Roles and responsibilities Flashcards
1
Q
ROLES OF THE EMPLOYERS (1)
ROLES = are the expectations that are held about an individual or organisation.
A
- Work environment are running smoothly
- Make sure that there are no hazardous substances around
- Follow the policies and procedures
- Ensure safety
- Following COSHH
- Reporting
- Risk assessments
- Attend training
- Infection control
- Making sure that its inline with the current legislation
- Maintain their own and others’ HS&S
- Attending health and safety training
- Following employer’s guidance and instruction
- Using PPE equipment provided for health and safety purpose, i.e. aprons, gloves
- Reporting hazards observed in the work setting
2
Q
ROLES OF THE EMPLOYERS (2)
A
- To make sure that employees training is in place
- Make sure that they are DBS checked
- Set policies and procedures
- Make sure that all pieces of legislation
- Risk assessments
- Uphold health and safety
- Makes sure that everything is in accordance with the guidance set out in the legislation
- Employers must provide:
- a safe place to work
- any necessary training
- appropriate and safe work environment
3
Q
ROLES FOR THE INDIVIDUALS WHO REQUIRE CARE AND SUPPORT
A
- Health and safety are everyone’s responsibility
- Follow health and safety guidance and attending training
- Follow instructions such as what to do in an emergence
- Comply with procedures such as moving and handling and food hygiene
- Observe health and safety signs and use appropriate equipment provided
- Report any hazards they become aware of observed in the work setting
4
Q
EMPLOYERS’ ROLES IN ENSURING HS&S
A
- NHS - provide a secure and healthy environment in which to work in and visit. Provide staff with sufficient instruction, information and supervision to be able to work in a safe manner.
- LA - developing effective communication with employees and their representatives on health and safety matters. Preventing accidents and work related ill health
- Manager/care home owner - develop, review and update the home’s health and safety policy and procedures. Maintain effective systems for recording, reporting and investigating injuries, accidents and dangerous occurrences.
- Headteachers/ Boards of Governors - manage the school’s staff, site and activities to safeguard the health, safety, security and welfare of everyone.
- Third sector - safeguarding and promoting the health, safety, security and welfare of its employees and all those who work on behalf of a charity. Work closely with the LA and other agencies to promote and safeguard the welfare of individuals who require care and support.
5
Q
RESPONSIBILITIES FOR EMPLOYERS
A
-
Promoting health and safety policies
- ensuring all relevant health and safety policies are in place
- ensuring all staff are aware of their responsibilities are stated in relevant policies
- ensuring health and safety training is provided
- ensuring appropriate staff are recruited, i.e. DBS checked, suitably qualified and/or experience
-
Maintain health and safety policies:
- keeping up to date with legislation
- updating policies regularly
- recording and following up all accidents and incidents
- providing induction training for new staff
- providing ongoing training
- checking the setting for health and safety issues, i.e. carrying out risk assessments, doing safety walks
- staff supervision
-
Enforcing health and safety policies:
- regular fire drills evacuation practice
- ongoing monitoring and supervision, training
- managing response to external checks, e.g. CQC or OFSTED inspection
- monitoring whether policies for staff ratios, levels of supervision and working hours are being complied with
- implementing disciplinary procedures as and when required.
6
Q
RESPONSIBILITIES FOR EMPLOYEES
A
-
Using equipment or substances
- using only in accordance with training
- taking care of themselves and others around them
- cooperating with wearing PPE as required and provided
- not tampering with or misusing any equipment provided to meet health and safety regulations, e.g. fire extinguishers.
-
Reporting serious or imminent danger.
- communicating hazards and anything dangerous to the employer immediately
- implementing safeguarding procedure
- reporting shortcomings in health and safety arrangement or procedure.
7
Q
RESPONSIBILITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO REQUIRE CARE AND SUPPORT
A
-
Understanding health and safety policies:
- taking part in fire evacuation drills as necessary
- reporting any hazards they become aware of
- cooperating with risk assessments and safety instruction
8
Q
CONSEQUENCES OF NOT MEETING RESPONSIBILITIES - DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS
A
- disciplinary procedures could lead to a written warning, a final written warning and dismissal:
- before any actions are taken the employer will do an investigation to establish all the relevant information and facts.
