Health and Safety Procedures in the Workplace

This assignment focuses on health and safety protocols within a work environment. It delves into topics such as fire safety procedures, including alarm usage, extinguisher operation, and evacuation routes. The importance of maintaining clear evacuation paths and ensuring others are aware of one's whereabouts is emphasized. The document also explores stress indicators, both common signs and personal triggers, and compares various stress management strategies.

Running Head: HEALTH AND SAFETY IN HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE
Health and safety in health and social care
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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1.1
Identify legislation relating to health and safety in a health or social care work setting
In the social care setting the legislations identified related to health and safety is:
1. Management of Health and Safety at work regulations (1992)
2. Health and safety at work act 1974
3. Control of substances hazardous to health regulation (COSHH)
4. Reporting of the diseases, injuries, and dangerous occurrence regulations
(RIDDOR)
5. Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 (PPE)
1.2
Explain the main points of health and safety policies and procedures agreed with the
employer
1. Management of Health and Safety at work regulations (1992) - These policies
include the regulations for working condition and use of equipments in the work
environment.
2. Health and safety at work act 1974- These policies mentioned the agreed ways of
working with the staff. It highlights the code of practice in the social care setting
related to health and safety.
3. Control of substances hazardous to health regulation (COSHH)- Further, it
contains instructions on handing the hazardous substances such as disposal

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method for wastes, storage of chemicals and guides on procedures for personal
safety.
4. Reporting of the diseases, injuries, and dangerous occurrence regulations
(RIDDOR) - The policies and procedure describe the ways to deal with the
accidents and injuries during the emergency care services. The methods of dealing
with the emergency include reporting and recording of procedures and activities
during the first aid situations such as hygiene practices.
5. Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 (PPE)- regulates the
use of gloves, masks, and other equipments to avoid personal harm-It pertains to
the regulation for use of electrical or mechanical equipment with personal
protection required for handling and moving the patients. The policies mention
the guidelines on maintaining the food hygiene and infection control.
1.3
Analyse the main health and safety responsibilities of:
Self: Own health and safety responsibilities include taking care of personal heath and
maintaing safety of personal property. Personal responsibility also includes adherence to the
agreed ways of working with the employer and implementing the relevant legislation.
Improvement in the profession by training and updating as required for instance, seek training
for administering specific medications. Adherence to the safety measures such as hand hygiene
practiced us of personal protective equipment wherever necessary. Recording and document any
events of concern to reduce risks and remove obstacles to fire safety measures.

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The employer/Manager: The responsibilities of the employer or manager are to provide
the staff the information about the risks of hazards in the health and social care setting. They
provide necessary information on how to do the job safely, areas requiring improvement,
provision of training for employees needing guidance on first aid treatment in emergency
department and when to use the personal protective equipment such as gloves, mask, and other
information of HSC/E. The role of the manager is also to provide the information of the Health
and Safety Law and required necessary contact details. They inform about the responsibilities of
the other members who have commissioned their own health or social care services, advocates,
other team members, families, care providers and social care services. Timely monitoring of
awareness of this information among staff and taking actions to improve is the main
responsibility of the manger.
Others in the health care setting: health carers and the social workers are responsible
to deliver services that will lead to greatest good of the patients, while implementing the relevant
legislations, guidelines and code of ethics. They are to express their needs and preferences in the
setting and promote own health and care.
1.4
Identify specific tasks in the work setting that should not be carried out without special
training
Specific tasks in the work setting that should not be carried out without special training
are as follows:

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 Using slings and hoists
 Chemicals and use of hazardous waste
 Disposal of wastes
 Administering of medication and distribution
 Moving and handling patients with disability (when assisting with activities of
daily living)
 First aid in emergency event
 Distributing and administering medication
 Food handling
 Care plan for a patient
2.1
How do you in your work place use policies and procedures or other agreed ways of
working that relate to health and safety
For moving people and handling objects in the manner to avoid hazards, the policy is
implemented is “Manual Handling Operation Regulations 1992”. To control infection and
effectively disposing the hazardous substances, the COSHH regulation will be used. To report
accidents RIDDOR will be used and food hygiene will be maintained in accordance with the
Food Safety Act 1990. The health and safety policies and procedures agreed with the employer
mainly emphasise on the set of orders mentioned in the policy statement that needs to be
followed in the health and the social care setting by the care providers and the organisation to
maintain safe environment.

