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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Identi
fying
hazar
ds
Who
will be
affected
with the
identifie
d
hazards
Risk
should be
assessed
and
proper
action
should be
taken
Record
should
be made
of
findings
Risk
assessm
ent
should
be
reviewe
d.