Legislative framework in health and safety free essay sample

The health and Safety at Work Act 1974 is the primary piece of legislation and is responsible for enforcing the act and a number of other acts relevant to the working environment. It also states that all staff should take reasonable care of themselves and others around them and for their safety. Risk assessments have to be done regarding all types of work we do or the equipment we use to see if it’s safe to do so. All our legislation and policies and procedures are kept in folders in the manager’s office so we know where they are at all times and are relevant and up to date. We have health and safety, coshh, riddor, Safeguarding, Manual handling operations. The main Health and safety policies and procedures agreed with the manager are to make sure all staff and residents are safe and away from danger at all times. If something is broken remove it so nobody will come to any harm so put a label on it saying do not use and inform the manager. We are aware with how to deal with accidents, injuries and emergencies and the reporting of all of these. We know what paperwork to fill in so everything is documented in our records. We have had all relevant training and are all up to date. Moving and handling of individuals is vital it is done in the correct way so harm is caused to any parties. 1. 2 Policies, procedures and practices in own care setting are put in place to make sure you run your home safely and meeting the standards put in place. The legislations put together influence how your work practices and procedures that are put in place as you need to comply with all the rules and regulations to be able to meet the standards to run the care setting safely. Policies and procedures need to be updated yearly as things do change and the company needs to be aware of the changes so it can be put into practice so to comply with all the rules and regulations for the smooth running of the home. Risk assessments are carried out monthly or sooner if needed. Our work place meets health and safety requirements by making sure all staff are fully trained, the home is fit for purpose and all equipment is all full working order and all checks like fire alarms are tested regular we do this every Wednesday and get them serviced along with all other equipment serviced on a regular basis. 2. 1 To be a good role model for health and safety you need to make sure you are doing everything to meet the health and safety standards and train others how to so all staff are able to meet the standards expected of them to comply with all the policies and procedures. Staff to have the relevant training to be able to fill their role to the best of their ability and to comply with the company’s procedures. We do all our health and safety checks every week and have all our equipment serviced regular as well so we know they are in full working order. We make sure all equipment that is not in use is turned off like the washing machine and tumble dryers to help prevent any fires. All our doors and gates are locked at night to help maintain the security. Page 2 of 7 2. To support others to comply with legislative and organisational health, safety and risk management policies, procedures and practices that is relevant to their work. Others in the work setting like colleagues, families and carers need to be aware of health and safety issues like reporting and recording procedures and take responsibility for health and safety issues. Our employers/managers responsibilities are to make sure they provide us with the correct information about the risks for health and safety. Provideprotective clothing to be able to our job. Make sure we get all the relevant training we need. How to do our job safely and what we would have to do in an emergency. In helping support others to understand and follow safe practices you need to have good communication, share information with each other make sure staff training is recorded and up to date. Visitors, inspectors, regulators, carers, practitioners that all visit the work setting will all need support to be able to c omply with the health and safety within this setting. The actions to take when health and safety and risk management, procedures and practices are not being complied with in your care setting would be to discuss it with your manager and depending on the task they was doing like if they had just cleaned the floors and had forgot to put a wet floor sign down and nobody had come to any harm they would just be spoken to or if it was more serious they would get a warning as we are there to protect the individuals and not put them in any danger. Certain tasks in the work place should never be carried out unless you have had the relevant training to do so like moving and handling, administering medication, first aid, and use of equipment. All staff that work at linden manor have all the correct training to be able to do their job correctly and follow the policies and procedures that are set in place to keep everyone safe at all times. If the manager does not comply with the health and safety and risk management I would need to contact my area manager and she would need to get involved to help resolve the issue. We complete records and reports on health and safety and risk management issues according to legislative and organisational requirements. You need to document all health and safety issues and do regular health and safety checks around the home by carrying out Assessments, hold regular health and safety meetings. You have to continuously monitor and report potential health and safety risks. It is important that you do regular checking on all equipment and machinery. You need to make sure all your policies and procedures and agreed ways of working are up to date. You need to report any health and safety issues and risks right away and make sure all records are up to date and correct. We do risk assessments to as they are important as we do this to protect ourselves and individuals from harm and danger and to reduce to reduce the risk of anyone getting injured. Any health and safety issues found need to be reported to the management team straight away. The information that is recorded would be any issues found like broken machinery, Lighting, locks all need to put in the handy man’s book so he can fix them as soon as Page 3 of 7 he comes in and management to be informed it is not data protected and you need to double check all the information that is recorded is true and correct. 3. 1 To develop the policies, procedures and practices you need to identify, assess and manage risks to individuals and others. You need to look at ways to minimise potential risks and hazards is to realise what the hazard or risk is and who might be harmed, record any findings and implement them, keep reviewing them and update records on a regular basis. I can get additional support my manager regarding any health and safety issues or contact organisations like hsce and they would be able to provide more support for me. We work alongside the safeguarding team to make sure we are doing all we can to protect each and every individual. If something has happened to an individual the safeguarding team would be involved and investigate to see if we can put any extra measures in place to try to help prevent any harm coming to that individual again. If there is a gap in their care plan like if a resident has become more or less mobile a risk assessment needs to be put in place and updated as any changes happen and all staff need to aware of this to be able to meet their needs along with a planned care section. 3. 2 Working with individuals and others, I work alongside the district nurses, doctors, cpn, care managers and we have regular meetings to discuss how individuals are doing and any changes that need to made. I am responsible for doing all risk assessments for the individuals needs like medication, fire, Zimmer frame/walking stick/ bath hoist, stairs, wheelchair, nutritional, water low to name a few. Regular monitor all are equipment we use and check the environment that it is safe and fit for purpose. We put all the risk assessments in place to try to protect all the individuals that we care for coming to any harm and make sure all are carers are fully trained and know how to deal with all types of situations when they occur. Staff are always checking for risks and hazards around them it’s about assessing the situation before doing any action and the visitors that we have come into the home are very compliant with this and when something is wrong they will come and get a member of staff to be able to sort the situation out like a resident moving around the home that is very frail and unsteady on their feet the visitor will call for assistance for them. 3. 