To be healthy and safe should be the number one priority on everybody’s list, whether it is at home, school, work or even while you are out having fun with friends and family. In the workplace, knowing what your rights and responsibilities are regarding Health and Safety is of utmost importance, whether you are an employer or employee.
Importance of health and Safety:
Health and Safety within the workplace is of leading edge in any environment, especially in the Healthcare setting for many reasons, including:
-Protection of staff
-Patient Safety
-Legal Compliance
-Reputation and Trust
-Cost Savings
-Ethical Responsibility
What is the main law on Health and Safety?
While several Regulations and Acts administer the Health and Safety Laws in the UK, the main ordinance is Health and Safety at Work of 1974.
Additional Laws that govern Health and Safety within the Healthcare Setting:
-Management of Health and Safety at work Regulations 1999
-Control Of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) 2002
-Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 2013
-Provision of Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER) 1998
-Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992
-Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005
-Display Screen Equipment (DSE) Regulations 1999
Healthy and Safety information in the workplace:
Each workplace should have a Health and Safety law poster displayed for all employers and employees to access at any time to read, should a poster or information thereof not be displayed, a leaflet providing all information about the laws should be given to all employees.
Policies and procedures
It is essential to ensure the well-being of all patients, staff and any visitors; therefore, policies and procedure should be put in place. Below are 10 common policies and procedure that are typically in the Healthcare organization for Healthy and Safety:
- Infection Control Policy
- Risk Assessment and Management Policy
- Health and Safety Policy
- Fire Safety Policy
- Manual Handling Policy
- Medication Safety Policy
- Equipment Safety Policy
- Violence and Aggression Policy
- Emergency preparedness and Response Policy
- Health and Safety Training Policy
Organizations commitment
Understanding the commitment of the organization to delivering services safely is determining in the healthcare environment and industry, below are some key elements to consider:
-Mission and Values
-Policies and Procedures
-Safety Culture
-Leadership and Management Support
-Staff Training and Education
-Risk Assessment and Management
-Continuous Improvement
-Collaboration and Communication
-External Regulations and Standards
-Patient Engagement
Just a note:
Doing an online CSTF – Health & Safety Course with Train Healthcare, which takes approximately 1 hour to complete, will earn you 1 CPD Point. Once you have completed the course, you would receive a certificate thereof.
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