Main points of health & safety policies & procedures with employer.

1.2. Explain the main points of health and safety policies and procedures agreed with the employer.

Course-Level 3 diploma in care (RQF)

Unit 8 – Promote Health, Safety, and Well-being in Care Settings

L.O 1 – Understand your own responsibilities and the responsibilities of others relating to health and safety

Health and safety policies and procedures, established in conjunction with an employer in care settings, protect staff, service users, and visitors. Health and safety policies serve not only as a legal requirement, but also as a way to provide a safe and supportive workplace for everyone. The key elements are usually as follows: 

1. Risk Assessment:

The employer must conduct consistent and adequate risk assessments for workplace hazards. This involves examining the risks to both staff and service users associated with activities, equipment, chemicals, and the environment and implementing control measures necessary to reduce, or eliminate, the risks associated with injury, illness, or harm. 

2. Training and Information: 

Adequate training must take place so that all staff can deliver their work safely. Training must take place for the operation of equipment, safe manual handling, infection control, safe use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and other training, as well as ensuring all staff are aware of and updated on any relevant policies and procedures. 

3. Safe Working Practices:

Policies will usually note what expected standards of behavior and processes are, i.e., safe manual handling techniques, safe operation of machinery, safe disposal of hazardous substances, maintaining a clean and hygienic environment, etc. This reduces any risk of accidents or ill health in the course of work by following safe working practices. 

4. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):

Employers must provide suitable personal protective equipment, for example, gloves, masks, aprons, etc., where there is a risk of infection or hazardous material or other risks. It is the responsibility of the staff to use PPE operationally and report broken or malfunctioning PPE equipment. 

5. Emergency Procedures: 

Written procedures should provide information on how to deal with an incident involving fire evacuations, medical issues, or security incidents. Staff should be trained on emergency procedures and participate in regular drills to gauge readiness for real situations. 

6. Reporting and Incident Records: 

There must be a process in place for reporting accidents, near misses, hazards, or unsafe practices, including statutory records (e.g., RIDDOR). Reporting should be as soon as possible and as comprehensive as possible; this encourages more reporting and is evidence to show compliance. 

7. Infection Prevention and Control and Medication Handling Procedures: 

There must be written procedures in place for ensuring hand hygiene, PPE compliance, and safe and effective management of medication to avoid infection and prevent errors. Care workers must follow policies for infection prevention and control consistently.

8. Legal Compliance: 

Actions must comply with legislation like the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and associated regulation. There are responsibilities on both employees and employers imposed by law. 

By following agreed policies and procedures, care staff will be supporting their commitment to a safe and effective environment and complying with legislation in care settings.