Final answer:
Patient safety can be affected by external factors such as healthcare worker work overload and flaws in equipment and procedures, which can lead to increased errors and safety issues.
Step-by-step explanation:
External Factors Affecting Patient Safety
External factors that can affect patient safety are numerous, but two significant ones include work overload for healthcare workers and equipment and procedure flaws. Healthcare providers may experience work overload, which can lead to fatigue, decreased alertness, and thus increase the likelihood of errors in patient care. Furthermore, if there are flaws in the procedures they follow or in the medical equipment they use, even when these procedures and equipment are utilized correctly, it can result in patient safety issues. It is essential for institutions to develop safety protocols like the WHO surgical checklist to minimize accidents and for governing bodies such as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to regulate operational limits to safeguard public health.