Scribd
Upload
2 views

Health and Safety Responsibilities - Part 01

This module outlines the health and safety responsibilities of health and social care workers, focusing on identifying and managing hazards in their environments. It covers types of hazards, their potential effects, and the necessary procedures for risk assessment and incident response. Key roles and responsibilities for both employers and employees in maintaining safety standards are also detailed.

Uploaded by

incognito071950
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as TXT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
2 views

Health and Safety Responsibilities - Part 01

This module outlines the health and safety responsibilities of health and social care workers, focusing on identifying and managing hazards in their environments. It covers types of hazards, their potential effects, and the necessary procedures for risk assessment and incident response. Key roles and responsibilities for both employers and employees in maintaining safety standards are also detailed.

Uploaded by

incognito071950
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as TXT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 5

**Health and Safety Responsibilities - Part 01 **

-HEALTH AND SAFETY RESPONSIBILITIES-

Introduction to the Module :

This module covers the health and safety responsibilities that you will have as a
health or social care worker. it will take you through the hazards that you will
encounter as well as the effects that theese hazards are likely to have.

In addition, this module will teach you the procedures and process for dealing with
hazards and their effect in a health and social care setting

TOPICS TO BE COVERED
-
This module will cover the following topics:-

*Understanding potential Hazards in health and social care environments

*Managing health and safety

*Roles and responsibilities involved in health,safety and security

*Responding to incidents and emergencies in a health and social care environment

*COSHH Policies

*COSHH Essentials

*Special consideration in residential social Care settings

UNDERSTANDING POTENTIAL HAZARDS IN HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE ENVIRONMENTS

-Types of Hazards
There are several hazards in health and social care that can cause harm to
workers,serviceusers,and visitors.The frailty of patients puts them at greater
risk.

What is a hazzardous substance

To be ahazardous substance,a substance must have one or more inherent hazardous


properties,such as:
*Flammability
*Explosiveness
*Toxicity
The capacity to oxidise

Most hazardous substances are covered byCOSHH regulations.


Hazardous substances can include:
*Chemicals
*products containing chemicals
*fumes
*Dust
*Vapours
*mists
*Nanotechnology
Gases and aphyxiating gase
*biological agents
*germs that cause diseasses
Certain substances are covered by regulations other than COSHH
*Asbetos
*lead
*Radioactive substances

-Hazardous substances in social care


There are several hazardous substances in the social care setting.

Biological hazards and medicines:


*infections pathogens will require infection control safeguards
*potentialy infectious elements include urine,faeces ,and clinical waste
*Certain medicnes may be hazardous

-CLEANING

*some cleaning substances can be Irritants,such as bleach


*Touching your face,eyes,or skin after handling bleach can cause irritation,
inflammation or chemical burns
*Chlorine-based desinfectants can be used to clean infectious blood spillages
*Certain drain-cleaning substances can be corrosive
*Detergents can be irritants and cause dermatitis
*Over cleaners can release irritant fumes

-Maintenance work:
*Glues,paints,solvents,and lubricants can be irritants and hazardous without
ventilation

*Water treatment chemicals are used to protect against legionnaires disease.

Dust can be released during maintenance or construction.

-What are hazardous effects

After identifying the present hazardous substances,their hazards must be


determined.This involves looking at the route of entry into the body and the
adverse effects.

-Route of Entry

Substances can enter the body via:


*inhalation
*ingestion
*injection(through high-pressure equipment or contaminated sharp objects)
*Absorption trough skin or eyes

Contact with hazardous substances can also cause damage to the eyes and skin.

The substance's physical form determines its route of entry. The liquid in an
aerosol is more likely to be inhaled than other forms.

Adverse effects

You should gather information on the substances advers effects.


this should indicate when the effects will develop.

you should ask the following questions:

*Are these effects immediate,short-term,acute?


*Are they delayed,long-term,chronic?

Are they a combination of the above?

**Information on the effects,should be used to inform COSHH risk assesments. The


information can be found from several sources, including:

*Products labels and packaging


*Safety data sheets that accompany products
*Workplace exposure limits(WELs)assigned to substances
*Manufacturers
*Experts

-Potential Impacts of Hazards for individuals Who require care or


support,employees,and employers

Hazards can impact everyone in a health and social care setting

-Injury or Harm
Individuals may be harmed through unidentified environmental hazards,such as
falling on uneven steps or being struck by unsafely positionned objects.

Chemical hazards can cause injuries. Workers may not use protective clothing when
necessary, and children may ingest unsecured medicines

-ILLNESS
Biological and psychological hazards can have serious adverse effects.
Not disposing of dressings or cleaning spilt body fluids cand lead to the spread
of infections.

Psychological hazards like stress and tiredness can affect everyone.


Employees may make mistakes and deliver an unsafe level of care.
Absence due to stress or fatigue can cost employers money.

-Poor Standards of care

Unsafe working conditions and practices can lead to hazards not being identified
and reduced. Health and social care buildings must be properly maintained.

Poor working practices can lead to poor care and support standards.
A lack of supervision can lead to poor communication,then
conflict,misunderstanding, or harm

-Financial loss
Hazards can have an adverse effecton organisations and employers.

A lack of effective security can enable theft,and hazards resulting in injury may
lead to costly lawsuits.

Organisations can receive fines and have their reputations damaged.

types of settingsa(view table 2)

-Managing Health and safety

WHat you need to do:

Like other areas of healthcare, health and safety needs processes that are an
integral part of the setting

THE CORE ELEMENTS

The core elements required for this are:

*Good leadership and management


*A trained,competent workforce
*An environment that consults and involves people

Plan,Do check and Act


Your sustained and systematic health and safety approach will likely use thestep
PLAN,DO,CHECK,ACT

PLAN:Say what you want to happen :-


You should create a health and safety policy ,determining who will help you with
your duties .Consult with your employees ,allowing them to raise points .

DO:Sure Systems are in Place to provide the tools and equoment to do job safely :-
You need to assess all risks and chek that you are adequately preventing them .Make
a sensible risk assessment decisions ,and provide information and training .

CHECK:Make sure the work is being done safely :-


You should ensure that you control all risks in your organisation and ensure that
staff are following the arrangements .

ACT:Learn from problems and successes and make improvements :-


You should reflect on your plans to determine whether they are still appriopriate
and effective .This will allow you to see what should be stopped or begun as in
response to change .

KEY POINTS TO CONSIDER :


It is important to reflect at each of the above steps ,asking yourself
questions .Have you assessed the risks?Are you checking how well risks are
controlled ?

**ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES INVOLVED IN HEALTH ,SAFETY AND SECURITY .

Employers :
*An employer's duties include :
1,Ensuring safety when responsible
2,To prevent employees from being exposed to hazardous substances or adequate
control exposure .
3,Identify hazardous substances present .
4,Assess risks posed by hazardous substances .
5,Measure the hazardous substance's concentration in the air .
6,Prepare plans and procedures for accidents or emergencies .
7,Give employees information,instruction,training and supervision .

*EMPLOYEES :-

1,Abide by all safety arrangements

2,Correctly use personal protective equipment

3,Report incidents and accidents

You might also like