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TLE Exploratory
Home Economics
Caregiving
Quarter 3 – Module 5:
Evaluating and Controlling
Hazards and Risks
(Weeks 6-8)
 What I Need to Know

This lesson is designed and written with you in mind. It is here to help you evaluate
hazards and risks in performing activities in Caregiving. The scope of this module
permits it to be used in many different learning situations. The language used
recognizes the diverse vocabulary level of students. The lessons are arranged to follow
the standard sequence of the course.

At the end of this module, you should be able to:

1. evaluate hazards and risks;
2. follow Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) procedures in dealing with and
for controlling hazards and risks; and
3. establish an organizational protocol in providing appropriate assistance in
workplace emergencies.

What I Know

Please do not forget to write the following on your answer sheet:

Name: _________________________________________ Yr. & Section: _____________
Yr. Level & Subject (Specialization): _____________ Module No: _______________
Name of Activity: What I Know Date: _____________________

Directions: Read each of the following statements carefully and choose the letter of
the correct answer.

1. It includes eye protection, respirators, and protective clothing.

A. Goggles C. Shield
B. Protective gear D. Personal Protective Equipment
2. The process of controlling the hazards by completely removing them.
A. Elimination C. Substitution
B. Engineering control D. Administrative Control
3. It means working a limited number of hours in a hazardous area.
A. Elimination C. Substitution
B. Engineering control D. Administrative Control
4. It means changing a piece of machinery or a work process to reduce exposure to
a hazard.
A. Elimination C. Substitution
B. Engineering control D. Administrative Control
5. The process of replacing or substituting a hazardous agent or work process with
a less dangerous one.
A. Elimination C. Substitution
B. Engineering control D. Administrative Control

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6. It is the possibility that somebody could be harmed by these and other hazards
and the indication of how serious the harm can be.
A. Risk B. Sterilization C. OHS D. Hazard
7. It is anything that may cause harm to an individual, such as chemicals,
electricity, open drawers, and inadequate ventilation.
A. Risk B. Sterilization C. OHS D. Hazard
8. Wastes/garbage are best segregated at/in the ______________.
A. house B. garbage area C. source D. disposal area
9. To prevent biological hazards from happening, Caregivers should do the following
EXCEPT one.
A. Wear a gown that is long enough to cover your clothing.
B. Gloves should be used when an issue of contamination is present.
C. To inhale properly, remove your mask for 5 minutes and wear it back
thereafter.
D. Masks should fit comfortably over the nose and mouth.
10. To stop ergonomic hazards, you must do the following, EXCEPT one.
A. Avoid twisting the body.
B. Bend knees only if it is needed.
C. Avoid too much stretching when reaching for something.
D. Use a double/triple chair when reaching for hard-to-reach materials or
objects.

What’s In

Spot the hazards in the picture. List them down on a separate sheet of paper.

_________________________ _______________________
_________________________ _______________________

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 What Is It

EVALUATING AND CONTROLLING HAZARDS AND RISKS

Once you recognize the hazard/s in the workplace, then you can proceed with risk
assessment, which is focusing on the risks that really matter in the workplace.

Evaluating hazards and risks is the process of determining the level of risk created
by the hazard and the likelihood of injury or illness occurring. Most of the time,
simple measures can be done, with no trouble, to control risks. An example of this
is making sure that cabinet drawers are kept closed so that people do not trip.
Needless to say, the concern for control increases as the recognized level of risk
increases.

A person identifying the risk of harm or injury from a hazard in a nursing home
or daycare should consider these questions:
• how likely it is that a hazard will cause harm;
• how serious that harm is likely to be;
• how often (and how many) workers are exposed.

It is a must that you have a record of every risk assessment done. If a certain accident
or damage happens again, it might be that you will trace back the original records to
check if the assessment overlooked a potential hazard. Assessing or evaluating the
hazards and risks is crucial in making a decision on the mode of control to be used.

CONTROL HAZARDS AND RISKS

It is possible that workplace hazards can be controlled by a variety of methods. Of

course, the very reason why hazards should be controlled is to prevent workers from
being exposed to occupational hazards. Hazard control comes in different processes.
But one method may be more effective than the others.

When we speak of controlling hazards and risks, it means settling on the measure
that will solve the trouble most successfully. There are five major categories of control
measures: elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative
controls, and personal protective equipment.

