Outpatients

A list of some of the common hazards found within the outpatient's department in hospitals.

header-Outpatients

Biological Agents

Risk of:

  • Infection.

Possible causes:

  • Exposure to infected body fluids or patients.
  • Inappropriate equipment / unsuitable chairs for sampling bloods.

Chemical Agents

Risk of:

  • Cold Burns.
  • Health Effects.
  • Fire.
  • Back injury.

Possible causes:

  • Exposure to liquid nitrogen.
  • Exposure to Carbon dioxide gas.
  • Mistreatment, poor storage or handling of gas cylinders.

 

Electricity

Risk of:

  • Burns.
  • Electric shock.
  • Death.
  • Fire.

Possible causes:

  • Faulty equipment.
  • No or poor maintenance of equipment.
  • Improper use of equipment.

 

Ergonomic Hazards

Risk of:

  • Pain in neck, back or arms.

Possible causes:

  • Carrying out repetitive tasks without a break e.g. taking blood samples.
  • Poorly set up workstations or equipment.
  • Poor ergonomic design of human-machine interfaces e.g. use of ultrasound machines.
  • Awkward or sustained posture.
  • Badly designed chart trolleys.
  • Carrying heavy charts.
  • Lack of space for storing and accessing charts.

Fire

Risk of:

  • Smoke inhalation.
  • Burns.
  • Death.

Possible causes:

  • Overloaded sockets or extension leads.
  • Faulty equipment.
  • No or poor maintenance of equipment.
  • Blocked fire exits.

 

Manual Handling

Risk of:

  • Sprains, strains or back injury.

Possible causes:

  • Lifting heavy charts.
  • Poorly designed trolleys.
  • Handling gas cylinders.
  • Catching a falling or collapsing patient.
  • Lifting equipment up and over uneven surfaces.

Sharps

Risk of:

  • Infections.
  • Cuts.

Possible causes:

  • Needlestick injury.

 

Violence and Aggression

Risk of:

  • Physical injury and /or psychological harm.

Possible causes:

  • Dealing with aggressive members of the public.
  • Patient's reaction to procedures such as taking blood.

Further Information

For further information on related controls click here.

Note: This is not an exhaustive list of hazards and risks.