2. Unit 4: Ensuring safe environments in Health and Social Care
OCR Level 2 Cambridge Technicals in Health and Social Care
Introduction to
Unit 4:
Ensuring safe environments in Health and Social Care

3. The importance of Health and Safety
A HAZARD
Health and safety within a health and social care environment is extremely important.
Some people who use health and social care services may not be able to take responsibility for their own safety.
Something that has the potential to cause harm
Reduce the hazard
Reduce the risk of harm

4. …and come in all shapes and sizes
Hazards
Hazards occur in all types of environments…
…and come in all shapes and sizes
It is the responsibility of both the employer and employees to reduce hazards.

5. Legislation
There is a range of legislation that covers Health and Safety. These can be applied to health and social care environments:
Health and Safety at Work Act
Food Safety Act
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health
Food Safety Regulations
Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations
Manual Handling Operations Regulations

6. Review your findings and make necessary changes
Risk Assessment
A risk assessment involves looking at risks in your environment and identifying ways to reduce or remove these risks. Here is the risk assessment process:
Identify hazards
Evaluate the risks
Record your findings
Review your findings and make necessary changes

7. Risk Assessment
For example, hospital cleaning staff have to work with hazardous substances…
What is the hazard?
Cleaning substances.
What are the risks?
Ill health due to contact with hazardous substances.
Employees, contractors, patients or visitors could all be exposed to the hazard.
How do you record your findings?
Complete a risk assessment form.
What do you decide when you review your findings?
All cleaning products to be securely stored. All employees to be trained.

8. What will you learn? After completing this unit you will:
Know potential hazards in health and social care environments
Understand risk assessment processes relating to health or social care
Know main principles of health and safety legislation applied to health and social care environments

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