Understand health and safety in social care 1.1 - There is a variety of legislation relating to health and safety in social care including The Health and Safety at work act, Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH) and The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR). 1.2 - Policies and procedures set the guidelines for adequate care within a setting, risk assessments are used to protect you and others around you. They ensure correct equipment is in place and that the equipment meets the needs of the individuals. Health and safety policies and procedures protect those working and living within a social care setting. COSHH is a policy in place within our setting which outlines control measures for hazards to prevent accidents occurring.
Unit 306 Understanding health and safety in social care settings 1.1 The health and safety at work act 1974 is the main legislation that covers you at work. Its an umbrella legislation which covers over regulations such as Manual handling operations regulations 1992 amended 2002, Control of substances hazardous to health regulations 2002, Reporting of injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences regulations 1995 amended 2008, Health and safety first aid regulations 1981, Management of health and safety at work regulations 1999. 1.2 Health and safety policies are there to protect you as the worker, the individuals you are looking after and the company you work for. They are there as guidance to help identify risks and control hazards. And to help with reporting accidents and make arrangements for emergencies.
Understanding Health and Safety in Social Care Settings 1.1. The following legislation relate to health and safety in a social care setting: a) Health and safety at work act 1974 under this Act, the employer, the workers and the individuals being supported have responsibilities to ensure safety is maintained in the workplace for example by protecting others from risks arising from the activities of people at work and controlling the use and storage of dangerous substances. b) The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 are designed specifically to eliminate or reduce a manual handling risk to an acceptable level. this involves the understanding of how to move and position people and equipment from one place to another and the appropriate equipment to use and ensuring that the environment is safe to do so. c) The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH) this involves employers having to identify which hazardous substances are present in the work place and ensure that they are locked away for safety.
The employer/manager To make the workplace safe. To prevent risk’s to health. Ensure that machinery is safe to use. Set up emergency plans. Make sure working conditions all meet health, safety and welfare requirements.
HSC 037 Promote and implement health and safety in health and Social care Health and safety basically means assessing your workplace and reducing the risks. As an employee I have to abide by the health and safety at work act 1974. This means I need to attend any mandatory training I have been put on, go to supervisions, adhere to policies and procedures, use correct equipment, do not misuse faulty equipment, report any risks that I have seen and co-operate with my employer. This is all to ensure the safety of myself and others. My employer must follow the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992, their responsibilities are to provide the mandatory training and supervisions, ensure policies and procedures are put in place, plan, organise, control, monitor and review health and safety arrangements, make sure the equipment is available and to maintain risk assessments and to deal with chemicals and other substances safely.
Reporting of Injury, Disease and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) is relevant as it requires that any infection or disease that is work Related be recorded and reported. There are regulatory bodies such as the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) and the Food Standards Agency (FSA) that produce standards to guide and inform infection prevention and control practices. The HSE is an independent regulator for work-related health, safety and illness; provide information and advice to reduce risks of accidents occurring in the workplace including the spread of
CT308 Understand Health and Safety in Social Care settings Understand the different responsibilities relating to health and safety in social care settings Legislation that relates to health and safety in social care settings are generally covered by the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. This act is the ‘umbrella’ that has been updated and supplemented by all the regulations and guidelines which extend it, support it or explain it. The regulations most likely to affect my workplace are: Manual Handling Regulations 1992(amended 2002) - sets out requirements for manual handling and moving and handling of people. Control of Substances Hazardous to Health regulations 2002 (COSHH) - requires employers to control substances that could cause harm. Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (amended 2008) RIDDOR - sets out what needs to be reported.
Unit 306 Understand health and safety in social care settings Outcome 1 Understand the different responsibilities relating to health and safety in social care settings 1.1 The different legislations that relate to health and safety in social care settings include: Health and safety at work act 1974 – This Act covers occupational health and safety in Briton. Local authorities along with the health and safety executive are responsible for enforcing the act. Manual Handling operations regulations 1992 – This regulation is in place to reduce the risk of injury through manual handling tasks. It applies to a wide range of tasks such as lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling or carrying. Provisions and use of work equipment regulation 1998 – This regulation covers all the equipment I may use while at work.
Health and Safety Key legislation relating to health and safety * The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 * COSHH - Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 * Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 * First Aid – Health and Safety * Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulation 1992 * Food safety Act 2009 * Environment Protecting Act * RIDDOR – Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulation 1995 How policies and procedures protect Service users * By providing clear guidance on expectations of delivery of care * By providing information Employees * By providing guidance and safe procedures to use and follow during our work * Safe ways of working to protect them from dangerous and harmful situations Main health and safety responsibilities of: Employee It is their legal responsibility to use the correct moving and handling techniques that have been taught during training. The principle of safe moving and handling is to protect myself, my colleagues and the service users. It is important that I record each accident that happens to me or that I witness. This complies with RIDDOR legislation. The accident books are reviewed by my management team, and will help to prevent future accidents occurring.
Unit 306 Understand health and safety in social care settings 1.1 Legislation relating to health and safety in a social care setting is the Health and Safety at work Act 1974 (HASAWA) This Act is an umbrella for: * Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 (as amended 2002) * Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) * Reporting of Injuries, and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR) * Health and Safety First Aid Regulations 1981 * Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 1.2 Health and safety policies and procedures protect those in social care settings by making sure that risks in the changing workplace are properly controlled. 1.3 Employers/managers are responsible for ensuring that staff are trained in correct moving and handling procedures, that any equipment that is needed is fit for purpose and regularly maintained, providing adequate first aid facilities, having individual risk assessments for people who use the service, making the workplace safe. Employees are responsible for taking care of their own health and safety, taking reasonable care not to put other people at risk by what they do or fail to do in the course of their work, undertaking training, following companies health and safety policies, reporting any injuries, strains or illness they suffer as a result of doing their job. Others are responsible for respecting and obeying the rules and legislation imposed by authority, following the instructions and guidance provided (such as not using the lift in the event of fire, not blocking fire exits). 1.4 Situations in which the responsibility of health and safety lies with the individual could be when the individual does not comply with assessments and procedures, which mean that they aren’t taking reasonable care of their own or others' safety.