Importance of Health and Safety in the Workplace

This document discusses the significance of health and safety in the workplace, focusing on the case study of North Staffordshire combined NHS Trust. It explores the systems, policies, and procedures for communicating information on health and safety, as well as the responsibilities of employers and employees. The document also analyzes the priorities and implications of risk assessments in specific health and social care work environments. Students can find valuable study material and assignments related to health and safety at Desklib.

HEALTH AND SAFETY

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
1.1 Review of systems, policies and procedures for communicating information on health and
safety in the case setting .............................................................................................................1
1.2 Assessment of responsibilities for the management of health and safety at each level
within the North Staffordshire combined NHS Trust................................................................2
1.3 Analysis of health and safety priorities appropriate for North Staffordshire combined NHS
Trust............................................................................................................................................3
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................4
2.2 Analysis of implication of manual planning practices to individual in relation to health and
safety policies..............................................................................................................................5
2.3 Dilemmas encountered in relation to implementing systems and policies of health, safety
and security.................................................................................................................................6
2.4 Analysis of effects of non-compliance with health and safety legislation in South
Birmingham Primary Care Trust workplace...............................................................................6
TASK 3 ...........................................................................................................................................7
3.1 Methods of monitoring and reviewing health and safety practices at South Birmingham
Primary Care Trust......................................................................................................................7
3.2 Analysis of effectiveness of health and safety policies and practices in South Birmingham
Primary Care Trust in promoting a positive health and safety culture ......................................8
3.3 Evaluation of own contribution in placing health and safety needs of individual ...............9
CONCLUSIONS............................................................................................................................10
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................11

INTRODUCTION
In every business organisation, there is some kind of possibility of uncertain accidents,
hazard and risk which may directly affect the health of the employer and employees. In order to
minimise such kind of accidents, uncertain harm and risk, corporation management requires
adopting effective practices, policies, legislation and code of conduct (Acton, 2013).
Furthermore, higher authority of the organisation requires managing business activities in such
manner so as uncertain hazards can decrease from the workplace. For this manner, UK
government has developed various legislation and regulation so as every individual can safe their
health from hazards and risk in the business enterprise. The following project discussed the
various system, policies, procedure for communicating information. Moreover, sort of risk
assessment components by which company can protect their employees has been also addressed
in this report. In addition to this, analysis of the effects of non compliance with health and safety
legislation has also studied in this project. The entire project is bifurcated in to the two case study
and all legislation regarding health and safety has implemented into North Staffordshire
combined health care NHS Trust.
TASK 1
1.1 Review of systems, policies and procedures for communicating information on health and
safety in the case setting
North Staffordshire combined NHS Trust observed that its employer and employees did not
comply with health and safety at work act 1974.Beside this, many employees faced the issue
regarding high rates of accidents, incidence, death and injuries. As per this mismanagement in
the health care organisation, higher authority requires to adopt various health related policies,
system and procedure so as it can able to minimise it (Alakeson, 2013). There are various code
of conducts and regulation related to employees health and safety which should follow by the
cited health care organisation. These are as follows- Health and safety at work act 1974- According to this cat, in every business organisation
employees, employers and contractor have general duty or responsibility to maintain all

process and system of working in such manner so as uncertain accident and risk can
minimise. In the context of North Staffordshire combined NHS Trust, its management
requires to adopt this legislation which has developed by UK government in order to
protect the health of employees in the organisation (Askham, 2005) With assistance of
this legislation, cited organisation can control the unlawful acquisition, possession and
use of dangerous substance and also can control certain emission into the atmosphere.
This system of health and safety also assist to the organisation in terms of employment
medical advisory services. Health and safety regulation 1981-This act requires employers to provide adequate and
appropriate equipment, facilities and personnels to ensure their employees receives
immediate attention if they are injured or taken ill at workplace. North Staffordshire
combined NHS Trust can effectively protect their employees from the hazard and make
their appropriate treatment by this act (Baker and Baker, 2009). This legislation system
is related to the first aid facility through which workers or employees can easily take the
treatment or medical facility if they are injured or face any physical accident at the
workplace. For example, if in the hospital, care workers and staff member has injured
during handling high equipment and providing treatment to patients. In such case,
hospital have responsibility to render initial treatment and medical facilities to them.
 Reporting of injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences regulations 1955-
According to the RIDDOR act, its major responsibilities for employer, self employed or
those in control work premises to report certain work related accidents, certain injuries,
diseases and dangerous occurrences to the relevant enforcing authority, either the local
authority environmental health debt or the health and safety executive (Alakeson, 2013).
1.2 Assessment of responsibilities for the management of health and safety at each level within
the North Staffordshire combined NHS Trust
As per the above discussion it has been ascertained that there are various system, policies and
legislation for protecting the health and safety of employer, employees in the organisation.
Furthermore, in order to implement these mentioned system and legislation, entire organisation is
responsible. In the context of North Staffordshire combined NHS Trust, employer and employees
are equally responsible for managing the health and safety at the workplace. Their
responsibilities are as follows-