1. Eliminating a hazard means removing it completely.

2. Substitution is replacing or substituting a hazardous agent or work process
with a less dangerous one.
3. An engineering control may mean changing a piece of machinery (for
example, using proper machine guards) or a work process to reduce exposure
to a hazard.

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 4. An administrative control may mean working a limited number of hours in a
hazardous area is an example of administrative control (for example, job
rotation)
5. Personal Protective Equipment includes ear and eye protection, respirators,
and protective clothing.

Obviously, the best method of controlling hazards and risks is through elimination.
That is to take away or to get rid of the hazard. However, more often than not, this is
not possible. So, employers make use of any of the remaining control measures. The
general rule is that the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) should be the last
alternative in controlling hazards and risks in a workplace. Although it is said that
the best method of control measure is through the elimination of hazards, a very
good technique for a safe and healthy environment is through the utilization of a
combination of methods.

PRACTICAL WAYS TO PREVENT HAZARDS AND RISKS

A Closer Look at Electricity

https://unifidr.blogspot.com/2018/10/electrical-safety-tips.html

• As common-sense dictates, you must ensure that all electrical equipment you
use is in good condition.
• Check electrical cords and make sure they are not frayed.
• Your hands should be dry before attempting to use any electrical equipment.
• Do not attempt to change fuses unless you know what you are doing.
• Do not turn on all appliances at the same time just because you want to save
time.

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 Use of Personal Protective Equipment

Caregivers should religiously abide by the following to prevent biological hazards

from happening:

• Wear a gown that is long enough to cover your clothing. Because the outside
of the gown is considered contaminated, this should not be touched when it
is removed. A gown that is wet is, of course, considered contaminated also. A
caregiver should wear a clean gown for every client's care. In case the gown is
not available, an apron should be worn to mask clothing during client contact.

• Masks should fit comfortably over the nose and mouth. The same with a gown
or apron, a wet mask is considered contaminated. The front of the mask is
also contaminated. Masks should not be worn around the neck. For each
client contact, a clean mask should be used.

• Gloves should be used when an issue of contamination is present. Also, when

a caregiver has an open wound on the hands, it is a must that he/she use
gloves. The outside of the gloves should not be touched when removed as this
is considered contaminated.

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Disposal of Health Care Wastes

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In order to reduce the burden of disease, health care wastes should be managed
appropriately. Whether a caregiver is working in a hospital, a daycare, or even at
home, proper discarding of medical wastes should be of great consideration.

Human waste products. Obviously, these wastes should be flushed down the toilet
without delay and should not be discarded in the street or any public place.

Blood and bloody fluids. These must be removed right away. It is best if they can
be directly flushed down the toilet. If clothes are contaminated, they should be
washed separately using hot water and should be dried. Dressings with blood need
to be double-bagged in plastic and disposed of based on existing community or local
rules.

Needles (sharps). Sharps should be kept in a container that is not easy to pierce like
metal (coffee can). Some items may be kept while some should be discarded right
away. It is advisable to discuss with the supervisor for the best disposal method.

Medical equipment. If the equipment is contaminated, it should be thrown away. It

is ideal that the equipment is double-bagged and disposed of based on the existing
regulations in the community. Also, this should be discussed with the immediate
supervisor as to whether or not the said equipment can be kept or should be disposed
of already.

Proper Handwashing

As you touch people, tables, chairs, books, sinks, handrails, and other objects and
surfaces, there is a possibility that you contaminate your hands. The germs that were
accumulated when touching things may be the means for you to get sick and spread
illness to others. The importance of handwashing comes in. It is by far the best and
simplest way to prevent germs from spreading and to keep the people around you

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from getting sick. Though it is said that hand washing is the first line of defense
against the spread of illnesses, you should be aware of the proper way of doing it.
Otherwise, you may just be wasting your time doing it because you do not really wipe
out what should be eliminated.

The following steps will help you in performing proper handwashing to rid yourself
of germs in no time.
1. Prepare your materials before washing your hands: paper towel, bar, or liquid
soap.
2. Turn on the faucet and wet wrists and hands thoroughly. Use a generous
amount of soap.
3. Rub your hands together and between fingers. Be sure to use friction when
washing as this helps in cleaning your hands. Do not forget the surface of your
hands, palms, the spaces within the fingers and above the wrists. Do this
process for at least 20 seconds. You might want to sing ―happy birthday‖ twice
slowly to make sure you attained the minimum number of seconds in washing
your hands.
4. Clean your nails by rubbing the soap later through them. If your nails are long
(it is advisable that health care workers do not grow their nails long), use a
soft stick or the nails of the other hand to remove the dirt under them.
5. Rinse your hands thoroughly under running water. Remember to rinse from
above the wrist down to the fingers.
6. Use a paper towel to dry hands and discard immediately.
7. Use a new paper towel to close the faucet being careful not to contaminate
your hands. This paper towel should be discarded right away.

