Hospital Safety and Security 2 – Personal and Property Protection Equipment

Abstract

Healthcare facilities, including hospitals, are part of critical infrastructure, both from a technical and a social point of view. Their most important task is to provide medical care, which must be provided at all times, even in emergency situations. For this reason, the question of what external and internal hazards pose a risk in hospitals and what protection solutions can be put in place to reduce them is an important issue. In Part 2 of this two-part series of articles, we will use the types and characteristics of the risk factors identified earlier. Based on international safety recommendations and our own experience, we determine  whether they are avoidable and, if so, what preventive safety design or activity can be used to reduce their risks and impact. Based on our research, it can be stated that hazards to hospitals cannot be completely avoided, but risks can be reduced by safety measures. In this series of articles, we have identified specific risk factors that affect hospitals and suggested possible ways to reduce or avoid them. An important factor, however, is that each institution has a unique function and design, so in addition to general  guidance, it is always necessary to carry out specific  analyses and identify the necessary preventive actions.  These can significantly improve the operational safety of  healthcare institutions, particularly hospitals, and also have  an impact on their economic and social image.