S W O R K E N V I R ON M E NT B E C OM E S
STRESSFUL OR DEMANDING.
 RECOGNIZING HAZARDS AND RISKS
IN THE WORKPLACE

• Hazards and Risks vary from one workplace to another. Even in a

day care or nursing homes where work routines may be the same,
hazards will differ depending on the type of building the
establishment is situated, and the attitudes of caregivers, clients, or
employers.
1. A caregiver should observe the workplace .
2. A caregiver may examine complaints from his/her co-workers.
3. A caregiver should check accident records
4. A caregiver should examine chart on results of inspections done
by the employers or private organizations.
5. A caregiver may use checklist and inspect the workplace.
6. A caregiver may study reports on any other vital information
about the nursing home.
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.
 FIVE (5) MAJOR CATEGORIES OF
CONTROL MEASURES

1. Eliminating- a hazard means removing it completely.

2. Substitution- is replqcing or substituting a hazardous agent or works
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 hazards area is an example of an administrative control (for example
job rotation)
5. Personal Protective Equipment includes ear and eye protection,
respirators nad protective clothing .
PRACTICAL WAYS TO PREVENT
HAZARDS AND RISKS