A list of the key legislation relating to health and safety in a social
care setting-
- ·
Health and Safety at work Act 1974
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Management of Health and Safety at Work
Regulation 1999
- ·
Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulation 1981
include amendment on 2009
- ·
The Electricity at Work regulations 1989
- ·
Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992
- ·
Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous
Occurrences Regulations 1995
- ·
Communicable diseases and infection control
- ·
Working Time Regulations 1998
- ·
Care Standard Act 2000
- ·
Control of exposure to Hazardous to Health 1999
- ·
Food Safety Act 1990 and Food Hygiene
Regulations 2005.
- ·
Environmental Protection Act 1990.
¬An explanation of how health and safety policies and procedures
protect people using social care settings.
All of the above mentioned
legislations are crucial part of health and safety. Every piece of legislation describes
not only clear guidance of responsibilities but also how should we maintain
health and safety to eliminate risks for the people using social care settings.
Let alone, Food hygiene regulation 2005, which explains the responsibilities,
involves handling food safely in order to avoid contamination and food
poisoning. Environmental protection act 1990 which describes the
responsibilities involves handling clinical wastes in order to prevent harm to
the environment. Control of exposure to hazardous to health act 1999 explains
the responsibilities involve handling hazardous substances such as reduce using
hazardous substances or using less hazardous substances and reducing exposure
level as much as possible. So, it is very important for us to follow health and
safety policies and procedures to eradicate risks from workplace and maintain
safe working environment.
¬A comparison of the differences in the main health and safety
responsibilities of each of the following-
Social Care Worker
- Take care of their own health and safety as
well as others.
- Co-operate with their employer by following
policies and procedures.
- Must use personal protective equipment as
necessary.
- Must adhere to achieve training and follow
instruction.
- Not to misuse or tamper with anything
provided for health and safety or welfare.
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Employer/Manager
- ·
Provide safe and risk free working
environment.
- ·
Provide equipments.
- ·
Deal with hazardous substances safely.
- ·
Provide information, instruction, training
and supervision as necessary.
- ·
Ensuring equipments are safe to use and
safe system of work are set and followed.
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Others (such as visitor, supporters,
volunteers and contractors)
- ·
Respect and obey the rules and legislation
imposed by authority.
- ·
Follow the instruction and guidance as provided
(Such as not to use lift in the event of fire, not to block the fire exit
etc.)
- ·
Co-operate with employer and workers if
anything has been noticed may cause harm to others or concern to others
health and safety.
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