Put a Stop to Ergonomic Hazard

Efficient control measures are now being utilized by employers to avoid ergonomic
hazards among health care workers. Manual handling of patients, for example, has
become less stressful due to some paraphernalia being used that facilitate the task.
Adjustable height workstations, improved tool design, and adjusted work pace are
now part of a worker’s life.

Unfortunately, ergonomic hazard effects continue to happen. Why? At times, the

workers themselves invite these hazards due to the wrong way they do their tasks.
Conscious or not, they have to examine their work routine and consider these simple
rules:
• Avoid twisting the body.
• Bend knees if it is needed.
• Avoid too much stretching when
reaching for something.

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 • Use a ladder when reaching for hard-to-
reach materials or objects.
• Ask for help from someone if the task
cannot be done by one person

What’s More

Hazard Prevention and Control

Effective controls protect workers from workplace hazards; help avoid injuries,
illnesses, and incidents; minimize or eliminate safety and health risks, and help
employers provide workers with safe and healthful working conditions. The processes
described in this section will help employers prevent and control hazards identified
in the previous section.

To effectively control and prevent hazards, employers should:

▪ Involve workers, who often have the best understanding of the conditions that
create hazards and insights into how they can be controlled.
▪ Identify and evaluate options for controlling hazards, using a "hierarchy of
controls."
▪ Use a hazard control plan to guide the selection and implementation of
controls, and implement controls according to the plan.
▪ Develop plans with measures to protect workers during emergencies and non-
routine activities.
▪ Evaluate the effectiveness of existing controls to determine whether they
continue to provide protection, or whether different controls may be more
effective. Review new technologies for their potential to be more protective,
more reliable, or less costly.

Action item 1: Identify control options

Action item 2: Select controls
Action item 3: Develop and update a hazard control plan
Action item 4: Select controls to protect workers during nonroutine
operations and emergencies
Action item 5: Implement selected controls in the workplace
Action item 6: Follow up to confirm that controls are effective

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Action item 1: Identify control options
A wealth of information exists to help employers investigate options for controlling
identified hazards. Before selecting any control options, it is essential to solicit
workers' input on their feasibility and effectiveness.

How to accomplish it?

Collect, organize, and review information with workers to determine what types of
hazards may be present and which workers may be exposed or potentially exposed.
The information available in the workplace may include:
▪ Review sources such as OSHA standards and guidance, industry consensus
standards, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
publications, manufacturers' literature, and engineering reports to identify
potential control measures. Keep current on relevant information from the
trade or professional associations.
▪ Investigate control measures used in other workplaces and determine whether
they would be effective at your workplace.
▪ Get input from workers who may be able to suggest and evaluate solutions
based on their knowledge of the facility, equipment, and work processes.

Action item 2: Select controls

Employers should select the controls that are the most feasible, effective, and
permanent.

How to accomplish it?

▪ Eliminate or control all serious hazards (hazards that are causing or are likely
to cause death or serious physical harm) immediately.
▪ Use interim controls while you develop and implement longer-term solutions.
▪ Select controls according to a hierarchy that emphasizes engineering solutions
(including elimination or substitution) first, followed by safe work practices,
administrative controls, and finally personal protective equipment.

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 ▪ Avoid selecting controls that may directly or indirectly introduce new hazards.
Examples include exhausting contaminated air into occupied workspaces or
using hearing protection that makes it difficult to hear backup alarms.
▪ Review and discuss control options with workers to ensure that controls are
feasible and effective.
▪ Use a combination of control options when no single method fully protects
workers.

Note: Whenever possible, select equipment, machinery, and materials that are
inherently safer based on the application of "Prevention through Design" (PtD)
principles.

Action item 3: Develop and update a hazard control plan

A hazard control plan describes how the selected controls will be implemented. An
effective plan will address serious hazards first. Interim controls may be necessary,
but the overall goal is to ensure effective long-term control of hazards. It is important
to track progress toward completing the control plan and periodically (at least
annually and when conditions, processes, or equipment change) verify that controls
remain effective.

