Health, Safety and Well-Being in Care Settings

Overview

This Level 2 Diploma unit looks at employer’s and employee’s responsibilities in relation to health, safety and wellbeing, risk assessments, managing accidents, sudden illnesses, infections, manual handling, handling equipment and hazardous materials, promoting fire safety, implementing security and managing own stresses.

Contents

Study Guide

1.1 Identify legislation relating to general health and safety in a care work setting

Legislation (laws) that relate to health and safety in a care work setting include:

• Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 – sets out the statutory roles and responsibilities for employers and employees relating to health and safety
• Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 – often abbreviated to RIDDOR, all accidents and incidents must be reported to your employer using their agreed ways of working. More serious incidents and accidents must be reported to the Health & Safety Executive (HSE)
• The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 – sets out how health and safety in the workplace should be managed
• The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 – how loads should be supported and carried to prevent or reduce the likelihood of injury
• Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 – often abbreviated to COSHH, regulations for managing hazardous materials to protect individuals from harm that may be caused by coming into contact with them
• The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 – how workplaces should prevent and protect against fire
• The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 2002 – often abbreviated to PUWER, sets out how work equipment should be used safely
• The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 – often abbreviated to LOLER, in addition to PUWER (above) equipment that lifts or lowers loads has additional regulation
• The Personal Protective Equipment Regulations 2002 – where required, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) should be identified and used and employers should provide employees with required PPE free of charge

1.2 Outline the main points of the health and safety policies and procedures agreed with the employer

When you begin work in the care sector, your employer will provide you with agreed ways of working (policies and procedures) which will set out rules regarding your actions and behaviour and processes that must be followed.

Some of these will relate to health and safety in the workplace. You will be expected to read, understand and follow the main points of them.

Some examples of health and safety related agreed ways of working may include:

• Health and safety policy – specifies the responsibilities of the employer and employees
• Accident reporting procedure – process to follow to report an accident at work
• Hazard reporting procedure – process to follow to report a potential hazard in the workplace
• Use of equipment procedure/instructions – how a piece of equipment should be used safely and correctly
• COSHH policy and procedure – how hazardous substances should be handled
• Fire/evacuation procedure – what to do if there is a fire
• Personal care procedure – how personal care should be carried out

1.3 Outline the main health and safety responsibilities of: self, the employer or manager, others in the work setting

1.4 Identify tasks relating to health and safety that should not be carried out without special training

1.5 Explain how to access additional support and information relating to health and safety

2.1 Explain why it is important to assess health and safety risks posed by the work setting, situations or by particular activities

2.2 Explain how and when to report potential health and safety risks that have been identified

2.3 Explain how risk assessment can help address dilemmas between rights and health and safety concerns

3.1 Describe different types of accidents and sudden illnesses that may occur in own work setting

3.2 Outline the procedures to be followed if an accident or sudden illness should occur

4.1 Explain own roles and responsibilities as an employee and those of the employer in the prevention and control of infection

4.2 Explain the causes and spread of infection in care settings

4.3 Demonstrate the recommended method for hand washing settings

4.4 Demonstrate the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and when to use it

4.5 Demonstrate ways to ensure that own health and hygiene do not pose a risk to others at work

5.1 Identify legislation that relates to moving and handling

5.2 Explain principles for moving and handling equipment and other objects safely

5.3 Demonstrate how to move and handle equipment and objects safely

6.1 Describe hazardous substances and materials that may be found in the work setting

6.2 Explain safe practices for: storing hazardous substances, using hazardous substances, disposing of hazardous substances and materials

7.1 Describe practices that prevent fires from: starting, spreading

7.2 Describe emergency procedures to be followed in the event of a fire in the work setting

7.3 Explain the importance of maintaining clear evacuation routes at all times

8.1 Use agreed ways of working for checking the identity of anyone requesting access to: premises, information

8.2 Implement measures to protect own security and the security of others in the work setting

8.3 Explain the importance of ensuring that others are aware of own whereabouts

9.1 Identify common signs and indicators of stress in self and others

9.2 Identify circumstances and factors that tend to trigger stress in self and others

9.3 Describe ways to manage stress and how to access sources of support