LEGISLATION RELEVANT TO INFECTION CONTROL Health and safety at work act (1974) This is the primary piece of legislation covering occupational health and safety in the UK, and is enforced by the health and safety executive (HSE). It states that the employer has a duty to provide a safe working environment and must carry out full risk assessments in order to achieve this. Employees must also be adequately trained to deal with these risks. In addition, under this act employers also have a duty to protect the welfare of others who may be affected (e.g. patients, visitors).
Kelly-Ann Radcliffe Health and Social Care Unit 4222-264: The Principles of infection Prevention and control Outcome 1: Understand roles and responsibilities in the prevention and control of infections 1:1 Employees’ roles and responsibilities in relation to the prevention and control of infection are set out in the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. This tells workers that they have to do certain things in order to comply with the act and they are: * To take responsibility of there own safety and the safety of others. * To cooperate with your employer regarding health and safety matters. * To not intentionally damage and health and safety equipment provided by your employer. * Attend all training that is provided by your employer.
1.2 EXPLAIN EMPLOYERS’ RESPONSIBILITIES IN RELATION TO THE PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF INFECTION 1.2 The Health and Safety Legislation require that employers have a duty of care to protect employee for example: * Provide a safe workplace * Carry out risk assessments to assess the dangers of certain work activities * Provide training to staff * Provide PPE * Ensure regular health and safety checks are undertaken. The employer should have infection prevention control policies and procedures for the staff. The manager will support and advise the Carer in respect of these procedures. 2.1 OUTLINE CURRENT LEGISLATION AND REGULATORY BODY STANDARDS WHICH ARE
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.
Steven Godwin CU2939 1.1 Every workplace has the legal obligation to abide by The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. Where there are five or more employees a written health and safety policy must be provided and the employer must ensure that all employees have seen it. Employers must also consult with their employees on health and safety matters. The Workplace (Health, Safety & Welfare) Regulations 1992 require workplaces and equipment to be well maintained and there should be suitable and sufficient lighting. During working hours the temperature inside all workplaces should be reasonable and the employer has a general duty to as far as is reasonably practicable safeguard the health, safety and welfare of employees.
Ensuring that they have good hand hygeine techniques is also very important when it comes to the prevention and control of infection. Proper cleaning and decontamintation of equipment and the environment is essential. Employee's may also ensure that they attend all relevant infection control training, and inform their employer if they notice that infection control policies are being ignored, or if relevant equipment or PPE needs to be updated/restocked. 1.2 Employers have legal, organisational and personal responsibilites when it comes to the control and prevention of infection. It is the employers responsibilty to assess the risk of infection or the spread of infection and they must also ensure that all relevant procedures are in place and adhered to by their staff, as well as providing the relevant training for their staff to attend.
1.2 - As an employer all staff should be trained in infection control, to be able to notice potential risks. The correct PPE should be available for staff, staff should have a understanding of infection control polices and procedures. Which should be made available by employer. 2.1- There are a few legislations and regulatory body standards, that are relevant to the prevention and control of infection. The health and safety at work act, which ensures the safety of members
Regular hand-washing with bacterial soap is needed to ensure that no infection is being transferred from the employee to another area. It is the employees’ responsibility to maintain an control any infection using the correct equipment and to so do safely. 1.2 – explain employers’ responsibilities in relation to the prevention and control of infection. It is the employers’ responsibility to provide correct PPE for their employees’ use to maintain a controlled setting. In order for the employees’ to carry out tasks safely and securely they need to supply the right PPE that will be able to prevent and control any infection as well as keeping the employees’ safe.
I do this by disposing of waste correctly, washing hands, cleaning equipment, remaining vigilant and reporting hazards, attending and keeping my infection control training up to date, clean PPE for every person, maintaining personal hygiene,, if someone has an infection I will have to prevent it spreading by being more vigilant and report any changes in their condition and be extra careful to follow all the prevention techniques. 2.2 Explain employers’ responsibilities in relation to the prevention and control infection. Under health and safety legislation employers must prevent employees from being put in danger or harm by providing a safe work place, do risk assessments to assess dangers, provide staff training, provide PPE, carry out health and safety checks regularly. They must protect from risks from biological hazards e.g. blood, infections and bodily fluids.
posting information on notice boards, keeping an information filesuch as COSHH, training, and providing supervision)The need to keep records in relation to infection control using appropriateDocumentationTo provide PPETo ensure that the relevant standards, policies and guidelines are available within the workplace | 2) Understanding legislation and policies relating to prevention and control of infection The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 The recommendations on standard principles provide guidance on infection control precautions that should be applied by all healthcare personnel to the care of patients in community and primary care settings. The recommendations are divided into four distinct interventions: · hand hygiene · the use of personal protective equipment · the safe use and disposal of sharps · education of patients, their carers and healthcare personnel 3) Understand systems and procedures relating to the prevention and control of infection. There are many systems and procedures that provide ways of preventing and controlling of infection. Like receiving regular