1.1 Identify legislation relating to health and safety in a care setting.
The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HASAWA) is a UK legislation that protects employees, members of the public, and other people affected by work activities from harm or injury. This act requires employers to meet certain standards to ensure the safety of their staff, including conducting regular risk assessments, providing proper safety training, and keeping all necessary records and documentation up to date. It also requires individuals to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and to wear appropriate protective equipment when necessary.
The Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (MHSWR) sets out specific legal obligations for employers who need to assess risks associated with hazardous manual tasks in any workplace, including care settings. This includes lifting patients/residents or using specialised handling aids, such as moving and handling hoists and slings, safely without putting themselves or others at risk. The MHSWR requires employers to provide the necessary information, instruction, and training to staff carrying out manual handling activities in order to protect their safety and well-being while they work.
The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) aims to protect workers from hazardous materials that may be encountered in care settings, such as cleaning products and personal protective equipment (PPE). It covers safe storage and disposal of chemicals and requires employers to provide relevant PPE for staff when undertaking certain tasks. COSHH also requires employers to conduct regular assessments of risks posed by hazardous substances and to take action as needed, such as providing appropriate ventilation or introducing air quality monitors in the workplace.
The Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981 require that those responsible for health and safety within an organisation, including care settings, have “adequate and appropriate equipment, facilities, and personnel to enable first aid to be administered.” This means that employers must take reasonable steps to ensure that there are enough trained personnel available in the event of an incident or emergency.
The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 state that employers must assess the risk of injury from any manual handling activity and take steps to reduce it. This includes providing appropriate training for staff, ensuring that suitable equipment is available for use, and ensuring that there is sufficient space in which to carry out the task safely. The regulations also require employers to provide information and instruction on safe working practices when carrying out manual tasks and to ensure that employees know to whom to report an incident or accident immediately afterwards.
The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases, and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR) requires employers and managers to report any serious workplace accidents, incidents, or diseases that result from their work activities to the local enforcing authority. This includes slips, trips, falls from heights, and cases of mental ill health where it is reasonably suspected that an employee has suffered due to the working environment. Study materials and AI study tools on mawcloud.com
All of these pieces of legislation are designed to protect those who work in care settings from harm or injury and should be carefully read by all relevant personnel within the organisation to ensure compliance with their legal duties and obligations. In conclusion, care settings have a duty of care towards all staff members and clients. To ensure the safety of both, employers must adhere to a range of regulations set out by the Health and Safety Executive as well as the Care Quality Commission. If these duties are not fulfilled, it may result in prosecution or further action depending on any incidents that occur at the premises in question.
Other answers in the full document:
- 1.2 Explain the main points of health and safety policies and procedures agreed with the employer.
- 1.3 Analyse the main health and safety responsibilities of:
– Self
– Employer / Manager
– Others - 1.4 Identify specific tasks in the work setting that should not be carried out without special training
- 3.1 Describe different types of accidents and sudden illness that may occur in own work setting.
- 3.2 Explain procedures to be followed if an accident or sudden illness should occur.
- 4.1 Explain own role in supporting others to follow practices that reduce the spread of infection.
- 4.2 Describe the causes and spread of infection.
- 5.1 Explain the main points of legislation that relate to moving and handling.
- 5.2 Explain the principles for safe moving and handling.
- 6.1 Describe types of hazardous substances that may be found in the work setting.
- 7.1 Describe practices that prevent fires from: Starting, Spreading.
- 7.3 Explain emergency procedures to be followed in the event of a fire in the work setting
- 8.3 Explain the importance of ensuring that others are aware of own whereabouts.
- 9.1 Describe common signs and indicators of stress in self and others.
- 9.2 Analyse factors that can trigger stress.
- 9.3 Compare strategies for managing stress in self and others.
- 9.4 Explain how to access sources of support.