3 We work with others to manage the potential risks and hazards from happening. We do all work to the policies and procedures set out for us to follow. We do all types of risk assessments and put them in place to try to prevent any harm or upset coming to each of our individuals that we care for and these are reviewed monthly or sooner if needed. You get all the staff to read them so they are aware what to look for and how to deal with anything that may occur and they are signed off by the management team once complete. Ways to minimise potential risks and hazards is to realise what the hazard or risk is and who might be harmed, record any findings and implement them, keep reviewing them and update records on a regular Page 4 of 7Â  basis. All our equipment has regular maintenance checks done on it this happens at least twice a month by our handy man. We have a training matrix that is up on the wall in the office which tells you what staff have what training and the dates when completed and it’s my job to make sure all staff have the correct training and that it is kept up to date. 4. 1 By working with individuals to balance the management of risk with individual’s rights and the views of others. All carers are aware of what risks they can and can’t take. For individuals that need encouragement with their mobility the carer with push them a little more to help them build up their confidence this is a risk but it’s to help them to gain more independence. You take into account others views and ideas and weigh them all up to see what the risk is and take into account the individuals views and wishes to see how we can maintain their safety whilst meeting their needs and wishes at the same time. We have residents that will take knowing/ unknown risks all these risks or potential risk all have risk assessments in place for staff to follow and how to deal with these. 4. 2 Working with individuals and others to help develop a balanced approach to Risk management that takes into account the benefits for the individuals of risk taking. If the individual has poor mobility and you want to help them to increase their independence you push them a bit more to help them build their strength up to be able to walk more and gain back their independence this is a risk but it is for the benefit of the individual at the end of the day. Plus all carers are trained and know what to do in these types of situations. The individual has the right to gain back their independence by helping them to build up their strength they are able to do more things for themselves. All individuals that use mobility aids all have risk assessments in their care plans and have been assessed to use them we have the correct amount of staff on each shift to be able to run the home correctly. All staff is aware of what a risk is and when it can lead to becoming a hazard. 4. 3 You should always evaluate your own practice in promoting a balanced approach to risk management. You should always take into account the benefits that it has for that individual and the risk you have to take to do it. You should always do what’s in the individuals interest and if it is going to help them improve their way of living. You should work as a team to be able to support each other when it comes to assessing risks and managing risks. If we was support an individual to become more mobile maybe they have had a fall and lost their confidence or their mobility was becoming more frail and may need a mobility aid to help assist them with their mobility you need to spend extra time with them giving them the confidence to be able to remain as mobile as possible and make sure their care plan has been changed to match their current needs and risk assessments are put in place and up to date. Page 5 of 7 4. 4 You should analyse how helping others to understand the balance between risk and rights improves practice. All staff has been trained and do understand the difference between risk and rights improves practice. You should always encourage others to reflect on their practice in relation to risk management so they can see what they have learnt from it and how has it benefited the individual. All staff should understand risks and rights to improve the practice of the home and by complying with the policies and procedures of the home at all times. 5. 1 Obtain feedback on health, safety and risk management policies, procedures and practices from individuals and others. We have regular meetings with the staff and update each individuals care plan monthly so we get a lot of feedback from the staff then about each individual. We also have monthly meetings with their next of kin and they have their chance to review the care plan and give us any feedback. We have resident meetings regular as well to get their views and ask them questions to see what they think needs improving and what hazards they think need to be fixed. We report all hazards to the manager and all get written in the handy man’s book, our communication book so all staff is aware. 5. 2 Evaluate the health, safety and risk management policies, procedures and practices within the work setting. Health and safety policies get reviewed on a yearly basis by our head office. We do our own evaluations each month. All staff has to follow the practices, policies and procedures put in place to be able to safe at work and help maintain the safety of all the individuals. We have monthly health and safety meetings to discuss and problems and how and when these will be dealt with. Carer’s read all the health and safety and risk management policies, procedures and practices. I have asked those questions in what to do in certain situations and they give me the correct answers just to see if they fully understand what they have read. All staff is trained to use the equipment and they know when something is faulty to put an out of order sign on it and report it straight away to the management team. 5. 3 Areas of policies, procedures and practices that need improvement to ensure safety and protection in the work setting. We keep staff updated of any changes and issues through staff handovers and we have a communication book that all staff read to keep up to date with all things that have happened or are going on. The staffs are really good on communicating with each other and keeping management informed. We have temperature controlled water and heating system so that no staff or residents can get burned through the water being too hot. We have handrails fitted where needed to make it easier and safer for individuals that need to extra support and to help them to maintain as independent as possible. We have no smoking signs up to inform individuals that smoking is not permitted in these areas. Page 6 of 7 5. 4 Recommend changes to policies, procedures and practices that ensure safety and protection in the work setting. The management team can change procedures and practices and all homes are different and need to do what relates to us and making sure all staff abides by the rules and code of practice. Risk management and health and safety issues get monitored on a daily basis. You are all monitoring and assessing risk throughout your daily duties. Any changes that need to be implemented need to be discussed with the management team. Our head office print our policies and they are updated yearly and are all kept in the manager’s office. We have just had a walk in shower room fitted on the ground floor and this is so ideal for our individuals that are hoisted and due to medical problems can’t get in the lift or bath hoist this has been a blessing for them and they are really enjoying the showers that are now able to have. We have also had a medication room done now for the senior carers and everything is now kept in one place and it’s more secure.