Unit 8: Understanding health and safety in social care settings. Activity 1: Legislation and policies indentify the responsibilities of employer, employee and individual in relation to the legislation and policies below Health and safety at work act 1974 The setting in which you provide care are generally covered by the health and safety at work act 1974. This act has been updated and supplemented by many sets of regulations and guidelines which extent it, support it, or explain it. The regulations most likely to affect your workplace are manual handling 1992, control of substances hazardous to health regulations 2002 (coshh), reporting of injuries, diseases, and dangerous occurrences regulations 1995 (riddor), health and safety first aid regulations 1981, management of health and safety work regulations 1999. There are many regulations, laws and guidelines dealing with health and safety.
In addition The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, there are also additional regulations covering industry sectors as a whole, for example, construction industry. The general duties, which must be followed by all, are outlined below: Employers: * Ensure health, safety and welfare of all their employees. * Produce a written policy statement explaining how the employers intend to impose the safe work environment. * Consult with union representatives if necessary/required. * Ensure
Riffat Khanum 09/01/14 Unit 8: Understand health and safety in social care settings 1 Understand the different responsibilities relating to health and safety in social care settings The Health and Safety at Work act 1974 is the main type of legislation that covers health and safety in social care settings. Under this Act, the workers have responsibilities to ensure safety is there in the workplace. The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 covers all manual handling actions, such as lifting, carrying objects or pulling. Other regulations are Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981 and this cover requirements for the provision of first aid in the workplace. The control of Substance Hazards to Health Regulations (COSHH).
3. Define the specific duties regarding health, safety and welfare as defined by the legislation that is relevant to the job of an assistant site manager. The role of the assistant site manager in respect of safety, health and welfare is varying, this could be keeping records associated with health and safety e.g. statutory inspections, including records required by CDM for hazard management, sub-contractors method statements etc, anything included in the Construction Phase Plan and by the relevant procedures in the contractors Manual of Quality, Safety and the Environment. Ensuring all staff/visitors to the site have a health and safety induction before being actually allowed on site, he also may be responsible for ensuring that all staff/visitors adhere to health and safety rules whilst on site, maintaining statutory and other notices give example, the reporting and subsequent investigating of any incidents under RIDDOR, also the responsibility for regular inspection of the welfare facilities, and for ensuring action is taken to maintain the required standard This would be consistent with what the employer and site manager wishes it to be and which would be dependent, or limited to, the level of the his/her competence, especially in respect to H&S issues.
An employer’s responsibilities are based on duty of care of the people in their workplace – that is staff, service users and anyone else who comes to the workplace. The main points of the health and safety Policies and procedures agreed with the employer are Agreed ways of working, Who is responsible for monitoring each aspect of H&S, The aims of the policies, Details of regulations, How the organisation aims to reduce risks, Training and procedures used to reduce risks, Arrangements for fire, first aid and emergencies and Control measures for hazards – such as medication. 3. As a support worker employee, I take Health and Safety seriously and the welfare of others in also paramount, so my main responsibilities include taking reasonable care of myself and others, wearing the correct PPE. I also have to use equipment correctly, including chemicals and substances.
The Health and safety executive is the main person responsible for ensuring that the legislations put in to place in the work place is enforced. The legislations in place can differ to individual work places. The Health and safety act 1974 have stated that all work places should have safety policies in place, these should entail expected standards that need to be in the work place. If the care setting was that of a hospital the policies would include manual handling of patients. There are certain rules nursing staff have to follow to ensure patients are manoeuvred correctly.
Assignment A0 In this assignment I will be documenting my knowledge and understanding in safety, security and legislation. Health and safety at work act 1974 – this act was put into place to aid the protection of employers, employees and others (i.e. patients) in the work place, by securing a safe, healthy environment and being aware of the welfare of people in the working environment. As an employer it is your duty to ensure where it is reasonably practical that certain regulations are adhered to such as providing up to date training, information and supervision for all employees. Insuring the working environment is safe and providing correct welfare facilities.
Promote and implement Health and Safety in Health and social care The Health and Safety at work act 1974 is the primary piece of legislation covering occupational Health and Safety. Under this act, the employer, the workers and the individuals being supported have responsibilities to ensure safety is maintained in the workplace. A copy of the health and safety at work act should be displayed in all work places. The main purpose of this act is to ensure the health, safety and welfare of people at work, to protect others from risks arising from the activities of people at work. To control the use and storage of dangerous substances and to control the emission into the atmosphere of noxious or offensive substances.
This is to protect not only the staff of the organization, but also the organization itself to safeguard against potential litigation matters. The Workplace Health and Safety Act and other relevant legislation aims to provide a framework for a standard of compliance and enforcement. It is an initiative that advocates for the health, safety, and welfare of workers and persons present in a working environment. Areas where action should be taken must be observed in accordance with the Act, as well as ways to identify and manage risks and hazards associated with workplace operations. Where potential hazards are recognized, appropriate action must be taken to remove, reduce, or isolate the possible risk.
Responsibilities relating to Health and Safety in Social Care Setting - Identify legislation relating to general health and safety in a social care setting. There are a number of legal acts relating to the general health and safety in social care. The most important I think would the Health and Safety at Work Act of 1974, it ensures that the employer and the employee have responsibilities to ensure that a good level of safety is attained in the workplace. There should be a copy of this act on the works premises for use of any employee or service user. This legislation’s primary goals are: To ensure the health, safety and welfare of people at work To protect others from risks arising from the activities of people at work To control the use and storage of dangerous substances To control the emission into the atmosphere of noxious or offensive substances Other legislation relating to health and safety in social care are as follows The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992, which supports the health and safety act.