Understand health and safety in social care settings

UNDERSTANDING HSC

1.1 Legislation related to health and safety in a social care setting
There are legislations related to health and safety in a social care setting, among which few
are Manual handling regulation 1992, Health and safety at work act 1974, Management of Health
and Safety at work regulations 1992 and COSHH (Control of substances hazardous to health
regulation).
1.2 Way in which health and safety policies and procedures protect those in social care settings
In a social care setting these types of policies are very helpful in setting up instructions
and orders which has to be followed by health care organizations and staffs. It ensures that all
services are provided to patients in a proper manner. These act as guidelines which help patients
to get improved services by health care organizations.
1.3 Differences in the main health and safety responsibilities
Social care workers: They are responsible to provide proper care and attention to
patients. He/she works under the supervision of care managers who guide them so as to work
effectively.
Employer or manager: They have vast knowledge regarding the various types of issues
and problems which patients may be facing.
Others in social care setting: Other peoples are also helpful in providing care and
support to patients, in managing the beds, laundering, etc.
1.4 Situations in which responsibility for health and safety lies with the individuals
There are many situations in which individuals have the responsibility for health and safety
which are like touching faulty electrical equipment in spite of warning, not putting a cigarette out
properly after smoking and ignoring their own medication thereby allowing small children to
swallow it.
1.5 Reasons because of which specific task should only be carried out with special training
There are many equipments and things which have to be operated in order to provide
adequate services and in this context, it is very important to have trained employees who would
be capable enough to perform their roles effectively. Employees at health care should be able to
understand their patient’s issue and accordingly, treatment should be provided. In this context, it
is important to have people who got proper training.
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1.6 Ways to access additional support and information related to health and safety
There are many ways through which additional support and information related to health
and safety can be gathered. One can get information by talking to managers or by talking to
supervisors. People with high experience like colleagues at health care can be interacted so as to
get proper information related to health and safety.
2.1 Importance to assess health and safety risks
There is a lot of importance of assessing health and safety risk because through this,
hazards can be identified and chances of harm can be minimized. Along with that, working
practices can be transformed to safer way. Also, it provides better opportunities for people who
have learning disabilities. Last but not the least; it will also help in increasing awareness among
people at health and safety organizations.
2.2 Steps to carry out a risk assessment
The steps are as follows:
Figure 1: Steps to carry out risk assessment
2.3 Way to address potential health and safety risks identified
Risk should be immediately reported to supervisor so that they could take immediate
steps in order to reduce the risk. Once the information is provided, then it is the duty of
supervisor to look upon the risk and to reduce it.
2.4 Risk assessment can help to address dilemmas between an individual's rights and health and
safety concerns
Assessment of risk is very helpful in dilemmas between an individual's rights and health
and safety. This possible by making individuals like services users or people working at health
care organizations they all should be informed regarding the risk which exists.
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2.5 Ways to promote health and safety within social care setting
Ways through which health and safety in social and health care setting can be promoted are
like using safe procedures and techniques, providing training to healthcare professionals towards
health and safety risks and carrying out health and safety risk assessment plan. In addition to this,
creating a health and safety leaflet and providing staff with the same will also prove to be very
helpful. Apart from that, having regular staff meetings to discuss issues with respect to health
and safety would play a significant role in the same.
3.1 Different types of accidents and sudden illness that may occur in a social care setting
There are many accidents and sudden illness that may occur in a social care like people
can fall down from stairs in case they misplace any foot, employees can burn themselves while
smoking as well as it may also happen that while making hot tea they would scald themselves on
a kettle.
3.2 Procedures to be followed if an accident or sudden illness would occur
Some steps are there which should be followed during accidents or sudden illness which
includes immediate action should be taken for the accident which has been occurred and training
should be provided to care workers so that they take immediate steps of overcome illness or
accidents.
3.3 Reasons of importance for emergency first aid tasks only to be carried out by qualified first
aiders
Reasons for which in case of emergency, first aid tasks need to be carried out by qualified
first aiders is that they have the knowledge regarding what steps should be taken in case of any
sudden emergency or accident. Also, risk can be minimized effectively as well as both injuries
and illnesses can be treated by them in the most effective manner.
