ADULT CARE WORKER LEVEL 2: Health, Safety, and Wellbeing Standards

This assignment solution addresses the ADULT CARE WORKER LEVEL 2 STANDARDS, focusing on mandatory units related to health, safety, and wellbeing in care settings. It identifies relevant legislation such as the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, the Regulatory Reform Order 2005, and various regulations concerning manual handling and personal protective equipment. The solution outlines health and safety policies, procedures, and responsibilities for individuals, employers, and other workplace members. It emphasizes the importance of risk assessment, reporting potential hazards, and addressing dilemmas between rights and safety concerns. The assignment also details different types of accidents and sudden illnesses, along with procedures for responding to such events. Furthermore, it covers infection control, including causes, spread, and prevention, as well as legislation and principles for safe moving and handling. Finally, it describes hazardous substances and materials that may be found in the work setting.

ADULT CARE WORKER
LEVEL 2 STANDARDS –
MANDATORY UNITS
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5426 – HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELLBEING IN CARE SETTINGS
1.1 Identify legislation relating to general health and safety in a care work setting
In the care work setting, the legislation relating to general Health and safety includes:
1. The regulatory reform order 2005 - this legislation is about the way work places must
prevent and protect against fire.
2. Health and safety at work act 1974 - this legislation sets out statutory roles and
responsibilities for the employees as well as employer relating to health and safety
(Brady, and Gilligan, 2018).
3. The manual handling operations regulations 1992 - this regulation is about the way
loads must be supported in carried in order to reduce or prevent likelihood of injury.
4. The personal protective equipment regulations 2002 - this regulation states that where
needed, personal protective equipment must be identified as well as used and the
employers must administer employees with needed personal protective equipment free of
charge.
1.2 Outline the main points of the health and safety policies and procedures agreed with the
employer
When an individual begin work in the healthcare industry, the employer will administer
employees with agreed ways of working that will be setting out rules about the behaviour,
actions and processes which should be followed by the employees. Some of these associated
with health and safety within work place. The employees of London Ambulance Services are
expected to understand, read and follow main points among them (Gray, and et. al., 2018). Some
agreed ways of working related to health and safety includes:
1. Health and safety policy – this policy specifies the roles and responsibilities of employees
and employer.
2. Use of equipment procedure/ instructions – it depicts about the way a piece of equipment
must be utilized safely and correctly.
3. Accident reporting procedure – it is a procedure to follow to report an accident at work.
4. COSHH policy and procedure – it is about the way hazardous substances must be
handled.
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5. Hazard reporting procedure – this is a procedure to follow for reporting a potential hazard
within the workplace.
6. Fire/ evacuation procedure – this is the procedure about what to do if there is a fire
7. Personal care procedure – this procedure is about how personal care must be carried out
1.3 Outline the main health and safety responsibilities of:
Self:
The main health and safety responsibilities in relation to self includes:
1. Attending health and safety training
2. Adhere to warning signs
3. Report any injuries, accidents, or disease
4. Adhere to agreed working ways, policies and procedures
5. Use Personal Protective Equipment as instructed your employer
6. Whistle blow if necessary
7. Use welfare facilities
The employer or manager:
The main responsibilities of employer or manager in relation to health and safety includes:
1. Provide necessary training
2. Provide adequate work equipment
3. Offer welfare facilities
4. Provide PPE for free
5. Document emergency procedures
6. Offer safety signage as well as warning labels
7. Report disease, incidents, or dangerous occurrences
Others in the work setting:
The main roles and responsibilities of others in work settings includes:
1. Report hazards and risks
2. Take reasonable care for themselves and others
3. Comply with health and safety procedures
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1.4 Identify tasks relating to health and safety that should not be carried out without special
training
For performing certain tasks safely within health care settings, specialised training must be
needed. The tasks that must not be performed without special training includes:
1. Providing medication: as medications is provided incorrectly, it may outcome in harm to
the patient.
2. Moving and handling: the incorrect technique of lifting or improper preliminary
planning can result into injury (Hanson, and et. al., 2020).
3. Performing Health Care tasks: at the time of measuring blood pressure and taking other
physiological measurements, the chances of errors could be high without proper training.
4. Using specialised equipment: without specialised training, the risk could increase
because of incorrect selection of equipment or its incorrect use.
1.5 Explain how to access additional support and information relating to health and safety
Sometimes, access to additional information and support is required relating to health and
safety. In most of the cases, talk to manager regarding any concerns or queries associated with
health and safety is the best support source. Apart from this, speaking to knowledgeable co-
worker can also be used for. Moreover, the information can be acquired from agreed ways of
working of employer or for getting general knowledge, looking at National regulations and
legislation is the best source. In addition to this, the additional information and support relating
to health and safety can be accessed by a person working in London Ambulance Services
through health and safety executive website (Treadwell, and et. al., 2016).
2.1 Explain why it is important to assess health and safety risks posed by the work setting,
situations or by particular activities
It is very important to assess the risks associated with health and safety posed by situations,
work setting or by particular activities as it assist in minimising or preventing hazards which
could potentially cause injury or illness. It protects all the people from any kind of harm and
complying with policies and procedures of company and the legislations. It assists in maintaining
health and safety in workplace and administer clear guidance as well as information on the way
to keep the individuals safe, prevent them from accidents, harm and danger.
