H+S Task 1

Question 1

1. Legal duties of the employer?
2. Legal duties of the employee?

Answer 1

1. Information, instruction, supervision and training.
   Procedures for imminent danger etc.
   Provision of a safe place to work.
   Safety management system in place.
2. Follow safety instructions.
   Report any safety deficiencies.
   To not damage or misuse any safety equipment.

Question 2

The big 3 of H+S legislation.

Answer 2

Heath and Safety Act 1974.
Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.
Reporting of Injuries Disease Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013

Question 3

What does The Health and Safety for Employees Regulations 1989 require of employers?

Answer 3

To either display the HSE-approved law poster or to provide each of their workers with the equivalent leaflet.

Question 4

1. What does RIDDOR stand for?
2. What are the 3 main categories for reporting under RIDDOR?

Answer 4

1. Reporting of Injuries Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (2013).
2. Fatal or major accidents.
   Accidents incurring absences from work for 7 days or more.
   Dangerous occurrences (near miss/dangerous situations.

Question 5

Under RIDDOR….
1. A report is only required when…..
2. In what circumstance must the death of a person be reported? – who does this apply to?
3. A femoral fracture is an example of what type of injury?
4. What should be done if an accident leads to a worker being incapacitated so they cannot perform their normal duties and/or are away from work or cannot perform their normal duties?
5. When do non-fatal accidents to non-workers have to be reported by an employer?

Answer 5

1. The accident is work-related, and it results in an injury of a type which is reportable.
2. If it arises from a work-related accident – applies to workers and non-workers.
3. A specified injury.
4. Should be recorded if over 3-day incapacitation and reported if over 7-day incapacitation.
5. When the accident results in an injury and the person is taken directly from the scene of the accident to the hospital for treatment of that injury.

Question 6

1. Give examples of occupational diseases.
2. Give examples of dangerous occurrences.

Answer 6

1. Occupational asthma, occupational dermatitis.
2. Incidents related to lifting equipment, pressure systems, electrical incidents causing explosion or fire, biological agents, radiography.

Question 7

What does COSHH stand for?

Answer 7

Control of Substances Hazardous to Health regulations 2002.

Question 8

Give examples of products hazardous to health in vet med.

Answer 8

Dust from animal bedding.
Cleaners, incl. detergents and biocides.
Medicines
Ionising radiation sources e.g. radioactive iodine administered to cat with hyperthyroidism.
Microorganisms from animals e.g. bacteria, viruses, parasites.
Animal allergies/sensitivities.
Other allergies/sensitivities e.g. glove latex, talc on gloves.

Question 9

Suggest exposure routes to hazardous substances.

Answer 9

Inhalation
Contact with skin
Ingestion
Contact with eyes
Skin puncture

Question 10

Hazards from electrical items to humans and animals.

Answer 10

• Electrical burns
• Thermal burns (where the equipment gets hot)
• Loss of muscle control
• Electrocution/ electric shock

Question 11

1. In electrocution, what actually kills you?
2. Voltage of UK mains electricity supply?
3. The higher the ______, the lower the current and the more protected you are.

Answer 11

1. The current (that’s the one that is measured in Amps) and the length of time the current flows through the body (2-10 seconds) that kills you rather than the voltage applied.
2. 240V.
3. resistance.

Question 12

What factors affect the resistance to
electricity within a body?

Answer 12

1. Physical size/ the distance the
   current travels affects the electrical current pathway – the longer the distance,
   the more resistivity.
2. The resistivity of
   the skin is lower when it is wet (estimated as 1000 ohms when wet and more
   than 500,000 ohms when dry).
3. Resistivity within the body
   depends on the organs e.g. the internal resistance between the ears is only 100 ohms whereas it is 500 ohms when measured from finger to toe.

Question 13

1. Effect of electricity on human body at 1mA?
2. ” “ 5mA?
3. ” “ 6-30mA?
4. ” “ 50-150mA?
5. ” “ 1,000-4,300mA?
6. ” “ 10,000mA?

Answer 13

1. Faint tingle.
2. Slight shock. Disturbing, not painful. Most can ‘let go’. Involuntary movements can cause injuries.
3. Painful shock. Loss of muscle control. May not be possible to ‘let go’.
4. Extreme pain, resp arrest, severe muscle contractions, cannot ‘let go’, death possible.
5. V-fib, muscle contraction, nerve damage begins, death likely.
6. Cardiac arrest, severe burns, death possible.