3.4 Consequences of failing to follow emergency first aid procedures
If proper procedure is not followed, then there are chances of increase in injury or illness.
Infected person fall into saviour conditions and it may also take extra day to overcome the
problem.
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4.1 Routes by which an infection can get into the body
Infection can get into the body through broken skin; eating or drinking; insect bites as well
as through respiratory or breathing.
4.2 Various provision methods
Hand wash: It is always recommended to wash hands before having food as it saves for
getting caught by illness.
Personal hygiene: Consuming hygiene food will help in protecting ourselves for illness
like obesity, heath issues, etc.
Encouraging individual's personal hygiene: Individual's should be informed regarding
the issues or problems which may cause of not having proper hygienic food.
4.3 Different types of personal protective equipment and how they can prevent the spread of
infection
There are many types of equipment which are been used by care provider. Hand gloves
have to be used by health providers for the whole day (Munro, 2014); Scarf is used in order to
protect health providers from infection through breathing. In this way, people can prevent
themselves through various infections.
4.4 Own role in supporting others to follow practices that reduce the spread of infection
In order to reduce the spread of infection, my role is to make myself as well as others to
adhere with practices related for washing hands regularly. Also, making sure that others follow
hand sanitation practices can also reduce the chances of infection along with taking training on
the way to prevent spread of infection with showing examples of the right procedures.
5.1 Legislation that relates to moving and handling
In order to ensure that the handling and moving of equipments are been done effectively,
then there legislation like Health and Safety at Work 1974. According to this legislation, it aims
at providing safe and healthy environment where accidents and injuries are been reduced.
Manual Handling Operations Regulations is helpful to look after manual handling of equipments.
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5.2 Ways through which principles for safe moving and handling protects those in the social care
setting from injury or harm
Making proper plan before lifting, taking load on waist, adopting stable position and
smooth movement are the ways through which principles for safe moving and handling protects
those in the social care setting from injury or harm:
5.3 Situations that may require additional supports necessary for safer moving and handling
Situations that may require additional supports for safer moving and handling are in case
of physical and mental disability as well as for old adults and children with special development
needs.
5.4 Importance for moving and handling tasks to be carried out following specialist training
Before providing anyone with the task to move heavy equipments, then it is important to
convey information regarding the legislation and providing proper training so that moving the
equipments could be effectively done. Providing training is helpful in minimising risk of injury
and in injuring the equipment.
6.1 Important to have specialist training before assisting and moving an individual
Again training is essential before assisting and moving an individual so as to meet the
need and requirements effectively. Without proper training assisting and moving individual is an
act of breaking the law. Training would help in reducing risk and in developing confidence
among patients that they can rely fully on the service provider.
6.2 Potential consequences of assisting and moving an individual without specialist training
Consequences of assisting and moving an individual without specialist training are like it
increases the risk of getting injuries and can also make the situation worse. However, it can be
ignored that assisting and moving individuals without specialist training is punishable by law.
6.3 Consequences of not following an individual's care plan or fully engaging with them when
assisting and moving
It is a detailed information regarding the patient and if this not followed properly, then this
will negatively affect the health of patient. The determined time in which illness or injury may be
cured may not happen if the care plan is not followed.
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6.3 Consequences of not following an individual's care plan or fully engaging with them when
assisting and moving
There are many equipments which have to be handled while assisting and moving
individuals and if this is done without proper training, then it would be a risk for the patient. In
order to do it effectively person who have proper training should only be given the task to move
and assess individual.
7.1 Different types of hazardous substances that may be found in the social care setting
Different types of hazardous substances that may be found in the social care setting are
poor electricity; slippery floors; improper footwear; poor storage facility and insecure storage.
7.2 Safe practices
a. Storing hazardous substances: hazardous substances should be stored in a safe place where it
cannot be reached easily.
b. Using hazardous substances: Use of gloves and other cautious materials should be used so
that it may not affect the health negatively.
c. Disposing of hazardous substances: Disposing of hazardous substances should disposed in
those areas which causes less contamination.
7.3 Dangers associated with not following these safe practices
If safe practice are not followed, then there are changes of getting injuries or accidents
and may also have great impact over health. In case the hazardous substances if get in contact
with other chemicals, then there are changes of explosions as well.