 Responsibility of Employer- As per the law of UK government regarding health and
safety in the organisation, employer have major responsibility to protect their employees
and staff member from the uncertain hazards and accidents. In this manner, management
of the North Staffordshire combined NHS Trust requires to conduct the risk assessment
process at every year so that the probability of uncertain accidents and risk can minimise.
In addition to this, employer can also discuss with employees in the context of health and
safety at the workplace (Birnbaum, 2012). Moreover, employer can distributes the
booklets to care workers related to health and safety so as they can gain the knowledge
and guidelines while they deliver care services to service users or operate any operation
at the workplace. One major responsibility of the management or employer of North
Staffordshire combined NHS Trust is that they should organise the proper training
programs so as care workers and staff member can acquire the knowledge about the
working in the organisation. With assistance of this training, many of the accidents and
risk can reduce from the workplace.
 Responsibility of Employees- In the context of health and saferty in the North
Staffordshire combined NHS Trust, employees are also responsible. They have first
responsibility to taking care of their won while deliver care services to patients or use any
equipment at workplace (Brand, 2012) Furthermore, they should take proper guidance
and training related to conduct effective working in the organisation. By use of given
policies, procedure, system, and regulation, the care worker can create a safe environment
in the North Staffordshire combined NHS Trust. Along with this, by maintain proper
record of health issues of services users, care worker can deliver an effective care
services to them.
1.3 Analysis of health and safety priorities appropriate for North Staffordshire combined NHS
Trust
In the North Staffordshire combined NHS Trust, management have various kind of
priorities in order to mange the all function and activities so as it can deliver the best and quality
care services to service users. In the cited organisation, surgical area have major priority to
provide the effective training and development programs to doctors or care worker assistants.
With assistance of this program, they can able to gain the new knowledge, skill and ability about
effective working in the organisation (Buchanan and Carnwell, 2004). Furthermore, by this they

can learn the new and impressive criteria of conducting surgical operation of patients. By this
arrangement, management can increase the potentiality and efficiency of doctors so as they can
deliver quality services to service users. Furthermore, In the context of surgical area, higher
authority have another priority to keep workplace clean and risk-less so every individual can feel
safe and secure. Cleanliness is very important in the North Staffordshire combined NHS Trust so
as various bacteria, viruses and infection can remove from the place. In this manner,
management have priority to disposing of the wastage of the various material such as bandages,
bloody clothes, masks and injections so as infection can decrease from the surgical area. With
assistance of this arrangement, cited organisation can able to maintain clean and good
environment for the service users as well as care workers (Baker and Baker, 2009). In the
context of surgical area, North Staffordshire combined NHS Trust have priority to adopt the risk
assessment process because by use of this it can able to minimise the uncertain hazards and risk
from the workplace. In addition to this, for surgical area management have priority to install such
methods and process through which risk can minimise from the workplace. By use of instruction,
guidance, legislation and system, management can overcome the hazard so implement various
legislation, system and policy is another priority of the North Staffordshire combined NHS.
In addition to this, it can be said that there are number of priorities which need to be
referred by organisation. Policies and legislations need to be followed effectively so that work
standards can be promoted in desired manner. First priority is relating to all kinds of health and
safety measures that need to be taken by care home so that safety of staff and patients should be
given. By application of health and safety measures the issues can be overcome. Along with this,
provision of facilities is also need to be referred effectively. It is a priority of health care home
that they should make proper provision of facilities that need to be given to patients like cold/hot
drinking water facility, separate toilets etc. Moreover, health care firm also need to refer waste
management policies in appropriate manner. It has been noticed that hospital must ensure that
disposal of waste is being taken into account effectively. Proper consideration of measures is
significant because it assists in meeting health care setting.
TASK 2
2.1 Importance of risk assessments in specific health and social care work environment
As per the given case scenario, on the 25 march 2006 in the elderly directorate of
Moseley hall hospital which is a part of the south Birmingham primary care trust. In this case,

