HLTWHS002 Follow Safe Work Practices for Direct Patient Care

This document provides the assessment answers for HLTWHS002 Follow Safe Work Practices for Direct Patient Care. It includes questions on WHS/OHS legislation, hazard identification, manual handling risks, infection control, and more.

Student Assessment
HLTWHS002 Follow Safe Work Practices for Direct
Patient Care
HLT54115 Diploma of Nursing
Record of Assessment Outcome
ASSESSMENT TASK 1 - QUESTIONING
Conditions of
Assessment
● You are required to answer all questions correctly in
Assessment Task 1 – Questioning.
Instructions
for
completion
● Students are to complete this assessment in their own time
with access to resources.
● Responses to the questions can be typed or submitted
handwritten
● Written responses must be legible and in pen NOT pencil
● It is important to proof read your answer paper, to avoid
grammar and spelling mistakes.
● Please use only APA format of referencing. Do not copy and
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Student Assessment
paste text from any of the online sources. SCEI has a strict
plagiarism policy and students who are found guilty of
plagiarism, will be penalized
● Write your name, student ID, the assessment task and the
name of the unit of competency on each piece of paper
you attach to this assessment document
● You are required to submit this assessment to your
trainer/assessor by the due date
● The answers should be an average of 70 words per
question unless otherwise indicated.
DUE DATE ● The trainer/assessor will inform you of the due date
Q1. a. Name the WHS/OHS legislation which applies in your state/territory.
The occupational health and safety act
b. Briefly explain the role of Safe Work Australia
It educates the workers regarding their safety rights at the work area. It
evaluates the laws and regulations on safety in the states. It ensures in case of
an accident due to work related hazards the worker is compensated effectively
(Australia, 2017).
Q2. Define hazard. Identify the associated risks, strategies to minimise risk, the
rights and responsibilities of employers and workers for the following hazardous
manual tasks.
A hazard is any potential risk in the workplace that can cause injury or illness
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Hazardous
manual
tasks
Associated
risks
Strategies to
minimise the risk
The rights and
responsibilities of
employers and
workers
Lifting heavy
loads which is
an abnormal
exposure
(Walton &
Rogers ,2017)
Falling and
long term
musculoskelet
al
disorders
The nurses should
be trained on
proper lifting
techniques to
prevent
musculoskeletal
strain.
The employer should
automate the task where
possible to reduce human
strain while the worker
should handle lighter
loads in the right
ergonomics
Transferring
patients from
one area to
another by
use of sudden
force
The patient
might fall if
not secured
and the nurse
may be injured
The nurse should
ensure the
patient is well
strapped and use
the help of an
assistant
The employer should
ensure shifts of workers
while the health worker
should lift the patient
correctly with adequate
help.
Q3. a. List the steps involved in hazard identification.
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The first step is to identify the hazard. Then analysing the risk and the extent of
injury/harm it causes. Finally, the risk is put under control by various measures
for example minimizing the harm (Hyatt, 2018)
b. Give two (2) examples of hazardous manual tasks.
Lifting heavy loads which requires repetitive movement
Exposure to vibration for example in the intensive care unit
Q4. What are the rights and responsibilities of both health care worker and the
client when working in a home community based environment?
The healthcare worker should be assured of a safe working environment in terms
reducing unnecessary furniture which may result in accidents
The health care worker should be free of potential infection while working in the
home-based environment
The client has the right to quality and best care in the home environment.
The client should be protected from infection especially with invasion of body
membranes and use of medical equipment.
Q5 List at three (3) basic home fire safety steps that need to be considered while
working in a home-based environment?
Smoke alarms are installed to detect any smoke in the house especially in the
bedrooms.
Avoid smoking in the bedroom or house which may cause fire if left unattended
Any fires should be attended to avoid risk of accidental lighting.
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Q6. a. How can fatigue be hazardous to a nurse?
Fatigue causes mental and physical exhaustion. In terms of mental exhaustion,
the nurse is unable to concentrate while performing their tasks and this may lead
to medical errors.This may necessitate the nurse to seek medical help leading to
failure to attend work or hospitalization. Chronic back ache is painful and needs
constant painkillers Cho, Kim,Lee, & Cho,2016)
b. Give two (2) examples of what may lead to fatigue.
