Unit 3 Health and Safety in the Health and Social Care
Aim
The aim of this unit is to develop learners’ understanding about their responsibilities in ensuring
the health and safety of the health and social care workplace and the people within it.
Unit abstract
Health and safety is an essential consideration for all practitioners in health and social care and
this unit will enable learners to develop an understanding of the importance of continually
monitoring the implementation of health and safety legislation and policies within any health and
social care setting.
Learners will gain a clear understanding of the implications of relevant legislation for their own
role and the implementation of policies and systems in their own workplace. The importance of
record keeping, monitoring and review health and safety policies and procedures will also be
considered.
Elements of this unit should be contextualised, where possible, to an appropriate setting relevant
to learners’ workplace in health and social care.
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this unit a learner will:
1 Understand how health and safety legislation is implemented in the health and social care
workplace
2 Understand the ways in which health and safety requirements impact on customers and the
work of practitioners in the health and social care workplace
3 Understand the monitoring and review of health and safety in the health and social care
workplace.
Unit content
1 Understand how health and safety legislation is implemented in the health and
social care workplace
Concept of risk, safety and security: minimum risk, zero risk; risk for individuals and property;
public liability; hazard; restraint; accident prevention; first aid; protection from harm; security
versus safety; substances; practices; equipment; premises
Systems, policies and procedures for communicating information: exemplar pro formas;
training; organisational culture; use of different media; exchange of information; record
keeping; enforcement; compliance
Responsibilities for management of health and safety: organisational responsibilities
(employers; employees; external agencies; visitors eg users of service, carers); monitoring
and evaluating processes; auditing; inspecting the workplace; management structure and
representation
Legislative requirements: current legislation, regulations and codes of practice relevant to
health and safety in health and social care settings eg Health and Safety at Work Act 1974,
Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981, Management of Health and Safety Regulations
1999, Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995, Control
of Substances Hazardous to Health 2002, Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992,
Food Safety Act 1990, Food Safety (General Food Hygiene) Regulations 1995, Workplace
(Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, Health and Social Care Act 2008, Care
Standards Act 2000, Mental Health Act 2007, Disability Discrimination Act 1995, Mental Health
Act 2007, Children Act 2004
Implementation: safety aids eg walking aid, wheelchair, hoist; security systems eg door locks,
cameras, gates, alarms, patrol; maintenance eg ventilation, temperature control, buildings;
consequences of malfunction/breakdown of equipment
2 Understand the ways in which health and safety requirements impact on
customers and the work of practitioners in the health and social care workplace
Care planning: meeting needs; ensuring safety; security; maximising wellbeing; principles of
good practice
Dilemmas: risk-benefit analysis; risk to self and others; resource implications; differing
priorities between stakeholders
Implications of non-compliance: financial; legal; moral; physical; health
3 Understand the monitoring and review of health and safety in the health and
social care workplace
Monitor and review: audit of risks; review of practice; learning from experience; updating of
policies and procedures
Positive health and safety culture: individuals; teams; managers; organisational levels
Own contributions: responsibilities; compliance; training; practices; interactions with
individuals, groups and agencies
