LO1: Understand potential hazards in health, social care and child care
environments
Types of hazards
A hazard is anything with the potential to cause harm. This could be soiled bedding, hot stoves
or a lack of security systems. A risk is the chance of harm occurring. For example, getting an
infection from soiled bedding, or getting a burn from hot water.
There are 9 different care setting hazards. These are:
➢ Environmental, such as crowded areas, uneven surfaces or wet floors
○ These can cause slipping and tripping hazards
➢ Biological, such as bodily fluids and human waste.
○ These hazards can cause the spread of infection and affect the health of the
public.
➢ Chemical, such as unlocked medication, unlabelled cleaning supplies and hot oil
○ Chemical hazards can cause harm if not used or stored correctly.
➢ Psychological, such as stress and tiredness
○ These hazards can affect people’s emotional and physical wellbeing.
➢ Physical, such as noise and radiation
○ These can cause a person’s emotional wellbeing to be affected and in more
serious cases, their physical health can be affected
➢ Musculoskeletal, such as moving and handling
○ Musculoskeletal hazards can cause back injuries to staff and service users can
gain bruises and other injuries.
➢ Working conditions, such as poor lighting, low temperature
○ These can cause harm and ill-health
➢ Working practices, such as long working hours and a lack of training
○ This can cause emotional harm, injuries, illnesses and fatalities
➢ Lack of security- faulty smoke alarms and broken locks
○ Lack of security hazards could cause risks involving fire and safety
Specific examples of each hazard:
Environmental
● Worn vinyl flooring in a shower room
● Wet bathroom floors
● Frayed carpets
Biological
environments
Types of hazards
A hazard is anything with the potential to cause harm. This could be soiled bedding, hot stoves
or a lack of security systems. A risk is the chance of harm occurring. For example, getting an
infection from soiled bedding, or getting a burn from hot water.
There are 9 different care setting hazards. These are:
➢ Environmental, such as crowded areas, uneven surfaces or wet floors
○ These can cause slipping and tripping hazards
➢ Biological, such as bodily fluids and human waste.
○ These hazards can cause the spread of infection and affect the health of the
public.
➢ Chemical, such as unlocked medication, unlabelled cleaning supplies and hot oil
○ Chemical hazards can cause harm if not used or stored correctly.
➢ Psychological, such as stress and tiredness
○ These hazards can affect people’s emotional and physical wellbeing.
➢ Physical, such as noise and radiation
○ These can cause a person’s emotional wellbeing to be affected and in more
serious cases, their physical health can be affected
➢ Musculoskeletal, such as moving and handling
○ Musculoskeletal hazards can cause back injuries to staff and service users can
gain bruises and other injuries.
➢ Working conditions, such as poor lighting, low temperature
○ These can cause harm and ill-health
➢ Working practices, such as long working hours and a lack of training
○ This can cause emotional harm, injuries, illnesses and fatalities
➢ Lack of security- faulty smoke alarms and broken locks
○ Lack of security hazards could cause risks involving fire and safety
Specific examples of each hazard:
Environmental
● Worn vinyl flooring in a shower room
● Wet bathroom floors
● Frayed carpets
Biological