Fatigue may be due to long working hours of the shifts. This causes inability to
concentrate and give the patient the best care. This leads to mental block hence
increased medical errors. Another example is a high patient to nurse ration. This
means that the nurse is unable to give the patients the necessary individualised
care they require. These factors may lead to fatigue which in turns leads to
physical, mental and emotional exhaustion.
c. List two (2) steps needed to be taken to minimise fatigue in a nurse
The nurse should be given adequate breaks in between the breaks so as to
rejuvenate and get refreshments. The breaks can also serve as a time to discuss
with other nurses so as to unwind. The second step the nurse should take is
provide the best equipment to ease physical fatigue and ergonomics. This
ensures that the nurse avoids unnecessary strain while lifting and while bending.
The nurse also uses a desk, chair and while documenting. This should be flexible
to allow change for people with different heights.
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Q7.
a. How can the effects of stress be hazardous to your job working in a
hospital?
When the nurse is stressed the nurse may be unable to concentrate while
providing care to the patient. This leads to divided attention while the nurse is
performing their duties. Eventually the patient may receive the wrong
procedures and substandard care. Also, the nurse may be involved in
unnecessary conflict due to stress. This results when the stress interferes with
communication with others, hence misunderstanding. Conflict causes unhealthy
working environment for the nurses.
b. Provide two (2) examples of stress causes.
Nursing is regarded as a career with heavy workload. This can cause stress
especially if the patient to nurse ratio is increased resulting to high workload.
The nurse is unable to give individualised care to the patient which results in
decreased customer satisfaction. Strained interpersonal relations where the
nurse and the administration are not in good terms due to salary or inability to
achieve the hospital’s objectives. This leads to animosity in the hospital
environment.
c. List two (2) steps needed to be taken in such a situation?
The nurse should be given a temporary leave to have space away from the
hospital environment. This is especially important when the nurse experiences
life changing situations such as death of the parents which may cause stress.
The second step is to approach the nurse and attempt in conflict resolution. This
provides the nurse a chance to express their point regarding the unhealthy work
environment. Also, the administrator gets to explain their perspective and they
both come to a consensus and the stress is reduced.
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Q8.
a. List two (2) personal safety and manual handling risks associated with
a home-based working environment?
Home based environment has furniture which may cause accidents to the
healthcare worker while they are working and moving around. Any equipment
improperly placed may result in injury of the health care worker. Also, the bed
may be at a lower position and can’t be adjusted which results to straining of the
lower back while lifting the patient or turning. This is complicated when the
patient is obese, and the healthcare worker doesn’t have an assistant.
b. List two (2) safety work practices to minimise injury to self and others.
Furniture should be adjusted so as to ensure a safe environment for the nurse.
Any unnecessary equipment should be removed so that there is increased space
to work around. The nurse should be trained on lifting to avoid unnecessary
strain and use the least energy possible. This also involves proper use of
mechanical equipment which may be heavy or dangerous in terms of weight or
using it.
Q9. List four (4) emergency procedural steps at SCEI in case of a fire emergency.
Everyone should evacuate the building immediately.
Raise an alarm by ringing the fire alarm
Alert the authorities for example firefighting authorities
Close the doors as you exit the building
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Q10. List two (2) common sources of infection in a home-based working
environment?
Equipment used in the home-based environment when there is no proper
sterilization of the equipment. This allows microorganisms to thrive when
the equipment is not cleaned and has body fluids. This can cause infection
to the patient.Another source is secondary source patient has low
immunity and organisms that don’t cause infection to an
immunocompetent person may cause infection to an immunosuppressed
patient.
c. As an EN how do to minimise the transmission of infection?
Observing aseptic technique while performing procedures such as
insertion of a catheter or wound dressing. This involves ensuring that
anything that comes to contact with the patient should not be touched.
Also, handwashing before handling the patient, in between procedures,
and after handling procedures. This can be done using soap and water or
hand sanitizer which reduces the increased number of infections among
patients.
Q11. Explain two (2) duty of care responsibilities of an Enrolled Nurse in any
workplace with regard to
a. infection control,
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The enrolled nurse ensures that all the infectious waste is properly disposed for
example after the use of gloves the nurse should dispose in the high-risk waste.
This is because if not properly disposed it may be a source of infection for the
patients and other healthcare workers. Another responsibility is to ensure that
equipment that require sterilization undergo the same before use on another
patient. Nosocomial infections will be prevented when proper sterilization is
done.
b. health and safety?
The enrolled nurse should ensure safety guidelines are implemented for example
raising the guard rails for the unconscious patients or those at risk of falls. This
ensures that avoidable accidents are averted. The nurse is also responsible for
proper sharp disposal. This can cause needle stick injuries and spread hepatitis
and HIV/AIDS. The nurse ensures that the sharps are out of reach when used for
the safety of the healthcare worker and the patient.