How to accomplish it?

▪ List the hazards needing controls in order of priority.
▪ Assign responsibility for installing or implementing the controls to a specific
person or persons with the power or ability to implement the controls.
▪ Establish a target completion date.
▪ Plan how you will track progress toward completion.
▪ Plan how you will verify the effectiveness of controls after they are installed or
implemented.

Action item 4: Select controls to protect workers during nonroutine operations

and emergencies
The hazard control plan should include provisions to protect workers during
nonroutine operations and foreseeable emergencies. Depending on your workplace,
these could include fires and explosions; chemical releases; hazardous material
spills; unplanned equipment shutdowns; infrequent maintenance activities; natural
and weather disasters; workplace violence; terrorist or criminal attacks; disease
outbreaks (e.g., pandemic influenza); or medical emergencies. Nonroutine tasks or
tasks workers don't normally do, should be approached with particular caution. Prior
to initiating such work, review job hazard analyses and job safety analyses with any
workers involved and notify others about the nature of the work, work schedule, and
any necessary precautions.

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How to accomplish it?
▪ Develop procedures to control hazards that may arise during non-routine
operations (e.g., removing machine guarding during maintenance and repair).
▪ Develop or modify plans to control hazards that may arise in emergency
situations.
▪ Procure any equipment needed to control emergency-related hazards.
▪ Assign responsibilities for implementing the emergency plan.
▪ Conduct emergency drills to ensure that procedures and equipment provide
adequate protection during emergency situations.

Note: Depending on your location, type of business, and materials stored or used
on-site, authorities including local fire and emergency response departments, state
agencies, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Homeland
Security, and OSHA may have additional requirements for emergency plans. Ensure
that your procedures comply with these requirements.

Action item 5: Implement selected controls in the workplace

Once hazard prevention and control measures have been identified, they should be
implemented according to the hazard control plan.

How to accomplish it?

▪ Implement hazard control measures according to the priorities established in
the hazard control plan.
▪ When resources are limited, implement measures on a "worst-first" basis,
according to the hazard ranking priorities (risk) established during hazard
identification and assessment. (Note, however, that regardless of limited
resources, employers have an obligation to protect workers from recognized,
serious hazards.)
▪ Promptly implement any measures that are easy and inexpensive—e.g., general
housekeeping, removal of obvious tripping hazards such as electrical cords,
basic lighting—regardless of the level of hazard they involve.

Action item 6: Follow up to confirm that controls are effective

To ensure that control measures are and remain effective, employers should track
progress in implementing controls, inspect and evaluate controls once they are
installed, and follow routine preventive maintenance practices.

How to accomplish it?

▪ Track progress and verify implementation by asking the following questions:
o Have all control measures been implemented according to the hazard
control plan?
o Have engineering controls been properly installed and tested?
o Have workers been appropriately trained so that they understand the
controls, including how to operate engineering controls, safe work
practices, and PPE use requirements?

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 o Are controls being used correctly and consistently?
▪ Conduct regular inspections (and industrial hygiene monitoring, if indicated)
to confirm that engineering controls are operating as designed.
▪ Evaluate control measures to determine if they are effective or need to be
modified. Involve workers in the evaluation of the controls. If controls are not
effective, identify, select, and implement further control measures that will
provide adequate protection.
▪ Confirm that work practices, administrative controls, and personal protective
equipment use policies are being followed.
▪ Conduct routine preventive maintenance of equipment, facilities, and controls
to help prevent incidents due to equipment failure.

A caregiver has to have a sense of duty for her own health and safety at work. He/She
has the responsibility, therefore, to follow safety instructions in the workplace. In
addition, he/she has to use tools, equipment, and paraphernalia with care. When
hazards or injuries happen, the caregiver must report the same to the person in
charge or directly to the immediate supervisor. Although a health worker’s concern
primarily focuses on his/her safety, he/she has to take all reasonable care not to put
other people at risk. After all, a caregiver gives care not only to the client but also to
co-workers, supervisors, and the people within the working environment.

