Understand health and safety in social care setting Essay

Aiv A comparison of the differences in the main health and safety responsibilities of each of the following: a)Social care worker – Responsible for
•Read and understand the health and safety manual.

•following the health and safety policies to minimise any risk to themselves or others

•Report any health and safety issues to the appointed person.

•Ensuring that all accidents are reported to the Manager without delay

•Only using chemicals provided by Autism Sussex that have been subjected to an assess-ment in the COSHH Manual. Understand health and safety in social care setting Essay

•Carrying on practices that are conductive to minimizing the spread of infectious diseases.

b)Employer/manager- are responsible for:

•Ensure that a clear framework for the management of health and safety is in place including review and monitoring procedures and updating where necessary. •Ensure that risk assessments are undertaken as required under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 •Training of Employees

•Monitoring and Reporting in accordance to statutory requirements i.e RIDOR •Maintenance and equipment
•Ensuring adequate fire precautions are maintained, adequate fire training is made available to employees and that records are maintained with respect to fire precautions in place within each service in line with current statutory Fire regulations •First Aid

•Appropriate emergency plans are in place

c)Individuals using social care services and others in the setting, such as visitors, supporters, volunteers or contractors. Understand health and safety in social care setting Essay

•Volounters and supporters are to ensure they read and understand the companies policies and procedures. •Co operate with the companies health and safety procedures. •Not to put themselves or others under any unnecessary danger.

Av An example of a situation where responsibility for health and safety lies with the individual receiving care. Smoking- The individual could be responsible for ensuring they smoke in the designated area and that their cigarette is put out and disposed of correctly.

Avi An explanation of why each of the following tasks should only be carried out with specific training and the potential consequences if undertaken by staff who are not trained. •a) Use of equipment- Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 and Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 requires that equipment is only used by people who have received adequate information, instruction and training. This covers equipment such as macheinery and electrical and any attempts to repair or maintain this equipment. Any individual who has not been trained would be breaching these regulations and could put themselves and others in danger.

b) First aid – Someone who is not adequately trained in first aid may cause more harm to the patient. c) Medication – Only staff who have attended medication training and are competent to administer and record the use of medication should be responsible for doing so. This helps to ensure errors are not made i.e Administering the wrong dose, which could lead to a possible over dose. d) Assisting moving and handling- According to manual handeling regulations 1992 individuals should be aware and understand their companies manual handelling policy avoid the need for hazardous manual handling, as far as is reasonably practicable. Understand health and safety in social care setting Essay

Therefore undertaking any manual handeling without being suitably trained to do so would put yourself at risk of injury. e) Emergency procedures- Every staff member should be made aware or and trained in the companies emergency procedures. Being unaware of this could lead to serious illness or even death i.e using a lift or being un able to raise the alarm due to not knowing where the fire bells are in the event of a fire. f) Food handling and preparation- It is good practice to ensure any individual handeling or preparing food has the appropriate training. This minimizes the risk of food poisioning through cross contamination or under cooked meat etc.

Avii An explanation of the procedures to be followed to prevent and in the event of each of the following:

RiskPreventionEmergency Procedure
FireAll staff have fire training.
Fire alarms are tested weekly.
Fire exstinguishers regularly tested.
No smoking in the building.Raise the alarm
Evacuate building.
Call emergency services.
Gas leakCarbon manoxide detectors installed and tested regularly.

Identify emergency cut off point.
Appliences should be switched off after use where possible.
All appliences installed and maintained by a CORGI registered engineer.