Health and Safety

Unit 208

Aims and objectives

Aim(s)

This unit will help you to understand your responsibilities under health and safety law. You will learn how to carry out risk assessments, protect the people you care for, keep yourself safe and respond to emergencies.

Objectives:

1. By the end of this unit you will be able to:

2. Understand the different responsibilities relating to health and safety in social care settings.

3. Understand risk assessments and their importance in relation to health and safety.

4. Understand procedures for responding to accidents and sudden illness.

5. Understand how to reduce spread of infection.

6. Understand how to move and handle equipment and other objects safely.

7. Understand the principles of assisting and moving an individual. 8. Understand how to handle hazardous substances. 9. Know and Understand how to promote environmental safety

procedures in the social care setting. 10. Know and Understand how to manage stress. 11. Understand procedures regarding handling medication. 12. Understand how to handle and store food safely.

What could happen?

Near-miss Minor injury

Major injury Death

The costs of failure

Health and safety law is Criminal Law

Failure to manage health and safety can result in:

prosecution, fines and imprisonment compensation claims loss of output or service replacement costs loss of reputation Death, injury,

Good health and safety standards tend to contribute to:

Reduction in accidents and injuries.Happy healthy motivated workforce.Reduction in sick leave, good reputation.Increased performance and profit.Good relationships with enforcement agencies.Increased job security.

Why we need good health & safety standards

If I ignore health and safety what could happen to me personally ?

• Injury to yourself • Disciplinary action • Prosecution (especially if an accident is caused by you

ignoring safety instructions) • A possible fine• Possible imprisonment

COMMON LAW

duty of one individual to another - “Duty of Care”

STATUTE LAW

• Criminal Law• duty between individual and the state

Legal duties

Research Acivity Health and Safety Legislation

Working in pairs and using the online resources provided, prepare a flipchart diagram of key health and safety legislation including a brief outline of the key features of each act or set of regulations.

A short guide to health and safety legislation (overview)

Diseases and injuries

Moving people and objects

Chemicals etc.

Equipment for lifting

Fire safety

Move toNext Exercise

Reporting of Injuries ,Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences (RIDDOR)

(1995)

Places a legal duty on employers and self-employed

people to report the following to the Health and Safety Executive:

work-related deathsmajor injuriesover three-day injurieswork-related diseasesdangerous occurrences (near miss accidents)

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• COSHH is the law that requires employers to control substances that are hazardous to health. You can prevent or reduce workers exposure to hazardous substances by:

finding out what the health hazards are;deciding how to prevent harm to healthproviding control measures to reduce harm to health;making sure they are used ;

Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations (2002)

Take me back

The Manual Handling Operations Regulations (1992): Employer responsibilities

The Regulations require the employer to:

Eliminate or reduce the risk to employees

Reduce the risk to the lowest possible level by ‘reasonably

practicable' means

To avoid manual handling practices wherever reasonably

practicable

To carry out, and update risk assessments of any remaining

manual handling risks where they cannot be eliminated

Reduce manual handling risks, introduce measures to reduce the

risk Provide information, supervision and training to employees

MHOR: 1992; Employee's Responsibilities

Ensure own safety, take care of themselves and others Follow instructions, training and supervision provided by the

employer. Make proper use of equipment and follow safe working

systems; Co-operate with their employer; Ensure others are not put at risk.

Take me backClick for more info

Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER) 1998

Generally, the Regulations require that lifting equipment is:

Strong and stable enough for the particular use Positioned and installed to minimise any risks Used safely, the work is planned, organised and performed

by competent people Thorough examination and inspection by competent

people

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Places the onus on individuals within an organisation to carry out risk assessments to identify, manage and reduce the risk of fire.

The responsible person must provide;

Means of escape Signs and notices Emergency lighting Fire alarm

Fire extinguishersFire doorsTraining Risk assessments

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order (2005)

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Responsibility for health and safety

The social care worker

Whilst on shift, the care worker must look out for potential hazards and be prepared to take the appropriate actions to report them.

It is a care worker’s legal duty to look after him/herself and those in his/her care.

The care worker also has a legal responsibility to comply with agreed ways of working; use equipment correctly, do not try to do anything he/she is not trained to do and follow procedures as set out by the organisation in accordance with the code of practice.

The employer or manager

Employers and managers must provide a written policy for health and safety if they employ five or more people. Policy documents must set out the responsibilities, arrangements and instructions for all health and safety procedures.

Managers must ensure that new staff are inducted and trained before they carry out any task. They must also ensure that necessary protection (such as gloves) and health checks are available.

