Individual needs within the health and social care sectors

1. Individual needs within the health and social care sectors Hazards in health and social care environments

2. What is the difference between a hazard and a risk? • Hazard is the object that • could potentially hurt someone • Risk is the harm it could do

3. The Health & Safety Executive suggests the following five-point process: for Hazards Decide who might be at harm, and how. Evaluate the risks arising from the hazards and decide whether more should be done. For example in a nursery: Hazard – adult-size tables Risk – children might hurt themselves on the corners Level of risk to children – high Minimise risk – buy small tables designed for children Risk – adults could hurt themselves on the corners Level of risk to adults - low

4. Record your findings. – using an assessment form. This should show that: • Checks have been made • Hazards have been dealt with • The number of people affected has been considered • Precautions have been taken to reduce the risk. • 5.Review your assessment from time to time and revise if necessary.

5. Hazards in care settings Hazards are all around you, but carefully managed they will do no harm. A safety audit in your chosen care setting will identify hazards and their associate risks and show how risks can be minimised.

6. Toys • Toys are not unsafe but can be the cause of some accidents for example: A toy intended for an older child is given to a younger child or a toy that has been left in the wrong place and people trip over them. • Toys are involved in over 40,000 accidents each year (Royal Society for the prevention of Accidents, 2005). • All toys bought in the UK must conform to the Toy Safety Regulations 1995.

7. Control of infectious diseases • Protective Clothing must be worn when: • coming into contact with bodily fluids or wastes. • Disposing of waste. • Caring for someone who is being treated for an infection. • Changing soiled linen. • Hand washing – the most important way to prevent cross – infection is to wash your hands • Wearing gloves will offer a protective barrier against infection.

10. Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997 BUILDING EVACUATION PROCEDURES IN THE EVENT OF FIRE OR BOMB ALERT: • Raising the alarm • On hearing the alarm: Staff in senior positions proceed to control point All other staff: Close windows and doors etc Assist able colleagues Check the locality is clear • Assembly points • DO NOT re-enter the building until you are told it is safe to do so.

12. Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 • Poor lifting techniques result in many thousands of lost working hours due to injury. • The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) has set out guidelines to follow to avoid muscular and skeletal injury.

13. Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 1995 • Information provided to the HSE can be used to perform risk assessments. • Every workplace should have an accident report form.

14. Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002 • The law is designed to ensure that employers control exposure to hazardous substances in the workplace. • A member from the workplace should be responsible for implementing the guidelines of COSHH