What you will learn in this session 1.Sources of information about health & safety, including national legislation or guidance and local policies 2.Work place hazards and/or incidents and the need for preventative action 3.Safe working practices 4.Reporting processes for health & safety risks 5.Potential risks involved in work activities and processes 6.Individual responsibility for reporting incidents 7.Correct use of work items provided by your employer

Why is this important?  The major injury rate has increased by 21% in the last decade  Over 1600 workers suffered a major injury because of a slip or trip in 2009/10  40% of sickness and absence is due to manual handling injuries.  Sharps injuries can transmit over 20 serious diseases.

Sources of information Health and Safety Executive website: ww.hse.gov.uk HSE law poster 6 pack (6 approved codes of practice) Local policies Local contracts

Health & safety law  The law aims to:  Prevent people getting injured or ill because of work  Encourage high standards of health, safety and welfare.  The law says:  You have a right to a safe workplace  Your employer must keep you safe at work  You also have responsibility for your safety.

Health & safety at work legislation  Health and Safety at Work etc. Act (1974)  Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (1999)

Employer’s responsibilities  “It shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all his/her employees” Health and Safety at Work etc. Act (1974)

“No person shall intentionally or recklessly interfere with or misuse anything provided in the interests of health, safety or welfare” Health and Safety at Work etc. Act (1974) Employee’s responsibilities  Responsibility for self and others by acts or omissions  Co-operate with employer  Follow policies, procedures and instructions

Management of health & safety at work regulations  Assess the risks to which employees are exposed to at work  Ensure employers comply with all health and safety laws and regulations  Comply with the law on the basis of the general principles of prevention

Failure to comply with health & safety legislation  Prosecution, notices, fines and imprisonment  Organisational or individual  Claims and complaints  Organisational or individual  Unquantifiable risk  Reputation, credibility, morale

Key definitions  Hazard is the potential to cause harm  Risk is the likelihood of harm  Safe is about being protected from, or not exposed to, danger or risk  Competence is about the ability to do something well (perhaps measured against a standard) and is usually acquired through experience or training  Significant in terms of risk is the likelihood of something occurring in combination with the magnitude of its impact  Reasonable in the context of health and safety is where the cost of action to control the risk is proportionate to the reduction in the risk. Cost, here, refers to time and effort as well as money

What is a risk assessment?  Identifying hazards that have the potential to cause harm and the associated risks  Know about the risks in your work  Control the risks that need it  Make sure the risks stay controlled  Risk is a part of everyday life  Can’t eliminate all risk  Know about the main risks that affect you  Know what to do to manage them responsibly

Carrying out a risk assessment  Step 1Identify the hazards  Step 2Decide who might be harmed and how  Step 3Evaluate the risks and decide on precautions  Step 4Record your findings and implement them  Step 5Review your assessment and update if necessary

Risk evaluation process  Introduce the local risk matrix and local escalation process

Reporting procedures  Introduce the local policies and procdutes

Common risks  Mechanical hazards  Equipment-related injury Other hazards:  Biological hazards  Chemical hazards  Violence and aggression  Work pressure  Wrongly/not used personal protective equipment

Slips, trips and falls  Slips and trips can happen anywhere  The biggest cause of serious injuries to health care workers, service users and others

Preventing slips, trips and falls  Personal behaviour  Wear sensible suitable footwear  Clean up and report spillages  Remove and report obstructions  Keep walkways and work areas clear  Plan cleaning schedules appropriately

Benefits of reporting incidents  Prevent or minimise future incidents  Learn and implement change  Safe place to work  Comply with the organisation’s policy  Maintain record of events and actions

Reporting Procedures  Reference your local policies and procedures

THANK YOU Any Questions? Insert trainer’s name, telephone number and here