Health and Safety in HSC Workplace: NHS Policies & Procedures

This report examines health and safety practices within the Health and Social Care (HSC) workplace, specifically using the National Health Service (NHS) as a case study. It covers various aspects, including the communication of health and safety information through training, organizational culture, and legislative requirements like the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. The report details the responsibilities of both employers and employees in maintaining a safe environment, emphasizing the importance of risk assessments and care planning. It explores health and safety priorities appropriate for the NHS, considering the unique setting of care homes. The report also outlines the contribution of a core committee member in implementing and managing health and safety practices, such as addressing employee grievances and organizing awareness programs. The conclusion highlights the significance of prioritizing health and safety for long-term sustainability, increased productivity, and a positive organizational image.

Health and Safety in HSC
Workplace
LO1: 1.1, 1.2 & 1.3; LO2: 2.1 & LO3: 3.3

INTRODUCTION
Purpose of any organization is not just to maximize its profits. But also,
companies can perform their roles and responsibilities by keeping in consideration
the health and safety of its stakeholders. In health and social care industry, to
become successful and sustain in the long run, it is important to give due emphasis
on health and safety at the workplace. In order to understand the concepts related to
health and safety at HSC workplace, NHS has been chosen.

1.1 Systems, policies and procedures for communicating information on health
and safety in NHS as per legislative requirements
Different systems, policies and procedures are there by which information can be
communicated on health and safety in NHS. Some of them are:
• Training
• Organizational culture
• Use of different media
• Exchange of information
• Record keeping

Cont.…
Some of the legislative requirements according to which information will be
communicated are:
 Management of Health and Safety Regulations 1999
 Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
 Health and Social Care Act 2008
 Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992

1.2 Responsibilities in NHS for the management of health and safety in relation
to organizational structure
Some of the responsibilities that employers of NHS has to fulfill are like:
 Workplace of must be safe to work with healthy environment
 Occupational health committees or representatives must be present to resolve
issues if any occur
 Proper training to HSC workers must be imparted by expert supervisors
 Personal protective equipment (PPE) must be provided to employees

Cont.…
Responsibilities that employees of NHS need to fulfill are:
 Working in a safe way and recommending other workers also to do the same
 Avoiding loose clothing and operating machinery without wearing any jewelry
 Wearing required PPE as per the demand of tasks needed to be performed
 Getting proper training sessions by experienced superiors
 Reporting to the supervisor on immediate basis in case of any unsafe condition at
workplace

1.3 Health and safety priorities appropriate for NHS
There is a huge difference in between care homes like NHS and other firms. It is
because; they are not just the workplaces but also a kind of home for patients. Thus, it is
necessary to provide safe and healthy environment to workers as well as patients at the
workplace with fulfillment of all legal duties.
 Safety aids must be taken like security systems (Examples: lock doors, cameras, gates,
alarms, temperature control, etc.)
 Employees are responsible for taking care of their own and the service user’s health and
safety

Cont.…
• NHS should use handling aids so that risks associated with mechanical aids can be
reduced.
• Housekeeping practices must be good.
• Pedestrian and access routes should also be free from any kind of obstacles.
• Number of employees or visitors to the areas where there risk of exposure must be
controlled so that infection through toxic effects would not spread.
• Also, there must be safe use and disposal of sharps.

2.1 Way in which information from risk assessments informs care planning for
individuals and organizational decision making about policies and procedures
A systematic and perfect assessment is required to be made by employers of
NHS to analyze the risks related to health and safety for employees and also, for
others who can get affected by them. NHS is following a suitable and sufficient
assessment system which is like:
Planning
Organizing
Controlling
Monitoring
Reviewing

3.3 Own contribution for placing health and safety needs of individuals at the
center of practice
Being the part of core committee in NHS, I need to play many roles and
fulfill various responsibilities towards implementation and management of health
and safety practices. Some of them are as follows:
 Addressing grievances of employees with respect to policies and systems
followed in NHS.
 Leading effective communication and managing risks that can put an adverse
impact on the employees and users of services of NHS.

Cont.…
• Making employees aware about changes in the policy, if any, by providing regular
updates on relevant issues.
• Organizing camps and awareness programs that prove to be helpful for employees
in performing their duties as well as in personal lives.
• Assessing occupational safety and risks related to health is also one of the major
part of my contributions being the core committee member in NHS.

CONCLUSION
From all the given facts, it can be articulated that to sustain and survive in
the long run, it is important for health and social care firms like NHS to give due
emphasis on the health and safety of staff members. To keep them safe and healthy
will increase their willingness to work with higher efficiency that would ultimately
leads to increased productivity and profitability of the firm. Also, satisfaction of
employees reflects positive image of organization in front of public that makes its
goodwill strong in the market.

REFERENCES
• Health and Social Care Act 2008. 2014. [Online]. Available through:
<http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2008/14/contents>. [Accessed on 22nd
October, 2016].
• Lukic, D., Margaryan, A. and Littlejohn, A., 2010. How organisations learn from
safety incidents: a multifaceted problem. Journal of Workplace Learning. 22(7).
pp.428–450.
• Hillier, D. and et.al., 2009. Primary health care centres in the UK: putting policy
into practice. Property Management. 27(2). pp.109–118.
• Keeling and et.al., 2013. How To Write Well: A Guide For Health And Social Care
Students: A Guide for Health and Social Care Students. McGraw-Hill
International.