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2.2
How do you support others to understand and follow safe practices
Supporting others in identifying the hazards and evaluating the risks posed by them is
effective in explaining about safe practices. Others can be supported by explaining the relevant
regulation and the guidelines to be used in the workplace. Demonstrating others about safe
practices such as immediately cleaning water spilled on floor will help create awareness on
maintaining safe practices. Training is another effective method to support people to conduct
safe practices.
2.3
How do you monitor and report potential health and safety risks
Whenever any risk is recognised it must be reported immediately. Before taking the
precautions it is necessary to measure the level of risk. In case the existing methods are not
enough and there is a need of new methods, it will be immediately reported to managers. Any
delay in reporting ay creates the greater risk to a person’s health and safety. It is paramount to
cooperate with the senior by documenting the defective personal protective equipments and if
there is any scarcity. Falls slips and spill on floor should be maintained as daily records and
communicated so that the problem is addressed immediately.
2.4
How do you use risk assessment in relation to health and safety

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Risk assessment in relation to health and safety is essential. It is useful in addressing the
ethical dilemmas with regards to health and safety and rights. Once risk assessment is conducted,
appropriate plan can be made and executed. In conjunction with the GSCC code of practice,
reporting any potential risk in the workplace helps prevent harm and loss of life. It will help
prevent unnecessary lawsuits and the prosecution of the organisation.
2.6
How do you access additional support or information relating to health and safety
Reading about the organisational procedures and policies, will help access the additional
support. Further support can be accessed by communicating with the mentor, supervisor, and
person in charge at the work place. It may include the first aider, and fire safety officer. Further
information can be obtained from government websites like www.hse.gov.uk, www.gov.uk, and
others.
3.1
Describe different types of accidents and sudden illness that may occur in own work setting
Different types of accidents that may occur in own work setting are:
 Needle stick injuries,
 Falls
 Slip and trips
 Burn and scalds
 Injuries due to specialled equipments
 Accidental poisoning

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 Injuries from operating machinery, electrocution
Illnesses that may occur in own work setting are-
 Heart stroke,
 Epileptic convulsion
 Diabetic coma
3.2
Explain procedures to be followed if an accident or sudden illness should occur
Procedures to be followed during sudden illness are-
 Maintaing individual’s safety- immediate clearing of area, remain calm, safe
handling of equipment, provide first aid if trained
 Assessment of the individual- for injury, call for help, observe for changes in the
condition and risk assessment
 Provide full verbal report on the incident to others in the setting
 Record the incident and document the details as per RIDDOR
 Work in accordance with the agreed ways of working with the employer
4.1
Explain own role in supporting others to follow practices that reduce the spread of
infection
Own role in supporting others to follow practices that reduce the spread of infection
includes-

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 Demonstrating the agreed method of hand washing in the organisation- use of the
five steps in hand washing recommended by the Department of Health. It includes
wet hands, through amply of soap, scrubbing between fingers, and thumbs ad
back of the hands, rinse and dry thoroughly
 Demonstrating the ways to maintain personal hygiene and own health while
reducing risk to others at work. It includes covering mouth when coughing and
sneezing, proper dressing of wounds, using disposable tissues, prompt treatment
of illness and stay away from work until illness is recovered
5.1
Explain the main points of legislation that relates to moving and handling
The main points of legislation that relates to moving and handling are-
 The Health and Safety at Work ACT 1974-
 The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992-
These regulations cover risk factors of the manual handling and how injuries occur
5.2
Explain principles for safe moving and handling
The principles for safe moving and handling include avoiding the injury by using the
guidelines (e.g. to manage the hazardous waste), assessing the injury (musculoskeletal injury due
to incorrect posture) and reducing the risk of injury (from manual handling of the harmful
chemicals or hazardous substance). It is important to assess the working environment for the

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tasks, load and the individual competencies, presence of coordinated approach and working with
good communication. Safe moving and handling include use of mechanical aids such as hoists
wherever necessary, seek appropriate help wherever necessary, by using agreed ways of
working, using equipments as per guidelines and report any potential hazardous activity.
6.1
Describe types of hazardous substances that may be found in the work setting
Types of hazardous substances that may be found in the work setting according to
COSHH regulations includes substances that are corrosive in natures such as acids, toxic in
nature as medicines, irritants as cleaning fluid, highly inflammable solvents and chemicals.
Other hazardous substances include clinical waste and germs, used material such as needles,
body fluids, and dressings. Other hazardous substances such as cleaning chemicals, dust (flour),
gaseous (chlorine), fumes and living organisms such as fungal spores. These hazardous
substances damage the body by coming into contact with eyes and skin or wound and through
respiratory system
7.1