two auxiliary nurse were transferring in order to take care of the lady who was 90 year old her
name is Alice Belle. One day, while the nurses using a large sling and a battery operated lifting
hoist in order to bring her from commode to bed, she fell from the sling to the floor and died at
the scene (What is Workplace Health and why is it important?. 2015). According to the HSE's
investigation it has been founded that neither the hoist nor sling was defective but the lady has
slipped from the sling as it was too large. In the September 2007 it was recorded as accidental
death to which neglect contributed.
It has been noticed that risk management is referred as tool and technique which assist in
analysing the risk factor effectively. By having an improved focus on risk assessment aspects the
potential risk can be identified in desired manner. Through using this process different areas cab
be identified where potential risk can be occurred and accordingly different measures can be
taken. With an assistance of this, risk can be identified so that level of health issue can be
controlled in appropriate manner. It helps in offering support to safety policies and procedures to
meet objectives.
As per the above case it can be said that there was an accident due to the high risk. In this
case, risk assessment process should be implemented. Risk assessment is process to determine
the potential harms and analysed what will happen if the hazard happen at workplace (Clark,
2011). By use of risk assessment, information informs about the care planning and
organisational decision making about the policies and procedure. Through this such types of
accident can avoid or overcome at the South Birmingham Primary Care Trust.

In a simple word it can be said that risk assessment is a process of identification,
evaluation and estimation of the level of the risks involved in a situation. It is a systematic
procedure of identifying variables that have the potential to negatively impact an organisation's
ability to conduct business. This process assist in protecting staff members as well as service
users in the South Birmingham Primary Care Trust. As per the concept of risk assessment, cited
organisation care workers or nurses should require to collect the information about the Alice
Belle disability and health issue. According to her disability, they require to arrange the facilities
for living her and develop a proper care planning in order to provide treatment at the South
Birmingham Primary Care Trust (Curtis, 2012). As per the case study it has been clearly
identified that there is ineffectiveness or carelessness of the South Birmingham Primary Care
Trust nurses as result Alice Belle died due to fell down on the floor from the sling. In this
Illustration 1: Health and safety management
(Source:What is Workplace Health and why is it important?. 2015)

manner, cited organisation should properly develop a plan in order to deliver an appropriate care
service to Alice Belle. With assistance of risk assessment process, management can develop a
proper planning for protecting service users from risk and uncertain hazards. Organisation should
develop or carry suitable infrastructure according to the suitability of patients so as they can
easily carry their daily routine work. Further, corporation should maintain good standards of
housekeeping, repair the damaged floor, provide suitable footwear, costume for service users,
clean bath and wash rooms etc. This following information can used by the South Birmingham
Primary Care Trust to formulate the policies and procedure regarding health and safety of
patients.
2.2 Analysis of implication of manual planning practices to individual in relation to health and
safety policies
As per the given case scenario, in the South Birmingham Primary Care Trust the lady
Alice Belle has died due to fell down on the floor from the high sling. In this aspect,
management of cited organisation requires to adopt the risk assessment policies and procedures
so as this kind of incidents can overcome. The major objective of the health and safety policy
and system is to protect the patients and staff member from the uncertain hazards and risk. For
example, to provide the better services to the service users the South Birmingham Primary Care
Trust requires to focus on implement the policies and process in the organisation. In order to
attain this objective, the care workers or doctor have to bring the changes in the organisation
practices such as maintain hygienic environment at workplace, install the fire alarm and smoke
detectors within the South Birmingham Primary Care Trust. Furthermore, health and safety
aspect has made the positive impression on the internal and external customers of the South
Birmingham Primary Care Trust (Greener, 2009). For example, in order to provide the
knowledge about the health and safety awareness, organisation can put on the board an effective
health related slogan. By this, internal and external customer can able to know about the health
and safety facilities of the South Birmingham Primary Care Trust. By use of this practices
patients and their families can acquire the awareness about the uncertain accidents and hazards in
the organisation.
In addition to this, it can be said that by having an appropriate understanding about
stakeholders view points the health and safety policies and issues can be overcome in desired
manner. By analysing the perception of nursing staff the changes in policies can easily be taken