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2.2 Explain how and when to report potential health and safety risks that have been identified
While working within the organisation, an individual may come across various potential
risks associated with health and safety. These includes blocked fire exit, exposed wiring, wet
floor etc. This makes it crucial to understand when and how to report the identified risks. The
risks must be reported as early as possible to relevant individual. The person will usually be
manager or health and safety officer. In case of any kind of doubt, speaking to manager or
looking at policies and procedures of employer for guidance is an appropriate way. Minor
hazards can be resolved by themselves (Nabbout, and et. al., 2017). For example: in London
Ambulance Services, if a box is placed in a way of fire exit and an individual is able to lift it,
then they can simply move it to safer place. This hazard still be reported to manager or health
and safety officer so that appropriate action can be taken in order to prevent it from happening.
Reporting of risk can be done verbally and in written form by filling a form.
2.3 Explain how risk assessment can help address dilemmas between rights and health and safety
concerns
Dilemmas generally arise from conserving the rights of individuals while maintaining
health and safety. In health and social care settings, it is a common dilemma that the choices of
an individual sometimes do not comply with the rules associated with health and safety. Thus,
risk assessment need to take place so that control measures can be executed which can prevent
the rights of the individuals along with the health and safety concerns. The main rights of the
individual are to be free from danger, abuse and harm which can only be accomplished through
maintaining health and safety of people. Risk assessment assist in determining and assessing
risks related to health and safety of an individual and execute control measures in order to
eliminate risks and keep the individuals safe from danger and harm. Thus, risk assessment aids in
protecting the rights of individuals along with maintaining their concerns associated with health
and safety at the same time (Goralski, Nasr, and Uluer, 2017).
3.1 Describe different types of accidents and sudden illnesses that may occur in own work setting
There are many types of sudden illnesses and accidents that may occur within health and
care settings. Accidents are the unexpected and unintended incidents which may results in
damage or injury. In order to reduce likelihood of happening risk, assessments must be
performed. Different types of accidents that may occur in work settings includes:
1. Slips and trips
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2. Falls
3. Burns and scalds
4. Injuries caused due to a sharp object like piece of broken glass or a knife.
5. Electrocution
6. Injuries from specialised equipment or operating machinery
7. Accidental poisoning like if food has not been cooked correctly.
Different types of sudden illnesses which may occur in work settings includes:
1. Diabetic coma
2. Epileptic seizure
3. Fainting
4. Burns
5. Bleeding
6. Stroke
7. Heart attack
8. Choking
9. Fractures
3.2 Outline the procedures to be followed if an accident or sudden illness should occur
In the case of sudden illness and accident, a person must be assessed immediately and
administered first aid immediately if necessary and the first responders of the event have
adequate training. The responding person should shout for assistance from others and ask to call
emergency services if needed. When the persons are stable, management must be informed and it
must notify care quality commission and HSE if possible. The proper procedure includes:
1. Evaluate the situation properly
2. Take instant action
3. Keeping self as well as others safe
4. Get help of professional if deemed necessary
5. Record information in violent incident form or an accident form
6. Update the Risk assessments
7. Inform Care Manager and next of kin
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4.1 Explain own roles and responsibilities as an employee and those of the employer in the
prevention and control of infection
In prevention and control of infection, each individual has responsibility. Responsibility of
employees in infection prevention and control includes:
1. Keep self and the others safe
2. Adhere to agreed ways of working of employer
3. Use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) provided
4. Report any kind of unsafe practices
5. Attend related training
The roles and responsibilities of employer in prevention and control of infection includes:
1. Create, maintain as well as review safe working practices
2. Perform risk assessments
3. Inform the employees of changes to the working practices
4. Investigate reports associated with unsafe practices
5. Administer adequate facilities, training and PPE to employees
4.2 Explain the causes and spread of infection in care settings
The infections within the care settings are caused due to pathogens including:
1. Bacteria
2. Viruses
3. Protozoa
4. Prions
5. Fungi
6. Parasites
The main portals of entry for pathogens are:
1. Physical contact with mouth, ears, eyes, nose
2. Eating/drinking
3. Breathed in through nose/ mouth
4. Skin, from cuts, scratches etc.
Infection is spread through the entry of pathogen into the body by the way of physical
contact, skin, breathing, eating or drinking. The germs increase in number after entering into the
body and causes reaction in body.
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5.1 Identify legislation that relates to moving and handling
The legislations which relates to moving and handling includes:
1. Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (HSAW)
2. Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1999 (PUWER)
3. Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 (MHOR)
4. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) at Work Regulations 1992
5. Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER) 1998
5.2 Explain principles for moving and handling equipment and other objects safely
The main principles for moving and handling equipment as well as other objects safely
includes always plan before moving any equipment or load and think regarding where they are
moving it to and sure that there is enough space. Any handling aids must be utilised for any
items which are heavy and make sure that all the routes are clear. It is also necessary to make
sure that a person have tight grip of the item and utilise the legs to lift load smoothly. Before
lifting, docking and appropriate position with feet is required to maintain the balance (Geerlings,
and et. al., 2016).
