Workplace Safety & Risk Management

Central Service workers face a unique combination of hazards that require constant awareness and adherence to safety protocols. A safe workplace protects both employees and patients.

---

CS Department Hazards

---

Fire Safety

RACE (What to Do in a Fire):

PASS (How to Use a Fire Extinguisher):

---

Chemical Safety (GHS/HazCom)

The Globally Harmonized System (GHS) standardizes chemical labeling worldwide:

GHS Label Elements:

• Product identifier (chemical name)
• Signal word (Danger or Warning)
• Hazard pictograms (standardized symbols in red diamond borders)
• Hazard statements (describes the nature of the hazard)
• Precautionary statements (prevention, response, storage, disposal)
• Supplier information

Common GHS Pictograms in CS:

---

Incident Reporting

ALL of the following must be reported:

• Injuries (sharps injuries, chemical splashes, burns, falls)
• Exposures (blood/body fluid exposure, chemical exposure)
• Near-misses (events that could have caused injury but did not)
• Equipment failures (sterilizer malfunction, washer-disinfector failure)
• Sterilization failures (positive BI results)
• Sterile barrier compromises (wet packs, torn packages)

Why Report Near-Misses?

Near-misses reveal hazards before they cause actual harm. Analyzing near-misses allows corrective action to prevent future incidents. A culture that encourages near-miss reporting is a safer workplace.

---

Risk Management

Risk management is the proactive identification and mitigation of potential hazards:

Risk Assessment Process:

1. Identify hazards — What could go wrong?
2. Assess likelihood — How likely is this to occur?
3. Assess severity — If it occurs, how serious would the consequences be?
4. Prioritize risks — High likelihood + high severity = highest priority
5. Implement controls — Engineering controls, administrative controls, PPE
6. Monitor effectiveness — Are the controls working?
7. Review and update — Continuously reassess as conditions change

Hierarchy of Controls (Most to Least Effective):

1. Elimination — Remove the hazard entirely
2. Substitution — Replace with something less hazardous
3. Engineering controls — Physical barriers, ventilation, equipment design
4. Administrative controls — Policies, procedures, training, signage
5. PPE — Last line of defense (gloves, gowns, face shields)

PPE is the least effective control because it depends on the individual wearing it correctly every time. Engineering controls are far more reliable because they protect everyone automatically.