Identify Hazard and Risk

HAZARDS AND RISKS

A 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 an 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

A. Physical hazards are the most normal occurrences in workplaces. They are usually easy to
detect, however, they are very often neglected because people are too accustomed to them.
Another reason may be due to a lack of knowledge or people not seeing situations as hazards.

Examples of physical hazards that a caregiver may be exposed to:

• Electrical hazards: Even in daycare institutions or nursing homes where care should be
of utmost concern, improper wiring and frayed cords may still go unnoticed. Misuse of
electrical equipment also happens in any type of work environment.

• Endless loud noise: If one is going to work in a nursing home, frequent noise from
patients who are suffering from depression are a hazard.

• Spills on floors or tripping hazards: There are times when

even the caregivers themselves do not mind spilling on
floors. This poses a hazard to everyone.
 Some of the Effects of Physical Hazards

• Fire
• Decreased efficiency
• Annoyance
• Falls.

B. Biological hazards come 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 daycare,
hospital, hotel laundry, nursing home, or laboratory, he/she may be exposed to
biological hazards.

Examples of physical hazards that a caregiver may be exposed to:

• blood or other body fluids
• fungi
• bacteria and viruses
• contaminated wastes.

Some of the Effects of Biological Hazards

• infections
• skin irritations
• allergy
• Tuberculosis
• AIDS
C. Ergonomic hazards occur when a caregiver’s 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 on their bodies. At first, sore muscles may be
experienced. But long-term exposure to this type of hazard can cause musculoskeletal
problems.

Examples of ergonomic hazards that a caregiver may be

exposed to:
• performing tasks that require lifting heavy loads
• too much bending and reaching
• standing for long periods
• holding body parts for a long period
• awkward movements, especially if they are repetitive
• repeating the same movements over and over.

Some of the Effects of Ergonomic Hazards

• pain in the shoulders

• back injury
• too much impact on wrist and hands
• numbness in some parts of the body
• muscle cramps.

D. 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 safe chemicals, but some caregivers
who are sensitive to solutions may cause skin irritation, illness, or breathing problems.

Examples of chemical hazards that a caregiver may be exposed to:

• liquids like cleaning products
• disinfecting solutions.

Effects of Chemical Hazards

• lung diseases
• Difficulty in breathing.
• Allergy
 E. Psychological Hazards occur when a caregiver’s work environment becomes stressful or
demanding.
Examples of psychological hazards that a caregiver may be
exposed to:
• ―Burnout, fatigue, and on-call duty
• Unreasonable expectations from patients or clients
• Verbal abuse from dissatisfied clients
• Unreasonable expectations from supervisors and
management.

Some of the Effects of Psychological Hazards

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Loss of confidence
• Loss of concentration at work
• Deterioration of performance at work

What Is It

Recognizing Hazards and Risks in the Workplace

Hazards and risks vary from one workplace to another. Even in daycare or nursing homes where
work routines may be the same, hazards will differ depending on the type of building the
establishment is situated in, and the attitudes of caregivers, clients, or employers.
The good news is hazards and risks can be prevented! However, before thinking about what
control measures are needed, a caregiver must know whether there are health and safety problems
in his/her workplace. So, how can someone identify the hazards in the workplace?

The following are some ways for a caregiver to determine health and safety problems:

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 the chart on the results of inspections done by employers or
private organizations.
5. A caregiver may use checklists and inspect the workplace.
6. A caregiver may study reports or any other vital information about the nursing home.
Activity 1: Search Me If You Can
 What I Have Learned

Activity 2: I Know Which One

Directions: Write the word SAFE if the statement is correct, or UNSAFE if it is incorrect.

1. __________Occupational hazards and risks can be prevented.

2. __________Hazard is the possibility that somebody could be harmed by these and other
hazards and the indication of how serious the harm can be.
3. __________Performing repeated movements in the workplace is an example of a biological
hazard.
4. __________Occupational health and safety is the promotion of the health and safety of every
working man.
5. __________Every caregiver should take part in determining the hazards and risks in the
workplace.

What I Can Do

Activity 3: Identifying Hazards and Risks at Home

Directions: Look around in your room, kitchen, or living room at home. Make a list of 10
possible hazards and risks that you may find. Then explain why these things have identified
or listed danger to the members of your family. Write your answer on the box.

Possible hazard/risk
Reason/s because it poses danger to me
 Determine the Effect of Hazards

EFFECT OF HAZARD to CAREGIVERS

A 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 an 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.

Effect of Hazard

It is important to protect human health from the polluting environment. Identifying different
hazards and risks in working workplace is important to prevent further unhealthy outcomes,
especially for those individuals who are exposed to hazardous places.

These are some effects of Hazards that caregivers are exposed.

A. Physical Hazard

• Electrical hazards: Even in daycare institutions or nursing homes where care should be of
utmost concern, improper wiring, and frayed cords may still go unnoticed. Misuse of
electrical equipment also happens in any type of work environment.
• Endless loud noise: If one is going to work in a nursing home, frequent noise from
patients who are suffering from depression is a hazard.
• Spills on floors or tripping hazards: There are times when
even the caregivers themselves do not mind spills on
floors. This poses a hazard to everyone.

B. Biological Hazard

• blood or other body fluid.

• Fungi
• bacteria and viruses
• contaminated wastes
C. Ergonomic Hazard

• lifting heavy loads

• Frequent bending and reaching
• standing for long periods of time
• holding body parts for long period of time
• awkward movements, especially if they are repetitive.
• repeating the same movements over and over

D. Chemical Hazard

• liquids like cleaning products

• disinfecting solutions

E. Psychological Hazard

• Burn out, fatigue and on call duty.

• Unreasonable expectations from patients or clients
• Verbal abuse form dissatisfied clients.
• Unreasonable expectations from supervisors and
management.

Activity 4: Arrange Me!

Directions: Determine the type of hazard a worker is exposed to base on the

description given in each item. Unscramble the letter by placing the correct letter sequence
in shaded boxes to come up with the correct answer for each number.
1. repetitive and forceful movements
R O G I M C E N O

2. spillages of toxic materials

H A L E C M C I

3. bacteria and viruses

L O B G I I O C L A
4. twisted extension cords
H I Y S C A P L

5. stress from night shifts

P C O S Y H O L A G I C L

Activity 5:

Identify the work and workplace of the caregiver shown on the picture.
Explain your answer.

Activity 6: TRUE OR FALSE

Directions: Write True, if the statement is correct, or False if it is incorrect.

1. __________Too much bending and reaching is an example of physical hazard.

2. __________Psychological hazards happen when a worker’s environment becomes

stressful.

3. __________Observing the nursing home environment is one of the ways in

determining health problems in the workplace.

4. __________Accidents happen because people are not mindful of their environment.

5. __________Too much lifting of heavy loads does not result in injury.