6.1 Describe hazardous substances and materials that may be found in the work setting
The hazardous substances and materials which may be found within work settings includes:
1. Cleaning products like bleach, toilet cleaner, oven cleaner, etc.
2. Medication
3. Clinical waste such as soiled pads, used dressings etc.
4. Contaminated linen e.g. clothes, bedding, towels, etc.
5. Bodily fluids e.g. mucus, saliva etc.
6.2 Explain safe practices for:
1. Storing hazardous substances - The hazardous substances should be stored in
inseparable locked room or cupboard. It should be stored in dry and cool place and away
from fire and heat and the substances should be individually labelled.
2. Using hazardous substances - These should be utilised for intended purpose. If the
hazardous substances require to be diluted with water, then it is required to follow
manufacturer exact dilution ratio. It is also necessary to make sure that one hazardous
substance is not be mixed with other substance. Using signpost is an appropriate way to
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inform regarding presence of hazardous substances in the area (Ryscavage, and et. al.,
2016).
3. Disposing of hazardous substances and materials - The hazardous substances should be
disposed as per the instructions and in the designated place. It is necessary to separate it
from other kinds of waste and dispose that into the colour coded waste bins to manage
clinical, offensive and general waste.
7.1 Describe practices that prevent fires from:
Starting:
The practices which prevents fire from starting includes:
1. Promote awareness
2. Remove extension leads
3. Turn off the appliances as well as switch off at wall
4. Remove flammable material
5. Remove sources of heat
6. Avoid using portable heaters
Spreading:
The practices which prevents fire from spreading includes:
1. Install smoke alarms
2. Deploy fire blanket
3. Sound the alarm
4. Close doors as well as windows
5. Follow correct procedures
6. Having tidy and clean workplace
7.2 Describe emergency procedures to be followed in the event of a fire in the work setting
In the fire event, all the employees of London Ambulance Services must know about what
to do and the emergency procedures to be followed. It is the responsibility of employer to assess
the risk associated with possible fire and develop procedures by employees in order to prevent
the fire and action to be taken if a fire breaks (Kemeny, and Mabry, 2017). The emergency
procedures to be followed in fire event when the work settings include:
1. Sound the alarm
2. Participate in role call
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3. Evacuate the building in case if safe to do so
4. Dial 999 number and ask for fire service
5. Go quickly to fire assembly point
6. Move all the individuals away from fire assembly point via emergency exit route in case
if safe to do.
7.3 Explain the importance of maintaining clear evacuation routes at all times
Fire can be spread quickly so it is crucial that fire breaks out, individuals can evacuate the
building as fast as possible. In case, if the route to escape the building is blocked or partially
blocked, it can prolong the evacuation time as individuals may require to move things out of way
or avoiding the objects. This may lead to accident like falls and trips as individuals try to leave
the building. Thus, very significant that all the evacuation routes and fire doors are kept free
from any kind of clutter and obstructions, especially in corridors (Hussein, Ismail, and
Manthorpe, 2016).
8.3 Explain the importance of ensuring that others are aware of own whereabouts
When individuals are at work, especially when they go off site, it is necessary to always
make sure that another member of staff know about their whereabouts. It is crucial as it means
that employer can confirm that the person is not in the building. They can also make sure that a
person is not taking any unnecessary risk as well as working within their job role. Apart from
this, a person was go to missing, for instance: if he or she fainted, the employer will have an idea
regarding the location of person so that emergency assistance can be provided as soon as
possible.
9.1 Identify common signs and indicators of stress in self and others
Stress within the workplace can have severe adverse impacts on the people, it is very
significant to recognise the indicators and signs of stress in self and others so that appropriate
stress management plan can be developed. The different signs and indicators of stress in
themselves and others includes:
1. Tiredness
2. Irrational behaviour
3. Sensitivity/crying
4. Anxiety
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5. Depression
6. Irritation
7. Substance abuse
8. Tension
9. Heart palpitations
10. Mood swings
11. IBS
12. Strained working relationships
9.2 Identify circumstances and factors that tend to trigger stress in self and others
The factors and circumstances which tend to trigger the stress in self as well as others includes:
1. Amplified demands from others in work place or at home
2. Unexpected changes associated with finance, work or personal circumstances
3. Changes in work practices or newly developed working practices
4. Relationship issues
5. Challenging behavior of people an individual support
6. Changes to team members
7. Tiredness
8. Getting being criticized or get something wrong.
9.3 Describe ways to manage stress and how to access sources of support
When an individual is feeling stressed and have recognised causes and signs, then they
should attempt to find out the ways to manage the stress appropriately. It can include
communicating with others in order to get support like manager. There are some ways that help
in managing the stress and the way to access sources of support. Some of the ways are provided
below:
1. Speaking to manager
2. Reducing the workload
3. Speaking to a counsellor
4. Setting more exercise
5. Changing diet
6. Taking time off in order to relax and recharge
7. Meditation
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