8.1 Procedures to be followed in the social care setting to prevent
Fire: In order to prevent fire it is important to have check over the electronic appliances
that they are been turned off after use.
Gas leaks: It is very dangerous and so it is essential to check that all gas related
equipments are been turned off after use this includes heaters, cookers and gas fires.
Floods: It is very important for all the employees to know how to switch off the main
supply of water in order to reduce the situation of flood.
Intruding: It is a situation in which one gets into trouble because of someone else. It is
recommended that one should save his/her own life, after that they should try to save others form
any kind of problem.
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Security breach: Organizations should have proper security services so that data related to
patients or health professional could be protected.
8.2 Procedures to be followed in the social care setting in the event of
Fire: Emergency exits should be made so that people can save their lives.
Gas leak: Organizations should be able to provide proper oxygen supply so that people
could be protected.
Floods: Necessary tools should be developed with the help of which people could protect
themselves.
Intruding: People should save themselves first and then they should save others.
Security breach: Firm should have a backup in case the data would have been destroyed.
8.3 Ways through which others can be encouraged to adhere to environmental safety procedures
The ways through which others can be encouraged to adhere to environmental safety
procedures are like poor practices should be pointed out so that people would understand the
importance of environmental safety and different policies and procedures related to
environmental safety should be provided.
8.4 Importance of having an emergency plan in place to deal with unforeseen incidents
It is important to have an emergency plan as with the help of this, injuries and deaths can
be reduced as well as health care providers will have confidence that they will be saved as they
have a proper plan.
9.1 Signs and indicators of stress
Different signs and indicators of stress are depressive feeling; confusion; disappointment;
loneliness; mood swings; poor memory and nervous behaviour.
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9.2 Factors that tend to trigger own stress
Factors which tend to trigger own stress are financial problems; workplace issue; health
related problems and personal relationship.
9.3 Strategies for managing stress
Few ways through which stress can be reduced are listening to music; talking to people
who make one feel better; hugging a person whom you love; before speaking count till 10; going
for a walk and smelling a rose.
10.1 Main points of agreed procedures about handling medication
Following are the main points of agreed procedures about handling medication:
 It is essential to know how meditation will be administered
 Written prescription should be there for meditation
 Medial professional should be certified.
10.2 Why medication must only be handled following specialist training
It is important that medication must only be handled following specialist training in order
to ensure that the meditation is been handled in a proper manner. All the steps are been
effectively followed and the entire dose are been given timely. Moreover, persona who has no
training may not know the side effects of providing any dose related to illness.
10.3 Consequences of handling medication without specialist training
Consequences of handling medication without specialist training may lead to negative or
serious issues and people may not be able to overcome their issue fully.
11.1 Main points of food safety standards in a social care setting
Main points of food safety standards in a social care setting are that food should not be
contaminated so that it may not have any side effects due to pathogens. In order to prevent
contamination, raw and cooked food should be separated Apart from that, food should be cooked
in a temperature in which pathogens would be killed as well as safe water should be used in
order to cook food.
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11.2 Explain the following ways:
a. Store food: Food should be store in a proper room temperature and should protect for flies or
insects. Further, raw meat should be refreeze as it helps in protecting the food for a longer time
and reused bags should be avoided.
b. Maximize hygiene when handling food: Hand gloves should be used in order to confine hair.
Cleaned and will washed equipments should be used to cut vegetables or raw meat.
c. Dispose of food: Waste disposal bins should be used so that waste food could be dumped and
plastic liners should also be used.
11.3 Potential consequences of not following food safety standards
Consequences of not following food safety standards are that there will be health issues;
people may face diseases as well as unethical issues can also occur if food standards are not
followed.
Form this report, it can be articulated that there are many legislations which has to be
followed in which health care organization has to provide proper services to their patients.
Further, it is important to provide proper training to people who work at health and social care so
that they could understand their patients and could provide them proper treatments accordingly.
Moreover, it is essential to make a proper plan related to health so that issues or problems could
be solved quickly. Lastly, one of the best ways to reduce stress is by taking to person who makes
one feel better.
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