Health and Safety Leigislation in Health and Social Care

1734 Words7 Pages
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. Other legislation which is paramount include The manual handling regulations 1992 which details legal requirements for manual handling and moving and handling of people. The reporting of injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences regulations 1985, which is also known as RIDDOR, sets out what needs to be reported. The purpose of reporting injuries and occurrences is so that the health and safety executive along with local authorities can identify where and how risks arise and whether they need to be investigated. Records can also be used as an aid to developing risk assessments, which in return can help to develop solutions to potential risk. Reports must be made in cases where serious injuries have occurred, work related deaths and in cases of diagnosed industrial disease. From April 2012 the law changed from having to report staff absences from 3 days to seven or more consecutive days excluding the day that the injury was sustained but inclusive of rest days and weekends. All reports must be given within fifteen days of the incident taking place. Responsibility for reporting the accident in my organisation would lie with a senior manager. The control
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