Q12. Why is it necessary that employers use consultative procedures when
determining health and safety strategies?
It is important for the employers to consult the nurses, physicians,
physiotherapists and medical engineering team when determining safety
strategies. This is because the nurses and doctors are the people who implement
the safety strategies The engineering team who design some of the health and
safety strategies such as romps for unconscious patients recommend the desired
and best strategy.
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Q13. Identify the following signs or symbols that you are likely to see in a clinic
or a hospital and describe what they mean and where they are used.
Symbol Name, Meaning and Use
Wet floor sign. It is placed to indicate that the floor is
wet. It’s used to caution people to walk slowly and
carefully to prevent falls
No smoking. Means that smoking is not allowed in the
specific area. It’s used to warn people not to smoke
due to the risk of accidentally flaming up
Fire extinguisher sign. Means there is an available fire
extinguisher sign. It is used to indicate the location of
fire extinguisher when there is fire or necessity.
Gloves sign. Means the healthcare worker should use
gloves. It used where the nurse should wear gloves to
protect their hands.
Exit sign. It means the people have an exit strategy.
Used to indicate the exit route people should use
during an emergency.
Biohazard sign. Means what is contained there may
cause health harm to the health worker. It is used to
indicate the healthcare worker should be careful and
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don protective equipment while entering the area with
the sign
First aid sign. Means there is available first aid kit. It is
used in public areas such as vehicles and contains
tools necessary such as gauze to perform first aid
Flammable sign. It means that the area may have
flammable gases that may cause fire if light. Used in
areas that are highly combustible to the gases or
materials stored
Danger for electricity. It means that due to high
electricity voltage in the area. This is used to indicate
the risk of electrocution in the area.
Sharps container. It means that the container is used
to dispose sharps which may have body fluids. It used
to protect healthcare workers from the risk of
needlestick injuries.
Radiation sign. Signify areas with high radiation
frequency. It means that the person should avoid the
area after a given time as it may cause cancer.
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Poison sign. Signifies materials which are highly toxic if
consumed or inhaled. It means that the healthcare
worker should don appropriate protective equipment
while working around the substance
Q14. Using the rating scale, rate the risks to your health of the following, and
explain your answers.
Risk Risk Rating (tick) Explain
There is the risk of severe
back injury from incorrect
lifting and transferring
procedures
⬜ High level of risk
⬜ Medium level of
risk
⬜ Low level of risk
Incorrect lifting
translates to muscle
dysfunction and chronic
vertebral back pain due
to weight exertion.
There is a risk of needle
stick injury when working
directly with patients
⬜ High level of risk
⬜ Medium level of
risk
⬜ Low level of risk
Needle stick injuries can
occur anywhere
especially after
recapping after patient
use.
There is a risk of a person
with impaired vision
slipping and falling from
water spillage on the floor
⬜ High level of risk
⬜ Medium level of
risk
Visual impairment
causes poor judgement
of their steps while
walking especially when
there is water hence
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⬜ Low level of risk slippery
There is the risk of burns
when handling patient’s
food
⬜ High level of risk
⬜ Medium level of
risk
⬜ Low level of risk
Patient’s food is served
while warm and in plates
well insulated therefore
low risk
There is the risk of
dermatological reaction
from excessive hand
washing
⬜ High level of risk
⬜ Medium level of
risk
⬜ Low level of risk
Handwashing should be
done in a stipulated
manner but repetition
after every procedure
can’t lead to a reaction.
There is the risk of being
punched by a patient
⬜ High level of risk
⬜ Medium level of
risk
⬜ Low level of risk
Some patients may be
violent especially when
they have emotional
outbursts and nurses
should protect
themselves
There is a risk of a person
with a physical disability
tripping over a loose mat on
the floor
⬜ High level of risk
⬜ Medium level of
risk
⬜ Low level of risk
Physical disability may
change the centre of
gravity leading to
destabilization and falls
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Q15. List three ways an EN can maintain currency of safe work practices in
regards to workplace systems, equipment and processes in own work role.
The nurse should ensure the equipment are stored in the right place to avoid
accidents.
The nurse should report incidences of workplace accident to the nursing
manager
The nurse should report potential safety risks for example slippery floors.
Q16. Explain the purpose of following Policies and Procedures designed to ensure
a safe workplace
Hazardous Manual Tasks
Policy & Procedure
This is important as it outlines the necessary
guidelines on how a nurse is expected to perform
tasks that require lifting or moving the patient. This is
because the procedure may be harmful to the nurse
due to increased musculoskeletal strain( Kadikon &
Rahman,2016).
