This leads to confusion around important differences which can eventually weaken overall safety culture. Having a workforce that understands both concepts is core to creating a high-performing culture dedicated to patient and worker safety.
HAZARD is defined as any source of potential damage, harm or adverse health effect on something or someone under certain conditions. In a healthcare setting, there are many unique types of hazards. To make things more complicated, sometimes the equipment, materials or substances that are deemed hazardous are also used for the treatment of illnesses or injuries.
RISK is defined as the chance or probability that a person will be harmed or experience adverse health effects if exposed to a hazard. Factors that can influence the degree of risk include:
• How frequently someone is exposed to the hazard
• How the person is exposed (via skin contact, inhalation, ingestion, etc.)
• How severe are the effects due to an exposure
The start of a new year is a great time to refresh and refine safety strategy to enhance the safety lens of everyone in the organization. Risk Management leaders have extensive responsibilities around risk education and mitigation. Having a workforce that understands how to identify hazards and mitigate risk helps support the belief that every medical error and employee injury in a medical setting is preventable.
Diane S. Hopkins is principal consultant at DuPont Sustainable Solutions Healthcare. To learn more about out-of-industry safety culture lessons, contact Diane at diane.hopkins@mail3.dupont.com or visit www.safepeoplesafepatients.com.
The views, opinions and positions expressed within these guest posts are those of the author alone and do not represent those of Becker’s Hospital Review/Becker’s Healthcare. The accuracy, completeness and validity of any statements made within this article are not guaranteed. We accept no liability for any errors, omissions or representations. The copyright of this content belongs to the author and any liability with regards to infringement of intellectual property rights remains with them.
