Promoting Health & Safety at Work

Promote, Monitor and Maintain Health, Safety and Security in the Working Environment.

(Level 3)
1. There is much legislation dealing with health and safety in the workplace. The health and safety at work act 1974 contains general provisions but it has been supplemented by many regulations and guidelines dealing with specific areas. The main specific regulations important to care workers are:
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Control of substances hazardous to health 1988 (COSHH) Reporting of injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences regulations 1985 (RIDDOR) Manual handling regulations 1992 Other applicable legislation and regulations include:

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Care standards act 2001 Disabled persons act 1986 Disability discrimination act 1995 Data protection act 1998 Human rights act NHS & Community care act 1990 Environmental protection act 1990 Public health act 1984 General Social Care Council codes of practice

2. Care workers must follow the care plan and read the risk assessment prior to carrying out any activity. Communicate with client and ensure that their opinion is heard. Always give the client a choice in matters and do not assume you know what is best for them. Support and encourage the client to carry out tasks for themselves but at the same time be wary of any health and safety issues. Explain to the client the importance of remaining safe and the methods that you use in order to maintain safe working practices. 3. If a care worker is not trained in first aid then they cannot carry out first aid procedures, however there are things that they can do to help in an emergency. ■ Firstly ensure that P.P.E. is worn ● Get help – either ringing an ambulance or getting a qualified first aider ● Help the person who is dealing with the emergency ● Clear the area to avoid risk to safety, eg broken glass ● Offer support to anyone who is distressed, eg family member/passer-by ● record details in the care plan daily record log, accident book and inform superiors/next of...