Unit 3 LO1

- such as crowded areas and wet floors

- can cause slip and trip hazards in settings' surroundings

for example

• worn vinyl flooring in the shower room of a hospital
• a wet bathroom floor in a residential home
• frayed carpet in the hallway entrance of a children's centre

- such as waste and body fluids

- can cause the spread of infections and affect people's health

for example

• a used bandage left on a bed in a clinic
• soiled laundry left on the floor in a bathroom of a nursing home
• vomit on the floor of a children's play area that has not been cleared up

- such as cleaning agents and medication

- can cause harm if not used and stored correctly

for example

• an unlocked medicine trolley on a hospital ward
• an unlabelled cleaning fluid in the cupboard of an individual's home
• hot cooking oil left unattended in the kitchen of an after-school club

- such as stress and violence

- can affect people's physical and emotional wellbeing

for example

• stress caused by people in a dentist's waiting room behaving in a challenging way
• tiredness caused by a high workload due to staff absence in a supported living scheme
• stress caused by children not wanting to participate in the activities that have been planned for them

- such as poor lighting and environments that are too hot or too cold

- can cause harm and ill-health

for example

• noise and disruption to the reception area of an opticians due to maintenance works
• a senior homecare worker that travels long distances in between individual's homes
• a child's bedroom that is very cold and has poor lighting

- such as lack of fire training or long working hours

- can cause injuries, fatalities and illnesses

for example

• long working hours due to staff absence on a mental health community unit
• lack of supervision for new volunteers working in a support group for adults who have dementia
• lack of training for staff in a children's residential home on the procedues to follow when a faulty hoist is identified

- such as window locks and alarm systems

- can cause security and fire risks

for example

• faulty smoke alarm systems in a clinic
• a broken security chain on an individual's front door
• lack of interlocking doors in a school

may be harmed if environmental hazards have not been identified

• an individual attending an appointment at their local GP surgery may fall if uneven steps at the front entrance are not repaired

chemical hazards can cause injury and harm

• not using cleaning agents in line with the manufacturer's instructions by not wearing protective equipment such as aprons and gloves may lead to employees sustaining skin rashes and burns

biological hazards, if not identified and managed, can cause life-threatening and lonf-term illnesses

• used dressings need to be disposed of, dirty laundry needs to be washed separately and body fluid spillages need to be cleaned quickly using the correct protective equipment and cleaning agents to prevent spread of infections

psychological hazards, such as stress and tiredness, have the potential to impact on everyone

• employees will be more likely to make mistakes when carrying out their day-to-day working practices if they are tired and their interactions with others may become strained if they are stressed, meaning they may provide poor or unsafe care

unsafe working conditions and practices can result in hazards not being identified, reduced or removed, which can impact on the standards and quality of care being provided

• a lack of properly maintained handwashing facilities can result in employees not maintaining a good level of personal hygiene which in turn can lead to the spread of infections

poor working practices can also impact on the standards of care and support

• a lack of regular supervision for all employees can lead to poor communication within the team and with the individuals who require care and support, which can in turn cause conflicts and misunderstandings

hazards can also have a devastating effect on employers and organisations as a whole

• a lack of effective security systems may result in theft of personal belongings and damage to property

an individual may bring a lawsuit against the organisation which may result in the organisation having to pay for costs in relation to court fees and compensation

• lawsuits can damage the reputation of the organisation

harm and abuse towards others can be deliberate

• a senior care assistant who supports an individual requiring care and support with their shopping and buys items for themselves with the individual's money is deliberately abusing that individual financially

harm and abuse towards others can also be unintentional, through poor care

• a senior care worker who supports an older individual to move position in bed in a careless manner is unintentionally physically abusing that individual

abuse and harm can have far reaching effects on the health and wellbeing of the individual

short-term effects include

• bruises, cuts and broken bones
• contracting a sexually transmitted infection (STI)
• displaying challenging or needy behaviour

long-term effects include

• feeling angry, anxious or tearful
• developing mental health issues, such as depression, self-harm and suicidal behaviour
• difficulties with addiction such as drugs and alcohol

for example

• intensive care unit in a hospital, a clinic, GP surgery or dentist

- health professionals carry out tasks such as surgical procedures that involve contact with body fluids that can contain pathogens and carry infectious diseases

- tasks that involve coming into contact with hazardous chemicals can lead to accidental spillages

for example

• an individual's home, a residential care home or a nursing home

- vulnerable residents may have vulnerable immune systems that can be damaged by illnesses such as leukaemia and therefore can make them more susceptible to infections

- individuals living in care environments may also have additional visual and/or mobility impairments that may mean that they are more susceptible to having falls

for example

• creches or schools

- children's immune systems are immature and therefore are more susceptible to infections

- children may also not recognise potential hazards such as sharing toys that have been put in other children's mouths, choking on food, picking up food that has been dropped on the floor, not washing hands after high risk activities such as coughing, sneezing and using the toilet

for example

• shopping centres, parks, cinemas: places where large crowds of people gather

- slips, trips and falls

- food poisoning from food outlets

- harm and injuries can also occur from people that may be abusive or violent

for example

• centre minibus, ambulance

- slips and trips getting on and off the minibus

- wheelchairs not secured properly

- faulty seatbelts may cause accidents. individuals travelling in ambulances may experience sudden ill-health that requires first aid