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Describe practices that prevent fires from
 Starting
 Spreading
To prevent fire from starting it is effective to use the smoke detectors and conduct the fire
test (PAT testing) every week. It will help in identifying the potential fire hazards. Good
housekeeping is required to prevent the start of the fire. It is effective to switch of the electric
appliances when not in use. It is safe to keep the cables in the offices tidy and not overloading
the sockets. Ensure all the staff is aware of using fire safety equipment and if not training should
be provided so that a person knows how a fire starts and spreads. All the staff must know the
source if fire in the workplace such as lit cigarette, hot surfaces, naked flames, and defective
electrical equipment.
To prevent the spread of fire there is a need of strict vigilance in the workplace and risk
of assessment procedures and other safe practices. The safe practices for fires caused by the
combustible materials (such as wood) include use of chemical extinguisher and water. If the fire
is caused by flammable liquids or gases then it can be prevented from spreading by use of the
carbon dioxide extinguishers. These extinguishers can be used to prevent the spreading of the
fire caused by combustible metals such as magnesium. Dry chemicals can be used to prevent the
spread of fire caused by electricity. Fire blankets also serve well t prevent spreading.
7.3

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Explain emergency procedures to be followed in the event of a fire in the work setting
The emergency procedures includes-
 Raise of fire alarms after immediately discovering the fire- operate the fire alarm
system by use of agreed methods
 Use of different types of fire extinguishers, fire safety equipments and fire
blankets
 Evacuation procedure includes use of designated routes, closing all the doors,
avoid using lifts, use of evac chairs for patients with disability, use of knowledge
of evacuation routes and assembly points, regular evacuation drills, having clear
evacuation routes (keeping the fire exits and doorways clear)
7.4
How do you ensure that clear evacuation routes are maintained at all times
To ensure that clear evacuation routes are maintained all the exits will be made clear by
removing the obstructions such as materials or furniture in the way of evacuation, dead ends, and
locked doors. By ensuring that all the exit signs are operating properly and the routes are
intuitive. Further, evacuation safety can be ensured by restructuring of exit routes during
construction, repairs, or alterations to the facility. Marking all the routes to exit will allow safe
travel during the fire.
8.3

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Explain the importance of ensuring that others are aware of own whereabouts
It is important to ensure that others are aware of own whereabouts because it will protect
the staff from kidnap or assault when caring for the client. In case of accidents like fire, it will be
easy to sign in and for fire brigade; it is easy to know how many people are struck in a building.
It will aid in smooth evacuation. It will protect own security as well others.
9.1
Describe common signs and indicators of stress
The common signs and symptoms of stress as per Health and Safety Executive are-
 Physical signs and symptoms- nausea, pain, ache, chest pain, rapid heartbeat,
dizziness, muscle tension, constipation
 motional signs such as depression, short temper, irritability, agitation, feeling
overwhelmed, sense of loneliness
 Cognitive signs and symptoms- inability to concentrate, memory problem,
irrational thinking,
 Behavioural signs and symptoms- eating more or less, alcohol and drug abuse,
constant worrying, starting fights
9.2

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Describe signs that indicate own stress
Signs indicting own stress includes- anger, poor judgement, poor concentration.
Irritability, engagements in fights, and violence, and disturbed sleep pattern.
9.3
Analyse factors that tend to trigger own stress
Factors that determine own stress includes change in the work routine, unable to meet the
workplace targets, difficulty handling conflicting situations, challenges due to interpersonal
relationship with the colleagues, bereavement due to loss of loved ones, injury, illness, unable to
meet the manager’s demands, financial problems.
9.4
Compare strategies for managing stress
There are different strategies for managing stress-
Use of counselling services are one of the effective methods for managing stress. These
professionals use various evidence based practices to frame and reframe the thoughts of the
patient that will help cope up with stress. In comparison to these methods, engaging in exercises,
walking, self-awareness activities are more effective as participants are actively involved in these
interventions. A combination of both may be more effective in terms of health outcomes. Self
awareness helps in developing the positive ways to cope with the stress and thus combination of
these interventions are needed. Single intervention like taking deep breath may only give short
term benefits. On the other hand occupational health advisor provide intervention that is long
lasting in stress reduction.