Safety and Security
Housekeeping and security
The housekeeping department is responsible for maintaining a peaceful atmosphere in the hospital. If the patients and staff always fear for their safety and the safety of their belongings, the atmosphere will be very tense. Hence every housekeeper should be aware of ways to protect herself and others, especially the patients around her and the property of the hospital from accidents and theft.
Several accidents could occur at the place of work. These include fire accidents, falls, sprains, muscle cramps, wounds, injuries, negligence in handling electrical equipment, inhaling certain chemicals, handling chemicals and articles falling off the top shelf. Even simple injuries should not be neglected. Immediate treatment should be given / taken.
How to avoid accidents
-To avoid a fall, take care while walking on a wet floor, oily surfaces or mossy areas
-When one part of the stairway is being cleaned, the other half should be used
-Do not place furniture or buckets, mops, and brooms in the way
-If there is any breakage, the debris should be removed immediately. Any electric wires or nails in the way should be removed
-Broken glass pieces should be removed using thickly folded wet paper
-While handling electric devices, ensure that your dress and hands are dry
-Some chemicals cause injuries to bare hands. Hence always wear gloves when handling them
-When arranging things on the shelves, heavier objects should be placed at a lower level, and the lighter articles on the top
-While climbing the stairs, climb one step at a time, and keep to your left. Do not leap and jump on the stairs
-Leave place for people on the opposite side to come through at the same time when passing through spring doors
-Be brisk, not hasty
Protecting patients and materials of the hospital
-Do not discuss hospital matters in public places
-Spreading rumours and careless talk in public places is dangerous
-Outsiders should not handle hospital documents and case sheets
-The belongings of the hospital should not be taken out or mishandled
-If a suspicious person is spotted in the premises of the hospital, the matter should be reported to the security personnel at once
-Patients should not be allowed to accept tea, coffee or any eatables from strangers
-If the patients leave their room even for a short time, they should be asked to lock their room
-· Smoking and use of intoxicants are prohibited in the hospital premises
A major accident hazard in the hospital is fire. Fire accidents cause loss of life and property on a large scale. They occur because of negligence on the part of a few people. The staff should have knowledge about the different types of fire accidents and first aid.
What causes a fire accident?
-Negligence in throwing burning cigarette butts or match sticks into a dustbin containing paper waste, or throwing them carelessly where they
may be fanned by air to spread into a full-fledged fire
-Chemicals placed close to each other may react to cause a fire
-A short circuit in an electric connection may erupt into a fire
-Carelessness in the kitchen, such as overheating oil may cause a fire, or a gas leak in the kitchen may be the cause of a fire
Methods of extinguishing a fire
-Starvation: isolating the burning object and thus starving the fire
-Blanketing: preventing oxygen supply to the fire
-Cooling: cooling the heat of the fire by splashing water forcefully on it.
Important points to be kept in mind
-Fire will spread from one place to another in no time
-Fire tends to spread in the direction of the wind. It will spread through wooden articles and electric wires to other parts of the room
-Leaving cotton cloth near a pooja lamp should be avoided
-It is dangerous to leave petrol or kerosene near a lighted gas stove
-Chemicals should be kept away from one another. For example, turpentine and chlorine gas
-Machines should not be operated continuously without a break
Types of fire accidents and methods of extinguishing the fire
-Fire caused on trees, clothes and thatch can be extinguished by pouring water or throwing sand over it. This is called the cooling method
-Liquid fire: Fire caused on account of petrol, diesel, kerosene, rubber, can be extinguished by using a fire extinguisher. Splashing foam is like covering with a blanket and is called the blanket method. Water should not be used here
-Cooking: Fire caused by gas, acetylene, hydrogen methane, the valve of the source of supply should be switched off. Open up all the doors and windows. Dry sand should be used to extinguish this fire
-Chemical fire: Phosphorous, and sulphur require a heat at a high temperature for burning. But metals like sodium, magnesium, and uranium are easily combustible. Sand and dry powder (Sodium bicarbonate (baking soda)) can be used to extinguish the fire
-Electrical fire: When fire is caused due to defects in electrical equipment or electrical fittings, first cut off the electric supply. Non-conductors should be used. Dry powder and sand should be used to extinguish this fire. Water should never be used here
Apart from the above methods, any kind of fire can be extinguished by the starvation method. If an oil container burns, the oil drums nearby should be removed immediately. If a vessel on the stove catches fire due to overheating, do not pour water. Instead cover the vessel with a lid to put out the fire.
Steps to be taken by a housekeeper on seeing fire
-Caution others by shouting “fire! fire!” Easily combustible material should be removed immediately. The remaining areas should be cooled with water
-The administrator and fire service should be informed immediately
-The work should be divided among the staff
-It is important to be alert but calm
General safety rules for the housekeeping
1.Report every injury to the supervisor
2.Understand the job thoroughly so that it can be carried out safely. When there is a doubt ask the supervisor
3.Help and guide new employees to do their jobs safely and correctly
4.Report any defective or broken equipment or machine to the supervisors at once
5.Always use a ladder for high reaching jobs. Never use a chair or a table
6.Wear safe, comfortable and sensible clothing at work
7.Arrange the stores in a safe manner so that no one is injured when taking things from the shelves. Do not overload shelves
8.Lift heavy loads carefully. Never try and lift heavy loads alone
9.Turn on the light before entering a dark room
10.Do not touch switches with wet hands
11.Never pick up broken glass, blades and other sharp objects with bare hands. Always use a broom and dust pan
12.Never put your hand in the bin when emptying it
13.Always wear a mask and use gloves when cleaning bathrooms or when dealing with waste
14.Store brooms, mops, baskets, cleaning equipment in a safe place. Do not leave them in places where people trip over them and fall
15.Ensure that all areas are kept dry. People may slip if there is water on the floor and injure themselves
16.Never run on the stairs - always walk
17.Fire escapes must be kept free and open at all times
18.Always observe the ‘No Smoking signs’
19.Store oily rags in tightly covered metal tins to prevent them from catching fire
20.Inflammable liquids should be stored in small quantities in metal containers away from heat and flames
Student exercise
Answer the following
1.What are the various accidents that can occur within the hospital?
2.How can you prevent these accidents?
3.What are the causes of fire?
4.What are the different methods of putting out the fire?
5.List any 5 important safety points.
Key points to remember
-It is very important to maintain cleanliness in the kitchen, dining hall and the surrounding areas to keep them free of rats and cockroaches
For a demonstration on cleaning the kitchen and dinning hall, please watch the video of the CD
Student Exercise
Answer the following
1.Why is it important to maintain cleanliness in the kitchen and dining area?
2.What are the points to keep in mind when arranging the table?
3.How do you clean up after a meal?
