1.2: Potential Impacts of Hazards

Question 1

What are the potential impacts of hazards?

Answer 1

• Injury or harm
• Illness
• Poor standards of care
• Financial loss

Question 2

Why is injury or harm a potential impact?

Answer 2

• Individuals requiring care/support may be harmed if environmental hazards have not been identified
• Chemical hazards can cause injuries and harm to both individuals who require care and support and employees of organisations

Question 3

Why is illness a potential impact?

Answer 3

• Biological and psychological hazards can cause life-threatening and long-term illnesses
• Not cleaning effectively can lead to the spread of infections and serious illnesses that can prove fatal
• Psychological hazards have the potential to impact on everyone and individuals needing care may receive poor or unsafe levels of care if staff are stressed or tired.

Question 4

Why are poor standards of care a potential impact?

Answer 4

• Unsafe working conditions and practices can result in unidentified, reduced or removal of hazards and can directly impact on standards and quality of care and support
• Poor working practices can also impact on standards of care and support

Question 5

Why is financial loss a potential impact?

Answer 5

• Lack of effective security systems may result in theft or damage to property
• Hazards resulting in injury or fatality may result in lawsuits and costs for court fees and compensation
• Lawsuits and fines damage reputation and business may suffer