- employer may decide to suspend the employee who is being accused of misconduct.
- after investigation, the employer decides that there has been no misconduct then the employee will be ask to come back into work and resume their duties and responsibilities.
- if the employer believes that their was misconduct then they will make aware the employer decides there is a case then they will upheld a disciplinary meeting.
- any evidence will be made available to the employee before the hearing as well as having the right to be accompanied to a disciplinary hearing by a representative
9
Q
CONSEQUENCES OF NOT MEETING RESPONSIBILITIES - CRIMINAL PROSECUTION
A
- The Health and Safety (Offences) Act 2008, an employee failing to take reasonable care for the health and safety of themselves and others can result in either imprisonment for up to a 2 year period or an unlimited fine.
- The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 says that if a senior manager personally commits an offence and their actions are deemed grossly negligent and can cause person’s death, then a charge of gross negligence manslaughter could be brought.
- The Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007: states corporate manslaughter may be committed by an organisation.
10
Q
HEALTH PROFESSIONS REGULATORS
A
- General Chiropractic Council
- General Dental Council
- General Medical Council
- General Optical Council
- General Osteopathic Council
- General Pharmaceutical Council
- Health Professional Council
- Nursing and Midwifery Council
- Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland
11
Q
CONSEQUENCES OF NOT MEETING RESPONSIBILITIES - BEING REMOVED FROM PROFESSIONAL REGISTER
A
- in for example medicine and teaching, regulators hold registers of professionals because they have a duty to safeguard the public and ensure professional provide a high standard of care.
- professions such as nursing and midwifes, must be registered to be able to practise in the UK: criminal offence to practise without being registered
- if professionals practice when they are not deemed fit they could be suspended from register for up to a period of 2 years or be a subject to a “conditions of practice” order which restricts their duties and responsibilities.
12
Q
CONSEQUENCES OF NOT MEETING RESPONSIBILITIES - CAUSING INJURY OR HARM
A
- not having a clear procedure in place for carrying out risk assessments could mean that your employer cannot identify health and safety hazards.
- employees also have a responsibility to only carry out tasks that they are competent to do. If they are unsure about a task or have not received sufficient training they must inform their employer.
- not doing so could lead to injury or harm to themselves, their colleagues or the individuals they provide care and support to
- individuals are responsible for working with employers and employees in promoting their own and others’ HS&W; not doing so may lead to putting themselves and others working in and visiting the setting in danger and could result in causing injuries or harm.
13
Q
CONSEQUENCES OF NOT MEETING RESPONSIBILITIES - BEING INJURED OR HARMED
A
Failure to meet health and safety responsibilities may read to a range of harms:
- some minor, other more serious and some that could even result in fatalities
- NHS Safety Thermometer, a measurement tool that records harms suffered by individuals across the range of health care settings, indicates that pressure ulcers and falls were 2 of the most common harms experienced by individuals that could be prevented by safe care.
14
Q
INCIDENTS AND EMERGENCIES - ACCIDENTS
A
- Accidents can be the result of poorly maintained areas, fittings or equipment (eg slipping on a wet floor, electrical injury from faulty wiring)
- individuals in HS&CCS may also be more susceptible to accident due to their reduced abilities to mobilise and their lack of awareness of potential hazards
- poor working practices can also be the cause of accidents such as slipped disc from positioning an individual on a bed without using safe moving and handling techniques.
15
Q
INCIDENTS AND EMERGENCIES - EXPOSURE TO INFECTIONS
A
- HS&CCS may be more common to bacterial infections such as MRSA, C.DIFFICILE, food poisoning and viral illnesses such as norovirus, chickenpox and influenza.
- poor environmental conditions, such as inadequate ventilation and lack of running water, can create conditions where pathogens that cause infections can thrive.
- poor working conditions and practices, such as inadequate cleaning of facilities and poor practice hygiene, can also encourage the growth and spread of pathogens.