Question 14

What happens when you get a high current across a normally functioning heart?

Answer 14

Currents above 75-100mA delivered for less than 1 second can lead to…
- Ventricular tachycardia
- V-fib
- During electrocution, risk of V-fib determined by:
– current density as electricity travels across chest.
– Proximity to myocardium.

Question 15

Why are multiway plug adaptors hazardous?

Answer 15

Associated with overheating and fires.
Not all versions have fuses so can be easy to overload them by accident.
Can overload even with a CE mark.
Can get very hot when in operation as all the plugs are in a small area as opposed to spread out like in trailing extension leads.
Also cause strain on wall outlet so could cause damage to it.

Question 16

1. Example of legislation that covers electrical testing?
2. Under legislation, who should carry out regular testing of electrical installations?
3. What should occur before equipment is used?

Answer 16

1. Electricity at Work Regulations 1989.
2. A ‘competent person’ – with enough knowledge, training, ability and other qualities for the installation/device in question.
3. Regular visual inspections.

Question 17

What is surgical diathermy?

Answer 17

Use of heat e.g. cautery to cut through tissue while cauterising cut edges of the wound and/or to apply to bleeds to coagulate.
Tissue is heated to 1100-1300C.

Question 18

Main hazards associated with use of diathermy?

Answer 18

Accidental burns.
Accidental electrocution.
Surgical plume.
Ignition of volatile agents e.g. surgical spirit.
Electrical interference with other medical devices like ECG machines, pacemakers, video equipment.

Question 19

Sensible safety procedures to adopt when using electrosurgery.

Answer 19

Read instruction manual and/or ask for instruction.
Regular maintenance.
Visual daily inspection before use.
CONNECTORS, CABLES (MAINS AND PATIENT)
General condition
Reporting fault as soon as they occur and removing suspect equipment from service.

Question 20

1. How often should GA machines and the gas systems that supply them be serviced legally?
2. How often does the UK Department of Health recommend? – compromise?
3. What does the testing include?

Answer 20

1. At least once a year.
2. 3-monthly – compromise 6-monthly.
3. Regular checks/exchanges, switch over mechanisms.
   Pressure relief valves, line pressure, outlets safety features.

Question 21

2 issues with gas cylinders.

Answer 21

• Pressured gases.
• Large and unwieldly.

Question 22

Give common anaesthetic gas agents used in vet practice and their Maximum legal Occupational Exposure Limits.
How are exposures measured?

Answer 22

Halothane 10ppm
Isoflurane 50ppm
Sevoflurane 60ppm
Nitrous Oxide 100ppm (greenhouse gas).
**This is a time-weighted average over 8hrs.
Best to keep below 50% of the limit.

Discrete system worn on clothing, small and gets sent off to be analysed.

Question 23

Hazards associated with exposure to waste anaesthetic gases?
– How have risks been reduced?

Answer 23

Headache
Irritability
Fatigue
Nausea
Drowsiness
Difficulties with judgement and coordination
Liver and kidney disease.
Risk of miscarriage and birth defects in pregnant workers.
– Scavenging equipment.

Question 24

1. What forms of scavengers are there?
2. Point about active?

Answer 24

1. Active (using pump of some sort to take away the waste gases).
   Passive (relying on gas flow and no pump).
   Vented to outside or absorbed into a chemical medium.
2. Must have airbrake in system so gases are not sucked out of the patient.

Question 25

1. What is not absorbed by absorber cannisters?
2. What must be done regularly with absorber cannisters?

Answer 25

1. Nitrous oxide.
2. Weighing. Once the cannister has reached full capacity, it must be replaced and disposed of safely.

Question 26

Lifting assistances in practice.

Answer 26

Trolleys for longer distance transportation of cats in their carriers.
Slings to walk canine patients with limb weakness/paralysis.
Tables with adjustable heights.

Question 27

1. Legislation associated with mechanical lifting?
2. What do these regulations require?
3. Give an example of lifting aids used for larger animals.

Answer 27

1. Lifting and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998.
2. • Lifting equipment to be suitable for the job.
     - Regular testing and inspection of the equipment by a competent person.
     - Training staff in correct use of the equipment.
     - Being aware of the limitations of use (e.g. weight limits).
3. Hoists.