Professional studies - health and safety Flashcards
What are the duties of the employer?
Provision of a safe place of work/study
Procedures for imminent danger
Safety management system in place
Information, instruction, supervision and training
What are the duties of the employee?
Follow safety instructions
Do not damage/misuse safety equipment
Report any safety issues
What does Health and safety information for Employees Regulations 1989 require?
Requires employers to display the HSE approved law poster in the workplace
What does RIDDOR stand for?
Reporting of Injuries Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations
What type of incidents require reporting to HSE?
Fatal/major accidents
Accidents incurring absences from work of 7d or more
Dangerous Occurrences (near miss/ dangerous situations)
When should you evacuate a building?
Continuous alarm
When is a RIDDOR report required?
Only when the accident is work related and it results in an injury of a type which is reportable
What type of injury is a femoral fracture under RIDDOR?
Specified injury
What should happen for different types/lengths of incapacitation under RIDDOR?
Record if over three day incapacitation
Report if over seven day incapacitation
When do non-fatal accidents to non-workers have to be reported under RIDDOR?
When the accident results in an injury and the person is taken directly from the scene of the accident to hospital for treatment to that injury
What does Reporting of Injuries Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences regulations (RIDDOR) require?
Requires employer to report serious accidents and occurrences directly to HSE
What are the four types of injury from electricity?
Electric shock
Electrical burns
Loss of muscle control
Thermal burns (where the equipment gets hot)
What strength of current will cause a person to have a jolt?
2.4mA
What strength of current is the ‘let go threshold’?
15mA
What strength of current will cause a person to have a serious shock?
24mA
What can higher strengths of electrical current (above 75-100mA) cause?
Ventricular tachycardia/ fibrillation - death
What can cause overloading of electrical appliances?
Daisy chaining extension leads
What medical device can be a health and safety hazard regarding electricity?
Electrical diathermy - cauteriser
What health and safety concerns can electrical diathermy cause?
Accidental burns Electrocution Surgical plume Ignition of VA Electrical interference with other medical devices
What is the voltage of the mains electricity supply?
240V
What is the ohms law?
Voltage (V) = Current (I) x Resistance (R)
What is the equation to work out the resistance?
Resistance = (length x resistivity) /area
What factors affect resistance in the body?
Physical size
Resistivity of the skin - lower when wet
Resistivity from organs
What occurs at the ‘let go threshold’?
Unable to let go Tonic contractions of muscles Tissue damage Contraction of respiratory muscles Asphyxia and hypoxaemia
What is the risk of ventricular fibrillation determined by?
The current density (as the electricity travels across the chest)
What heart device may cause an issue if there is a small current transmitted?
Central venous line - very long IV catheter that is placed so that it sits above the vena cava’s entrance
When are electrical burns more common?
Higher voltages
What hazard may occur when using a multiway adaptor?
Overload it and cause strain on the wall outlet and a fire
What is the maximum current output from any wall outlet in the UK?
13A
What is the name for the test that is done on appliances and what do they look like?
PAT test
Green and white sticker with a barcode and the date of the test
What legislation covers electrical testing?
Electricity at work regs 1989
What should be inspected visually before using equipment?
Splash sockets covers
Clipper casing
Cable wires
Plug casing
What is a diathermy machine?
A machine to cut tissue while cauterising the cut edges of the wound and/or apply it to bleeding areas to coagulate
How often should pressurised gases be serviced?
Legally required once a year
Recommended every 3 months
6 months is a good compromise
What is tested during testing of medical pressurised gas equipment?
Regulators Switch over mechanisms Pressure relief valves Line pressure Safety features
What should cylinders not be stored near?
Combustible material
Sources of heat
What is the Maximum legal Occupational Exposure Limit (OEL) of halothane?
10ppm
What is the Maximum legal Occupational Exposure Limit (OEL) of isoflurane?
50ppm
What is the Maximum legal Occupational Exposure Limit (OEL) of sevoflurane?
60ppm
What is the Maximum legal Occupational Exposure Limit (OEL) of nitrous oxide?
100ppm
What regulations do the Maximum legal Occupational Exposure Limits (OEL) and regulations about waste gases come under?
COSHH - control of substances hazardous to health
What is the time weighting of the Maximum legal Occupational Exposure Limits (OEL)?
Over 8 hours average exposure
What are the hazards associated with exposure to waste anaesthetic gases?
Headache Irritability Fatigue Nausea Impaired judgement/coordination Liver/kidney disease
Who should be particularly careful around waste anaesthetic gases and where is the risk highest?
Pregnant staff - miscarriage and birth defects
Patient recovery areas - disconnected from scavaging
What are the two types of scavenging?
Active - using a pump of some sort to take the waste gases away
Passive - just relying on gas flow and no pump
What is essential in active scavenging system?
An airbrake - so gases arent sucked out of patient so they cant breathe
What do passive scavenging cannisters not absorb?
Nitrous oxide
What regs do hoists for lifting patients fall under?
Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regs 1998
What do the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regs 1998 state?
Lifting equipment should be suitable for the job
It should be tested and inspected regularly by a competent person
Anyone using the equipment should have training and should be aware of the limitations of using this equipment.