Issue Resolution Policy &
Procedure
This policy describes how to resolve issues arising in
healthcare such as injuries resulting from a patient
fall. Also, the welfare of the nurses such as unhealthy
work environment long work shifts.
Manual Handling
Training Policy and
Procedure
This ensures that all nurses who are required to lift
weights from a lower position should be trained on
proper ergonomics. This decreases the risk of getting
skeletal complications in future
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Personal Protective
Equipment Procedure
This is used by the nurse when providing care to the
patient to prevent spread of infection to the patient
and to the nurse for example gowns, masks and
gloves. The nurse may be a staphylococcus aureus
carrier while caring for an immunocompetent patient
hence spread of infection.
Q17
ASSESSMENT TASK 2 – SCENARIO
Conditions
of
Assessment
● You are required to go through the scenarios mentioned below
and answer all questions correctly
● Please ensure that the word limit for each answer is no more
than 100 words
● Responses to the questions can be typed or submitted
handwritten
● Students will work through Scenarios during class time and then
at home if they require more time for completion
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Student
Instructions
for
completion
● Written responses must be legible and in pen NOT pencil
● It is important to proof read your answer paper, to avoid
grammar and spelling mistakes
● Please use only APA format of referencing. Do not copy and
paste text from any of the online sources. SCEI has a strict
plagiarism policy and students who are found guilty of
plagiarism, will be penalized
● The final result of this assessment task will be Satisfactory or Not
Satisfactory
● Write your name, student ID, the assessment task and the name
of the unit of competency on each piece of paper you attach to
this assessment document
● You are required to submit this assessment to your
trainer/assessor by the due date
DUE DATE ● The trainer/assessor will inform you of the due date
Read the following scenarios and answer the questions that follow
Scenario 1
You are back from your six weeks of annual leave. You are allocated to look after
Mrs. Smith a 65 yrs. old lady with a medical history of Obesity and weighs 102kg,
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Type 2 DM and HTN. She was admitted for a Total Hip replacement two days
ago. She was moved to orthopaedic ward last night from ICU.
The physiotherapy department reviewed Mrs. Smith, and the physio advised the
nurses to hoist transfer Mrs. Smith from bed to chair and Hovermat to move her
up in the bed. At 1700 hrs Mrs. Smith said, she would like to sit out of bed to
have her dinner. When you go to get the lifting machine, you notice that it is left
unattended at the end of the corridor. Two of the three lifting machines are
faulty. The unused batteries are not attached with charger for charging.
You also notice that one of your colleagues has left a wheelchair in front of the
fire exit as the storage area is full. Since, the resignation of the OHS rep from
your ward several months ago, faulty equipment issues have not been
addressed. Your nurse unit manager is busy with staffing and budgeting. Most of
the staff in the ward are new or agency. Hence, issues like these are not
informed to NUM and Management team.
In the storage area, you find the sling appropriate to Mrs. Smith size. However, it
is soiled by faeces and urine. Finally, you notice proper equipment to transfer
Mrs. Smith, and Sarah the EN student is happy to assist you in the process of
moving. Sarah is a short girl only 140cm whereas you are 180cm tall.
Q1. Identify the existing and potential hazards as per this scenario.
The lifting machine is left unattended to in the corridor which may cause harm to
someone. Two of the machines are faulty. Potential hazards include are risk for
infection as the sling is soiled with faeces and urine.
Q2. Identify at least one (1) client-related risk factor in this scenario.
The client is obese therefore increasing the risk of fall due to the weight.
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Q3. Who will you contact to discuss the identified hazard?
The quality assurance unit of the hospital which is involved in setting standard
operating procedures of the hospital
Q4. List the workplace policies and procedures you will follow to promote safe
work practices and to minimise risks specific to this scenario.
Any faulty equipment should be immediately removed from the unit for repair or
disposal to create space. Any soiled material should be washed and removed
from the ward. The storage area should be freed immediately of any
unnecessary stuff. Shifts should be arranged according to the nurses best suited
to work with patients in terms of height.
Q5. Identify the manual handling hazards and their risks in this scenario.
Lifting Mrs Smith out of bed so that she can have dinner and may result in falls
Pulling the equipment used to transfer Mrs Smith and it may result in injury to
the nurse while manipulating it
Q6. List the control measures you will implement to minimise the identified
manual handling risks.
