Final answer:
Hazard elimination in healthcare involves using safer equipment, like blunt needles and retractable scalpels, establishing no-touch zones, using alternative cutting devices, and ensuring strict aseptic technique to maintain sterile fields and prevent sepsis.
Step-by-step explanation:
Examples of Hazard Elimination in medical settings generally entail strategies to reduce the risk of injury and infection to patients and healthcare providers. Some of these strategies include:
- Use of blunt needles, needleless systems to administer medications, and retractable scalpels to prevent needlestick injuries.
- Establishing neutral zones and employing no-touch techniques to reduce the risk of sharps injuries.
- Utilizing alternative cutting devices such as electrocautery instead of traditional blades, and wound closure devices like tissue adhesives or staplers as alternates for sutures, which can minimize the risk of cuts or punctures during medical procedures.
It is important to create and maintain a sterile field to prevent sepsis, which involves using sterilized materials and strict aseptic protocols. Moreover, personal protective equipment such as face protection, cut-resistant gloves, and appropriate coats should be worn when handling potentially contaminated specimens or when in contact with infected patients. Contaminated waste must be handled with care and disposed of safely to prevent the spread of infection.