Risks and hazards

• Hazards


  Anything that may cause harm or a situation that poses a level of threat to life, health, property and environment (from 1 to 5)
• Risk


  Probability that someone will be harmed by a hazard (high or low)
• Locations with potential hazards

  • Outside
  • Learning environments
  • Work environment
  • Bus
  • Home
• Hazards to health


  • Smoking
  • Chemicals
  • Bad diet
  • Lack of exercise
  • Poor living conditions
  • Infection
• Hazards to property


  • Trees
  • Mold
• Hazards to environment


  • Pollution
  • Fossil fuels
• Hazardous materials


  • Chemicals
  • Body fluids
  • Drugs
  • Aggressive, violent people
  • Laundry (detergents)
• Hazards in health care


  • Incorrect medication
  • Radiation
  • Airborne disease
  • Furniture
  • Hazardous Waste
  • Hot drinks
• Hazards in social care

  • Wet floors
  • Noise
  • Lack of security
  • Equipment
  • Loose electrical wires
  • Hot food
• Hazards in childcare


  • Children equipment
  • Choking
  • Supervision
  • Toys
• Potential impacts of hazards

  • Cause injury
  • Legal actions/Financial loss(sued)
  • Illness
  • Poor standards of care
• Risk assessment


  1. Identify hazard

  2. Consider who may be at risk/who will be affected

  3. Evaluate risk, To what extent will the person be affected

  4. How to prevent it

  5. Review
• Types of settings with potential hazards


  • Open spaces (parks,library, museums, leisure center, restaurants, shopping centers,gym)
  • Transport (buses, trains, underground, cabs, bikes, car, coaches)