Sluice Room

A non-exhaustive list of some of the common hazards and risks in sluice rooms in nursing homes.

Healthcare Sluice Room

Biological Agents

Risk of:

  • Infection e.g. Legionnaires' disease, blood borne virus.

Possible causes:

  • Stagnation of water system or failure to maintain water system.
  • Inappropriate storage and disposal of healthcare risk waste.

Chemical Agents

Risk of:

  • Adverse health effects such as burns, dermatitis and respiratory problem.
  • Fire.
  • Resident/visitor being able to access hazardous chemicals.

Possible causes:

  • Exposure to hazardous chemicals such as cleaning chemicals and disinfectants.
  • Sensitisation to latex e.g. use of powdered latex gloves.
  • Mixing incompatible chemicals.
  • Chemicals not stored appropriately.

Electricity

Risk of:

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

Possible causes:

  • Faulty or damaged equipment e.g. damaged plugs and cords.
  • Wet contact with electrical equipment.
  • No or poor maintenance of equipment.
  • Overloading of electrical sockets.
  • Improper use of equipment.
  • Residual Current Device (RCD) not working.

Ergonomic Hazards

Risk of:

  • Strains in the neck, back, shoulder or arms and other musculoskeletal disorders.

Possible causes:

  • Adopting awkward or stooped postures whilst cleaning or vaccuming e.g. reaching above shoulder height, bending below knee height, working in confined space.
  • Using equipment that requires considerable effort to use or repetitive gripping action.
  • Lifting heavy equipment e.g. vacuum cleaners.
  • Poorly designed or unsuitable equipment.

Falling Objects

Risk of:

  • Minor injuries such as cuts and bruises to serious injury.

Possible causes:

  • Lack of space resulting in goods falling from shelf.
  • Unsafe system of stacking.

 

Fire

Risk of:

  • Smoke inhalation.
  • Burns.
  • Death.

Possible causes:

  • Overloaded sockets or extension leads.
  • Faulty equipment.
  • No or poor maintenance of equipment.
  • Blocked or obstructed fire exits.
  • Accumulation of rubbish.
  • Escape routes not clearly marked.
  • Goods stored too close to lights.

Manual Handling

Risk of:

  • Back injury, sprains and strains.

Possible causes:

  • Lack of mechanical handling equipment e.g. trolleys and other aids.
  • Lifting and moving heavy items such as furniture.

Slips, Trips and Falls

Risk of:

  • Minor injuries such as cuts to major injuries such as broken bones, concussion and even death.

Possible causes:

  • Uneven floors, loose or torn carpeting, broken tiles.
  • Obstructed floors, surfaces or aisles.
  • Trailing leads / electric cords across walkways.
  • Unsafe system of work for mopping floors.
  • Poor housekeeping.
  • Poor lighting.
  • Unsuitable footwear.

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