What I Have Learned

Please do not forget to write the following on your answer sheet:

Name: ________________________________________ Yr. & Section: _____________
Yr. Level & Subject (Specialization): ________________ Module No: _______________
Name of Activity: What I Have Learned Date: _____________________

I. Directions: Write True if the statement is correct, or False if it is incorrect.

1. Human wastes should be discarded in the street.

2. Every time a risk assessment is done, details should be recorded.
3. Engineering control is the best control measure for hazards and risks.
4. Appliances may be turned on at the same time to save time and effort
on the part of the caregiver.
5. A wet mask is not considered contaminated.

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II. Directions: Match the picture in Column A with that of the description in
Column B. Write the letter of your choice in the space provided for each item.

Column A Column B

1
A. It protects a caregiver’s clothing from contamination.

B. It is used to protect the hands from contamination.

C. This may be used when a gown is not available.

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D. It is used to avoid droplets of saliva from reaching
other people.

What I Can Do

Please do not forget to write the following on your answer sheet:

Name: ________________________________________ Yr. & Section: _____________
Yr. Level & Subject (Specialization): ________________ Module No: _______________
Name of Activity: What I Can Do Date: _____________________

Task #1 (For Weeks 6-7)

Instructions: Walk around your house, identify at least 3 possible hazards you see
in the following parts of your house. Copy the template below and fill in the
needed information in the table.

Parts of the Possible How can these What proper action

house Hazards possible should be taken for
hazards affect each hazard provided?
you and your How are you going to
family? implement it?
1. Kitchen 1.
2.

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 3.
4. Room/ 1.
Sleeping Room 2.
3.
5. Dining Area/ 1.
Living Room 2.
3.

Task #2 (For Week 8)

Instructions: Create your own graphic organizer on Hazard Prevention and Control
on a separate sheet of paper. You will be graded based on the given
rubric below.

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 Assessment

Use a separate sheet in answering the test. Be sure to write the following:
Name: ________________________________ Grade and Section: ______________________
Subject: ______________________________ Lesson Title: _____________________________

Directions. Read the statement carefully and choose the correct answer.

1. To prevent biological hazards from happening, caregivers should do the following

EXCEPT one.
A. Wear a gown that is long enough to cover your clothing.
B. Gloves should be used when an issue of contamination is present.
C. To inhale properly, remove your mask for 5 minutes and wear it back
thereafter.
D. Masks should fit comfortably over the nose and mouth.
2. To stop ergonomic hazards, you must do the following EXCEPT one.
A. Avoid twisting the body.
B. Bend knees only if it is needed.
C. Avoid too much stretching when reaching for something.
D. Use a double/triple chair when reaching for hard-to-reach materials or
objects.
3. It includes eye protection, respirators, and protective clothing.
A. Goggles C. Shield
B. Protective gear D. Personal Protective Equipment
4. A Way of controlling the hazards by completely removing them.
A. Elimination C. Substitution
B. Engineering control D. Administrative Control
5. It means working a limited number of hours in a hazardous area.
A. Elimination C. Substitution
B. Engineering control D. Administrative Control
6. It means changing a piece of machinery or a work process to reduce exposure to
a hazard.
A. Elimination C. Substitution
B. Engineering control D. Administrative Control
7. The process of replacing or substituting a hazardous agent or work process with
a less dangerous one.
A. Elimination C. Substitution
B. Engineering control D. Administrative Control
8. It is the possibility that somebody could be harmed by these and other hazards
and the indication of how serious the harm can be.
A. Risk B. Sterilization C. OHS D. Hazard
9. It is anything that may cause harm to an individual, such as chemicals,
electricity, open drawers, and inadequate ventilation.
A. Risk B. Sterilization C. OHS D. Hazard

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10. Wastes/garbage are best segregated at/in the ______________.
A. house B. garbage area C. source D. disposal area

Answer Key

5. A
4. C
3. B
2. D
1. B
II.
5. False
4. True
3. True
2. False
1. True
I.
What I have Learned

References

Cruz, W. (2013). K to 12 Basic Education Curriculum, Technology and Livelihood

Education Learning Module Caregiving. NCR DepEd Bataan. Pages 110-125.

Zucker, E. (2009). The Caregiver’s Resource Book 6th Edition. South Asia PTE. LTD.
Pearson Education.

Online Sources:

http://www.depedbataan.com/resources/9/k_to_12_caregiving
learning_module.pdf, retrieved on January 31, 2020.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/519673244488875270/, retrieved on January 31,

2020.

https://tinyurl.com/y4mrfdlu, retrieved on January 31, 2020.

https://www.canva.com/create/posters/, retrieved on January 31, 2020.

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