Residents and/or visitors

Residents and visitors also have responsibilities to keep themselves safe and secure and to help keep the environment safe, secure and clean.

Special training

Special training may include:

First aidFood safetyFire safetyManual handlingInfection control proceduresControl of hazardous wasteUse of specialist equipment

Often, special training is necessary before a care worker is able to carry out certain tasks

TASK

Using the ‘Special Training’ worksheet, and working individually, please consider the consequences of performing the tasks listed without prior training. Write your answers in the ‘consequences’ section of the worksheet.

In pairs please explain

• What is a hazard?

• What is a risk?

What is a hazard?

A hazard is something that has the potential to cause harm

What is a Risk?

Risk is the probability that harm will occur

Why do we have risk assessments?

Click for guidance on risk assessment

Risk Assessments

Purpose of carrying out risk assessments is to:

Identify & reduce dangers in the workplaceComply with legislationSupply the employee with information on

hazards/risks in the workplaceSpecialized assessments are sometimes required

Risk Assessments 5 steps

Identify the hazards Decide who might be harmed and how Evaluate the risks and decide on control measures* Record your findings and implement them Review your assessment and update if necessary

*Remember that control measures will include any training needed to use the right equipment or to follow correct procedures

Risk Assessment Forms

What is the likelihood of harm?

Level Descriptor Description

5 Almost Certain

Likely to occur on many occasions, a persistent issue

4 Likely Will probably occur but it is not a persistent issue

3 Possible May occur occasionally

2 Unlikely Do not expect it to happen but it is possible

1 Rare Cannot believe that this will ever happen

Managing emergenciesComplete worksheet

In groups, think about the following emergencies, how would you manage these emergencies, and more importantly, how would you prevent them happening?

FireGas leakFloodsIntruder on the premisesSecurity breach

Emergency plans

• What would you want to see in an emergency plan?

Procedures following an accident or sudden illness

A quick review of moving and handling

https://www.rpharms.com/social-care-settings-pdfs/the-handling-of-medicines-in-social-care.pdf

The handling of medicines in social care

Procedure following and accident or sudden illness

A first aid course will help you to recognise the signs and symptoms of certain types of sudden illness or injury. Remember: if you have not been trained to do it, don’t do it. However, there are some general procedures that should be followed in case of emergency:

Remove any sources of danger and quickly assess the person to see if he or she is breathing. You must do this by gently shaking the person’s shoulders and asking loudly if he/she is alright.

If there is little or no response, shout for help[.

Check the breathing by gently tilting the person’s head back for no more than ten seconds.

If the person is not breathing get someone to dial 999

If you are trained to do so, administer CPR (cardio-pulmonary resuscitation.

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Safe moving and Handling

The Manual Handling Operations Regulations (1992) set out a series of steps that organisations should follow:

If the lifting manoeuvre must be carried out, you should assess the risk of injury using T.I.L.E.

T = the task: what does this involve doing in terms of bending or twisting or lifting?

I = the individual: what is his or her weight and general health?

L = the load: is the person difficult to grip and handle and what equipment may be needed?

E = environment: consider the space, any slippery surfaces and the ‘end’ place where you want to be

Take me back

As a health and social care worker what might we need to think about before we move or handle a person?

Assess the situationRead the person’s risk assessment/ care planAsk the person first if it is ok to move themExplain what you do as you do itCheck all equipment before you use any aidsUse appropriate aids & according to instructionsKnow your own handling capacityAsk for help if you need it

Things to consider before you move a person

Infection control

Bacteria and viruses invade the body through a variety of

routes;

Respiratory system- coughs, sneezing Digestive system- food, drink The skin- cuts or broken skin Bodily fluids- blood, urine, faeces, vomit

How can we reduce infections in the work place?

Quick Brainstorm

Reducing Infections

Wash hands thoroughly Use protective clothing i.e. gloves, aprons, face masks,

goggles, Cover cuts or breaks in the skin Follow food hygiene requirements Deal with waste properly Use clean equipment

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Health and Personal hygiene

• Your personal health is important to consider in preventing the spread of infection

• If you have an infection, you need to notify your manager who will assess the risk to the people with whom you work.

• Poor personal hygiene can be a risk to the people you support• Wearing clean clothes, washing hands, tying back long hair

and good personal hygiene are all important• You should always ear any protective clothing provided

How to wash your hands!

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=sjpWwjzCbrw

Stress in social care

• What kind of stresses do you think there are in the role of a health and social care worker?

Standard 8 Guidance and support for all topics in Unit 208