Potential Hazards in Hsc

2273 Words10 Pages
Any workplace or institution can have potential hazards. These hazards can be due to staff responsibility or the ability of the service user. Hazards can exist for staff, individuals and visitors of an organisation or work place if caution and care is not taken in order to reduce these hazards. Hazards are anything that has the ability to cause harm to someone. For example for an infirm elderly person a staircase may be a hazard for them; they may not be able to walk up or down the stair case and fall therefore causing harm. Institutions such as hospitals and care homes try to minimise the likelihood of hazards by putting in place a set of rules or regulations. However it is unlikely that all hazards are cared for and there may be a slight risk. A risk is the chance; may it be high or low, that someone is harmed by a hazard. Risk taking is part of people’s everyday routine and all people have the right to take risks. But in a big organisation and service it is important to make the risks as low as possible to ensure the service users wellbeing. In care homes lighting has to be sufficient and bright enough. Emergency lighting needs to be provided in case of power cuts; these will then work any time of the day in the care home to ensure the staff and individuals can see. The lighting in the rooms needs to bright enough in order for staff and individuals to carry out any activities. If there is poor lighting the elderly may be liable to fall or trip due to deteriorating eyesight. The staff are also susceptible to falling in poor lighting due to them rushing around and not thinking what may be lying around. Care homes need to have a building with good ventilation. Without this the elderly could become very ill. Airborne diseases such as the common cold or cough or influenza could attack their immune systems causing illness. Illness in the elderly can be
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