Hazards facing workers in a medical setting

The main hazards in a medical setting:

  • blood
  • needle sticks
  • breakage / spillage
  • drug hold-ups
  • medical emergencies (eg. falls, bleeding, seizures, fainting, collapses, panic attack, psychosis)
  • spread of infection
  • potential sources of infection:
    • breakages
    • contaminated waste
    • patients with colds, flu and other infectious diseases
    • visitors with colds, flu and other infectious diseases
    • sharps (eg. needles, scalpel blades)
    • spillage
    • used dressings, bandages and equipment
    • unsterilised and poorly sterilised equipment and work surfaces
    • unwashed hands

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