Unit 3 Health and Safety in the Health and Social Care

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

 

 

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

 

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

 

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