Use an extra hand while lifting Mrs Smith out of bed. This will help in sharing the
task. Ensuring equipment used in tasks is easily available and functional.
Q7. List the appropriate manual handling procedures and work instructions you
will follow in this situation to transfer Mrs Smith safely to chair without any injury
to self and others.
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Provide a mechanical aid for example a manual sling which makes the work
easier. Where possible use a team of more people to transfer Mrs Smith.
Q8. Identify the WHS issues in this work place you wanted to bring to the
attention of your NUM according to the organisational policies and procedures.
The unsafe work environment due to lack of storage of equipment Windholz
(2015)
The staffing is low hence contributing to heavy workload
Q9. Explain the importance of workplace safety meetings, inspections and
consultative activities.
This help to review new upcoming problems which need tentative solutions. They
provide an opportunity for recommendations from various stakeholders.
Q10. If your NUM asked you to provide recommendations, what are the
recommendations you will contribute to the development and implementation of
safe workplace policies and procedures in your workplace?
Removal of all excess and faulty machines in the ward.
Infection prevention control whereby any used linen is cleaned and removed
from the ward.
Scenario 2
Mrs Smith was safely moved to the chair by yourself and Sarah. At 1900hrs, Mrs
Smith wished to go back to bed. This time Penny, RN in-charge of the shift
helped to put her back to bed. However, on the bed Mrs Smith was lying supine.
Hence, you decided to lift her up in the Bed.
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Mrs Smith is lying under a hover mat. Hover mat transfers require four people to
operate. However, Penny said the ward is short staffed, so she rushes you to
finish the task just between yourself and her. Penny also mentioned that, it is her
7th shift in a row. She is mentally and physically tired. She doesn’t have spare
time to wait for another staff member to come and assist. As she is the in-
charge you follow what she said. You both forgot to apply the strap around Mrs
Smith before inflating the hover mat.
Once the hover mat is inflated, Mrs Smith fell from the bed. Mrs Smith hit her
head and broke her left wrist and radial bone.
1. Identify the manual handling hazards and risks in this situation and
explain how this can be prevented.
This task requires four people to operate but hey are only two hence may
result in injury of the patient and the nurses
2.
a. Identify the incident
Mrs Smith fell on the floor while being lifted and hence broke her wrist and
radial bone
b. Who needs to be notified about the incident?
The overall nursing supervisor.
c. What are the documentations which need to be completed to report this
incident?
Incident report book and the incident report form
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3a. Why it is important to reflect on your levels of stress and fatigue to promote
safe work practices? Stress may cause unnecessary conflict and inability to
concentrate while performing procedures and therefore patient negligence or the
nurse may actually injure themselves
c. Who needs to be reported if you are stressed or fatigued at work?
The nurse manager at the unit level who then consults on the way forward.
3. You and Penny are called for a debriefing session by NUM. Explain the
importance of participating in workplace debriefing to address individual
needs.
This is important to give the nurses an opportunity to explain the incident and
what went wrong during the incident. Individual needs such as stress after the
incident may be let out during the debriefing process
Assessment Task 2 – Scenario Marking Guide
Student Name ______________________ Student ID _____________
Marking Guide YES NO
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Satisfactory
response:
● Referencing is APA - consistent and satisfactory
● Correct and sufficient response is provided by
student to all questions of Assessment task 1
● Used correct grammar and spelling
Unsatisfact
ory:
Not enough or incorrect response by student.
Assessor Feedback
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REFERENCES
Australia, S. W. (2017). The national return to work survey: the role of the
employer and workplace Australia and New Zealand. 2013.
Cho, O. M., Kim, H., Lee, Y. W., & Cho, I. (2016). Clinical alarms in intensive care
units: perceived obstacles of alarm management and alarm fatigue in
nurses. Healthcare informatics research, 22(1), 46-53.
Hyatt, N. (2018). Guidelines for process hazards analysis (PHA, HAZOP), hazards
identification, and risk analysis. CRC press.
Kadikon, Y., & Rahman, M. N. A. (2016). Manual Material Handling Risk
Assessment Tool for Assessing Exposure to. Journal of Engineering and
Applied Sciences, 100(10), 2226-2232.
Walton, A., & Rogers, B. (2017). Workplace hazards faced by nursing assistants
in the United States: a focused literature review. International journal of
environmental research and public health, 14(5), 544.
Windholz, E. (2015). Team-based professional sporting competitions and work,
health and safety law: Defining the boundaries of responsibility. Health
and Safety Law: Defining the Boundaries of Responsibility, 43.
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