into account. Along with this, by advancing the focus on training process the awareness in regard
to health and safety policies are being improved. It allows to meet key goals and objectives and
ensure that long term opportunities are being attained effectively. It is necessary for stakeholders
to contribute effectively towards long term sustainability so that better opportunities can be
attained. Stakeholders involvement helps in understanding the policies' significance.
2.3 Dilemmas encountered in relation to implementing systems and policies of health, safety and
security
Dilemmas is a situation in which a difficult choice has to be made between two or more
alternatives, especially ones that are equally undesirable. In other word it can be said that
dilemma is a situation which requires a choice between option that are or seem equally
unfavourable or unsatisfactory. In the South Birmingham Primary Care Trust, while
implementing the system, policies and procedure of health and safety, then various kinds of
dilemmas has faced by care workers or nurses. In this manner, social, moral and ethical
dilemmas which are commonly deal in respect of implementing the policies, system and
practices for health and security (Henderson, Chalesworth and Martin, 2010). As per the given
case, Alice Belle was a patient who have fell down from the sling because it was too large. In
this case, care worker can face the dilemma related to the size of sling machine. They can not
able to take the decision regarding the implementation of the sling machine in the organisation.
They can confuse regarding the size of machine because different patients requires different size
of sling. In order to avoid such type of accidents and incident from the workplace, organisation
has decided to implement health and safety policies and procedures for patients at workplace
(What is Workplace Health and why is it important?. 2015).
One another dilemma faced by the care worker of the South Birmingham Primary Care Trust is
that patients have fear while they use the equipment for movement purpose. A patients of 95 year
who was not capable to sit alone without even a support of care worker. Care organisation has
defined under health and safety policies that social workers have it use slings and hoists while
handing and lifting users. But the lady was not comfortable with support equipment and she have
fear that she will fall. Therefore, she has refused it to use support equipment for movement
purpose. This types of situation has created dilemma for the care workers and nurses in the
South Birmingham Primary Care Trust such either they have to listen patients issue and work
according to them or just follow organisation policies.

2.4 Analysis of effects of non-compliance with health and safety legislation in South
Birmingham Primary Care Trust workplace
In the simple word, non compliance refers to fail to respond according with given
commands. In the context of the health and safety legislation, non compliance refers to that
situation while care workers or care organisation is not following rules, regulation, code of
conduct and legislation which has already set by the government at the time of delivering care
services to patients. Under the RIDDOR (The reporting of injuries, diseases and dangerous
occurrences regulation 1995)there is a legal duty of the health and care organisation or any other
corporation in control the work premises to report and record some work related accidents and
injuries. If in case, organisation is failure to report the information about the accident then it
become a criminal offence. In such case organisation's owner can be sentenced in the Magistrates
court with fine up to 20000.According to the given case scenario, the South Birmingham Primary
Care Trust failed to follow the proper guidance and legislation while it delivered treatment to the
90 year old lady Alice Belle. They failed in its duty by exposing the patients to grave risk ans it
has found guilty to breaching section 3(1) of health and safety at work act 1974.This kind of
misconduct and disarrangement is known as non compliance with health and safety legislation
(Moonie, 2000).
As per the case study it has been analysed that there have various effects of non
compliance which has faced by the patient of the South Birmingham Primary Care Trust. The
care worker of the cited organisation have no idea about the types and size of sling should be
used for handling and lifting service users (What is Workplace Health and why is it important?.
2015). From this consequence, the 90 year old lady Alice Belle was slipped from large sling and
dead at the same time. By this situation it can be said that their workers has not followed the
rules and policies which has made by the UK government.
On the other hand the cited organisation has followed unethical things while delivering the care
services to patients then it will influence the quality of the healthcare services. According to the
RIDDOR, cited organisation has liable to pay the remedies to the lady family.

TASK 3
3.1 Methods of monitoring and reviewing health and safety practices at South Birmingham
Primary Care Trust
In order to overcome the risk, hazards and accidents from the South Birmingham
Primary Care Trust, there are various types of methods through which corporation can monitor
and review the health and safety practices. These methods are as follows- Audit of risk- With assistance of this method, organisation can set the high level standard
of the health and safety. By this carer workers and staff member are bound to implement
all legislation and regulation while they deliver care services to patients. By using health
and safety management system, UK government can easily identify whether the care
home follow the legislation and policies or not in order to render the safety to service
users and service provider (Morath and Turnbull, 2004). While the South Birmingham
Primary Care Trust conduct the audit then it can improve the quality of care services
because management can identify whether policy and legislation are followed or not by
the care worker. Measure the effectiveness- This is the best method to monitor and review the health and
safety practices at the South Birmingham Primary Care Trust. In this manner,
organisation measures the numbers of hazard and risk incurred and their impact on the
service users as well as care worker (Niles, 2010). With assistance of this measurement,
organisation can easily measure the effectiveness of health and safety policy.
Furthermore, by use of this measurement, organisation can also improve the existing
policy and system.
 Risk assessment- This is another method for monitor and review the health and safety
policy under which hazard can easily determine. With assistance of this, South
Birmingham Primary Care Trust can identified who might be harmed from the hazards
and the existing health and safety policy are suitable or not for protect the service users
and service provider from harm (Tributor, 2014). Apart from that, by this organisation
can also identified new area if risk and develop new policy for them so as each one can
safely live in the organisation.

