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Brian Paice
Member - 2 posts
I have recently read about a Nurse who has slipped and broken her foot. The cause was alcohol gel rub having dripped on the floor from someones hand, drip trays had been provided to catch anything under the dispenser.
I am the FM for a not for profit Hospice and would like to prevent this from heppening here.
Has anyone got any experience of this and how did you solve it?
Thanks
Brian
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Anne McAllister
Member - 115 posts
Sounds to me like the person washing their hands was at fault for allowing the gel to drip.
If there is a tray to catch drips how did it end up on the floor? Is there a design problem perhaps or was the person leaving the dispenser without completing the task i.e. washing their hands?
Im not aware of risks associated to gel rubs but of course water and soap can cause accidents as well.
I would introduce back to basics training or a warning not to let the gel drip on the floor at the point of use. This however wont deal with negligent behaviuor.
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Graham Kenyon
Member - 32 posts
What if the person whose hands it dripped from was a member of the public ?
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Brian Paice
Member - 2 posts
The person may well have been a visitor as despite signs visitors have been seen to collect their gel and walk off rubbing it into their hands. You cannot catch everyone.
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Anne McAllister
Member - 115 posts
Could a hand washing wipe of some type be used instead ?
Like a baby wipe but obviously stronger?
May be more expensive to supply but if its safer then its worth considering.
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Graham Kenyon
Member - 32 posts
I re-read this thread and the following statement just caught my eye:
"Sounds to me like the person washing their hands was at fault for allowing the gel to drip."
Gel, by its very nature, drips. Surely, a person can't be at fault if the gel drips - only for failing to wipe it up after it has done so (if they notice it).
Since it is reasonably foreseeable that:
(i) The gel will drip; and
(ii) Someone might not notice the gel has dripped,
then surely it's the organisation providing and operating the hand-cleansing facility to ensure this foreseeable hazard is addressed, based on risk assessment ?
Wouldn't the best option be to monitor these cleansing stations to look at the frequency of spill, to support a risk assessment ?
If the frequency is so low it's not worth doing anything else, maybe reminder notices at each station similar to: "If you spill gel tell someone" or "If you spill gel wipe it up"
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Anne McAllister
Member - 115 posts
How about ......If you spill gel..please tell ....
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sheena farenden
Member - 52 posts
I have noticed that individual staff have their own small bottles pinned to their uniform could this be the culprit. As the lid hangs downwards if they do not close properly it would drip.
I fail to see how anybody could drip a large amount unless a delibrate act. Each time I have used the gel it has evaporated due to body heat and alcohol content to have a large enough amount to drip on floor would mean pushing the pump quite a few times.
All I can say is that at least this place has bottles of gel and people use it not the case in a lot of hospitals.
H & S legislation states that all employees are responsible for \\\\\\H & S of themselves and others using the workplace so they shoul keep an eye on the situation and report as necessary maybe have the cleaner clean that area more frequently.
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Anne McAllister
Member - 115 posts
I suspect it may be a design problem. For example if you squirt the gel in your hand but misdirect the nozzle could this cause the gel to end up on the floor?
What if the poor cleaner ends up on the floor on her way to clean it up?
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sheena farenden
Member - 52 posts
I agree with Ann but am I wrong to assume that a Risk Assessment has been undertaken.
I know of one hospital I have visited had the bottles over the sinks or on the nurses work station etc even if you tried it would be hard to spill on floor but others have them on the wall anywhere with nothing to catch spills.
It should be noted that the hospital with good practices etc was a 3* hospital and as I live in an area of 1* hospitals This accident could have even happened in a similar hospital to mine.
I understand the point about the cleaner but losing a nurse for weeks is more costly in terms of service provision and the cleaner would be more aware as it is her job to check the floor.
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Anne McAllister
Member - 115 posts
At least someone is washing their hands in hospitals these days .
If recent reports are to be believed some staff dont know about handwashing .
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