PATIENT’S

ENVIRONMENT IN THE
HOSPITAL
 REDUCTION OF
PHYSICAL HAZARDS
“To expose to danger ,risk, chance of accidents, loss
A hazard is any source of potential
damage, harm or adverse health effects
on something or someone under certain
conditions at work.

"Condition, event, or circumstance that

could lead to or contribute to an
unplanned or undesirable event."
Types of Hazard

 Physical

 Chemical

 Biological

 Ergonomics
Physical Hazards
 Noise
 Vibration
 Radiation
 Temperature
 Pressure,Velocity,Height
 Electricity
 Physical characteristics
Chemical Hazards
 Explosives
 Flammable liquids
 Oxidizing materials
 Toxic, carcinogenic,
substances
 Gases and air particulate
Biological Hazards
 Biological wastes (blood, fluids, etc.)
 Drugs (antibiotics & others)
 Viruses, bacteria
 Parasites, insects
 Poisonous or diseased plants, animals
Ergonomic Hazards
 Physical
 Environmental
 Psycho-Social
Ergonomic Hazards
Physical
 Poor work, task design
 Repetitive motion
 Prolonged sitting
 Poor layout
 Poor posture
 Improper lifting and handling
Ergonomic Hazards
Environmental
 Poor lighting,glare
 Poor ventilation
 Poor temperature control
 Poor humidity control
 Psycho-social
 Work rest cycles
 Violence, discrimination
 Extraneous stress
 Un even work load
 Lack of personnel space
 Poor inter staff relationships
“A possibility of danger orharm”
 What is risk?

Risk is the chance or probability

that a person will be harmed or
experience an adverse health
effect if exposed to a hazard. It
may also apply to situations with
property or equipment loss.
 WHAT IS ACCIDENT
AN UNINTENDED, UNPLANNED
EVENT WHICH HAS THE POTENTIAL
TO CAUSE HARM OR INJURY.

AN INCIDENT WHICH CAUSES HARM

OR HAS POTENTIAL TO DO SO.
Causes of Accident
Causes

Direct Indirect
Unsafe Act Unsafe Condition

Operating without authority Unguarded or inadequately guarded

Bypassing safety devices
Operating at unsafe speed
Using wrong tool / equipment
Unsafe Placing
Unsafe Loading
Taking unsafe position or posture
Working on dangerous or moving
equipment
Not using PPE
Horse playing at work place etc.
machines / equipments
Defective conditions of m/c’s,
equipments, tools etc.
Unsafe methods of storing, piling etc.
Inadequate or incorrect illumination
Inadequate Ventilation
Improper House Keeping-- things not
at their proper places
Unsafe design or construction of
machines and equipment etc.
Fire Prevention.
• Prohibit smoking within the facility, especially
among patients. ..
• Take care with electrical cords and electricity-
powered tools and equipment. ...
• Be cautious in areas where fires could be
more likely. ...
• Make sure alarms and fire suppression
systems are functional. ...
• Fire Safety.
Why should nurses know about environmental health?
1. Environmental factors have an impact on
health:
– cardiovascular/respiratory diseases
– Children’s exposure to lead
– Prenatal exposures
– Heat waves and elderly people
– Women choosing to bottle feed because of
contaminants in breast milk
– Indoor air quality and asthma
– Emergency planning
– Commitment to social justice
Why should nurses know about environmental health?
2. Nurses are very, very good at
teaching about health
• this skill supports work in protecting
individuals, families and communities
from environmental hazards
3. Nurses are the largest professional
group working in health care
• working together we can be a
powerful force for making
improvements in the environment
 The role of nurses in environmental
health
• Assess and detect hazards when they exist
• Provide information to individuals and aggregates on the health effects of
environmental toxins and more global hazards
• Report serious environmental threats to appropriate agencies
• Develop and implement school-based and workplace wellness programs
• Aid in the formulation of public policy and legislation involving the
environment
• Help prevent excessive exposure to immediate toxins and larger, global
hazards
• Help facilitate behaviour change in people
International Council of Nurses
 Importance of engaging all nurses
• Health of individuals, families, communities and
populations affected by environment
• Every nurse should be able to:
– Consider environmental factors that may be
contributing to poor health
– Understand environmental hazards and their impact
on health
– Perform an environmental assessment
– Understand the role of individuals and communities in
providing good stewardship of the environment
– Make recommendations about how to reduce or
prevent exposures to environmental hazards