3.2 Analysis of effectiveness of health and safety policies and practices in South Birmingham
Primary Care Trust in promoting a positive health and safety culture
As per the given case study, it has been ascertained that existing health and safety policy
and practices of the South Birmingham Primary Care Trust a positive. In the cited organisation,
they are used hoist for patients who can not move without the help or support from other. This
arrangement provided by the organisation in order to protect them from risk of hazards. The
effectiveness of this thing is it will develop a mutual trust between the staff member and service
users (Your employer's duty of care in practice. 2015). In addition to this, fire alarm, anti
smoking are another effective polices in order to protect the patients and service provider in the
South Birmingham Primary Care Trust. With assistance of this policies and practices,
organisation can make the better arrangement for the patients and service providers so as they
can happily survive at the organisation (Nolan, 2005). These positive impact put on the culture of
the South Birmingham Primary Care Trust. By this policies and practices, all staff members can
safely survive their activities and function in order to deliver quality care services to patients.
3.3 Evaluation of own contribution in placing health and safety needs of individual
Being a senior care worker in the South Birmingham Primary Care Trust I have various
roles and responsibility toward organisation. The major objective of cited organisation is to
provide better treatment and care services to patients so as they can improve their health issues
and disability (Your responsibilities. 2015). In this context, I have to give the best contribution in
order to identify the requirement of services user and make effective services for them. For this
objective I have to evaluate my own contribution thus I can coordinate and support with staff
members and enhance the quality of care services. In order to make organisation working
effective and deliver impressive health and safety to service users and service provider, I have
identified various policies and practices related to the South Birmingham Primary Care Trust
like anti smoking, keep floor clean, fire alarm etc (Shanks and Buchbinder, 2011). For
implementation of this mentioned policies and practices I have to develop a systematic
documentation. The purpose of this documentation is to get aware of all care worker and staff
member about the uncertain hazards and accidents. In addition to this, I have to conduct the risk
assessment process through which I can diagnose how many hazards and risk are available at the
workplace. With assistance of this process I can develop strategies to decrease their impact on

the service users and care worker. I have another responsibility to maintain the records and report
of all hazard and risk of the organisation soi as I can control their impact on the people.
I have noticed that while working in the care home I have made my contribution in the
process of formulating health and safety policies. It was essential for me to evaluate the needs of
patients so that better policies and activities can be framed in order to meet objectives. By having
improved focus on needs identification I have suggested various methods to boost the application
of safety measures. Health improvement of patients was my key motive which has helped me to
meet key goals and objectives. I have also participated effectively in risk assessment process so
that it can be analysed that which areas of working needs an improvement. I have also provided
support to my co-worker so that better support can be offered to application of health and safety
standards. It is also one of my key duty to make sure that proper guidance is being offered to
members so that health and safety measures can be attained. I need to ensure that proper
instructions is being provided to followers so that goals and objectives can be taken into account.
In order to maintain the key values I have also focused on number of standards such as inform
my seniors in emergency situations, etc.
In order to improve the entire process and system of health safety in the South
Birmingham Primary Care Trust, I can conduct the feedback option for service users. In this
option, I can gather the views and recommendation of the patient related to the organisation
policies and procedure of health and safety. If there are any lacking related to the same then I
will communicate to the manager for improve them (Health and Safety Audits. 2015). One of the
major responsibility is that I have to check the performance of subordinates so as they can give
their best contribution in order to achieve organisation objective. Being a senior acre worker in
the South Birmingham Primary Care Trust I have to responsible to make organisation
environment effective so as every one can safely and happily survive their activities. The have
effectively coordinate and support to subordinates so as collective working can arise at the
workplace.

CONCLUSIONS
Health and safety is major concern in health and care organisation so various sort of
legislation and code of conduct has been formulated by the UK government. The entire project is
bifurcated among the three part and each one have described by the case study. From this project
report it has been concluded that health acre organisation should follow all legislation, policies
and procedure which made by government in order to protect employees and employer. There
are various kind of method through which management can monitor and review the policies such
as risk assessment, measure effectiveness and risk audit. It has been also concluded that not only
employer are responsible to develop safe and secure environment in the health and care
organisation but employees are also responsible to maintain health and safety at workplace.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals