“Health and Safety at work Act 1974 is an Act of Parliament that is referred to as HASAW” and is responsible for all the employers that ensure safety and health welfare at the workplace. RIDDOR is a regulation where the employers and self-employed "report work-related deaths or any injuries” (Blagev et al. 2019). The workplace regulations 1992 all employers should maintain a safe and healthy workplace environment. “Control of Substances Hazardous to Health 2000(COSHH)"deals with hazardous substances like chemicals, dust, germs, and not any radioactive substances. FSA's Act of 1999 ensures hygiene in foods and the supply chain. “The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 amended 2022” deals with the safety regarding miscellaneous amendments. The provision of using work equipment regulations 1998 deals with the safety and suitability of work types of equipment in organizations.
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The Act 1974 states health and safety at the workplace, it ensures that every employee can freely participate, in their health and safety at work. The regulation 1999 for the “Management of Health and Safety at workplaces a duty on the employers to analyze and manage any risks that are arising from their work activities" (Davis et al. 2020). The RIDDOR regulations of 1995 ensure the employers control the work premises about work-related deaths, diseases, or injuries. The regulations of workplace 1992 place the duty on the employers to ensure workplace safety for the employees. Under the Regulations 1992, employers should provide "personal protective equipment" to ensure their safety. The Work-time Regulations 1998 ensures the proper work time of the employees.
1.3
For self-care at the workplace, it is important to ensure certain responsibilities about own belongings. I should wash our hands before and after every health care support. I should always use a mask as required. I should inform our employers if we notice any kind of work risks or inadequate precautions that could lead to serious risks (Hou et al. 2020). It is also important to avoid the work-place by informing the employer if I am injured or suffering from any fatal diseases that could put other's life at risk as it is a part of our social responsibility.
The employer or manager has certain responsibilities and safety related to the workplace. They should be aware of the risk factors in his workplace and should take early precautions regarding them. The manager should give training to their employees regarding work-place safety. Work-place equipment or protective clothing should be provided for free to their employees to maintain proper health and hygiene.
Others should not do certain activities that shall affect the peer person. They should provide clean toilet facilities to avoid germs and the spread of infections, and drinking water facilities and first-aids should be kept for any accidental injuries. They should be responsible for the insurance to avoid any health emergency.
1.4
Using a lift for doing up and down of any patient or equipment shall be risky. Without proper training, medication should not be done as it includes proper prescription, analysis, choosing the medicine4, and disposal if required (Lockhart et al. 2020) Applying first-aid without knowing the disease or injury can lead to their wounds more deadly. Handling emergencies like a fire, building damage, flood, or anything as such should have proper training. Maintaining proper food quality is a very important part to avoid food poisoning.
2.Key Laws Governing Workplace Safety
2.1
Different injuries or sudden accidents are falling, any electrical incidents, manual handling, any kind of sprains and strains, or back injuries can be problematic. For example, sudden accidents like falling from the staircase due to slipping or any misbalance can cause sudden injuries to any body parts. Such cases may put strains on the back or neck areas (Madsen et al. 2020). It is very important to consult a doctor or any kind of medical assistance to recover from the situation. Any electrical shocks from mishandling of current wires or power supply shots can lead to severe conditions, in such medical cases it requires emergency medical assistance. Also note that in such cases no person should touch the peer person, then the other person will also be at risk. Any kind of back, neck, or head injuries caused due to repetitive strains or any other sudden accidents can lead to severe consequences that may lead to fatal conditions if ignored. Another most commonly happened sudden accident in the health sector can be injuries by sharp objects like broken glasses, any needle injury, or a cut through a blade. For such conditions, one individual should immediately inform the employer and take possible first-aids to stop the bleeding. Persons suffering from Hemophilia hold a risk factor working in care-setting places, as it is such a condition where a person doesn’t have the protein to clot blood easily and he or she continues to bleed for a longer time. As a result longer bleeding can cause several other problems like fatigue, and low pressure or a person having blood phobia can also be sense-less.
2.2
The immediate procedure that a person should follow in case of any injury or sudden accident is like this –Emergency medical support should be provided. The concerned family of that person should be immediately informed and the manager should be reported and records should be kept of that accident for prior medical assistance. In any serious accidents, you should stay calm and keep the patient warm and should be admitted to the hospital as soon as possible. The manager should be contacted, proper documentation should be done as to how and why the person has suffered, and after that report to the higher authority for prior medical approval of that person. For any type of stinger or insect bite the person should be immediately treated with the required first-aid, and the strings should be removed and cold-washed (Michaelis et al. 2020). Ice cubes should be rubbed to ease the burning sensation. Any snake bite should not be treated without prior knowledge, it should be immediately taken action to avoid a fatal condition for that person. In any kind of sudden accident or illness with prior medication and first-aids, the injured person's breath and heart rate should be checked. Talk to the doctor about proper prescription with rest should be undertaken by the patient. An employer should allow leaving their employees in any such sudden accidental conditions or illness to avoid spreading germs in the workplace.
Managing sudden illness or accident, staffs need to make decisions to control immediate risk and ask other people for help. In addition, it is required to contact for emergency services and advice others to record this incident in organization’s accident book. In this case supervisor’s responsibility is to investigate about accident and report this situation to respective enforcing authority. Action needs to take by following legislation RIDDOR “Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (1985)” as this increases employer’s responsibility.
3.Handling Workplace Hazards and Injuries
3.1
“Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (HSWA)”, “Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 (MHOR)” which has been amended in 2002, “The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999”, “Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER)”, “Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER)” are primary legislations that access to regulates handling and moving equipment. HSWA covers employees’ responsibilities as they are for another employee. Moreover, they are self-employed for others to maintain safety and health in workplace (HSE, 2022). MHOR has been implemented for measuring safety and health and minimising injurious risk. It guides employees about handling multiple assessors to avoid hazards. PUWER focused on regulation of the work environment and guides about employees’ responsibility for using equipment. According to this law, equipment needs to check on a regular basis and provides employee training. Moreover, they have to adapt special warning signs to minimise chances of risk. LOLER is concerned about lifting equipment and operations and supports to build required changes. This legislation is widely used in social and healthcare sectors.
3.2
Handing and moving is an important task of employees in a care setting involving catering, equipment moving, waste management, supply, and laundry. However, due to poor handling and moving practice, different hazards happen which can be controlled by following principles. An employee needs to gain knowledge about their limits provides them confidence and assists them as per required. According to Lockhart et al. (2020), due to poor handling practice, leads to musculoskeletal disorders, and back pain which leads lack of support. Lifting checklist and careful plan aids to reduce risk assessment on manual equipment handling. It is required to be sure about weight of lifting materials as it needs to be lightweight and also required to plan a clear route which is helpful for load management. Clear space is required for taking and lifting loaded equipment it can manage effortlessly. Individual needs to concern about pushing, lifting, pulling, filling, and carrying which ensure safety management. Suitable clothes need to wear which reduces risk of obstruction while equipment lifting. Reduction of un-required distance and mapping out actual route is important through which objects and other equipment are moved to safe places. It can be managed by keeping load towards a body that increases capacity to carry loads. Training on handling and moving equipment and other objectives is essential for hazard control in care settings (NHS, 2021). Adequate training on online handling courses is another stepping to ensure employee handling loads. Feet positioning delivers stable and balanced lifting which influence for handling manual activity. Staffs need to take preparation for maintaining and managing a stable posture which makes save their knees and back. Maintaining grip and firm supports to keep their arms within boundary of body which ensure lifting object an individual is able to carry object effortlessly. Lifting equipment in a smooth manner controls body hazards.
4.Managing Hazardous Substances in the Workplace
4.1
Different types of hazardous substances are biological agents, substances related to work, natural substances, and chemical products that are responsible to increase chances of risk in a care setting (nibuisness, 2022). Healthcare staffs face different types of hazardous substances drugs and chemical exposure, latex different cleaning products.
Chemical products: cleaning agents, adhesives materials, pesticides, chemical waste
In another way, it can also be mentioned that,
Gaseous substances: carbon monoxide, chlorine
Mist or spray: acid mists, epoxy sprays, paint
Liquid: cleaning chemicals, degreasing solvent
Fumes: hot rubber, welding, galvanising fumes, soldering
To provide health care support, different care settings organisations utilise hazardous substances and it enhances chances of risk based on chemical concentration of caustic substances, acids, glues, and disinfectants. These substances are inhaling within its eyes and skin. It has a negative impact on vomiting and nausea, and poisoning. Moreover, in health organisations, chances of contamination of health of different heavy materials such as cadmium, lead, mercury, and aluminium are higher. This develops disorders in the nervous system, kidneys, and lungs. As referred to by Ostad-Ali-Askari (2022), unsafe fabric in fluid, solid, fabric and gaseous manner has a negative impact on organisms and health. Hazardous substances are used repeatedly such as hazardous waste and hazardous products. Hazardous waste can be obtained directly from biochemical production and these become contaminated with groundwater and substances. Such waste is classified inisradioactive, toxic, flammable, reactive, infectious and corrosive materials (Safer and Tangpricha, 2019). Surgical smoke is considered a hazardous substance that is produced mainly from electro surgery. In operating room, it needs protective measures to development of this smoke. Additionally, using mechanical ventilation, airborne germs are also produced while generating heat. Application of laminar airflow, AC systems are responsible for producing surgical smoke in a care setting. This leads to patient’s olfactory discomfort in an operating room. As referred to by Michaelis et al. (2020), electrosurgery smoke, biomedical, and pharmaceutical disturb maintaining nature’s balance. Different types of body fluids such as vomit, blood, urine, sputum, and faeces are major body fluids that effects on environment in care settings and workplaces. Increases of hazards enhance chances of swallowing and breathing problems of employees. Different disposal items such as gloves, towels, clinical waste, and injection syringes were assessed for poor workplace environment and hampered safety measurement. Extract emissions are coming from exhaust ventilation are required for correct protection.
5.Fire Safety and Emergency Procedures
5.1
Fire generally starts with oxygen, heat and fuel which are required to regulate in consideration of risk assessment. In consideration of employee safety, it is required to develop a risk management plan including fire setting. To present first start, it is important for maintaining electrical safety within workplace. According to Davis et al. (2020), proper fire service is required as it focuses on eliminating poor safety outcomes. Fires can be started within workplace due to wrong use of electrical equipment and faulty wiring. Staffs need to learn about managing flammable material as there are high chances of fire. Additionally, healthcare organisations contain large volume of explosive liquid vapour which needs to be placed in the no-smoking area and electricity-protected areas.
Initiating smoke detectors play an important role in reducing a high chance of fire. To control fire spreading electrical safety maintenance is required along with implementation of electrical control panels. Provides safety training on fire management to employees along with storing helps to control chemicals explosives (Navarro, 2020). Evacuation and emergency plan support to address damages. Using accessible equipment mainly fire protection equipment such as control panels and fire extinguishers prevents the spreading of fires. Concerns about the activation of fire alarms and check maintenance services are importance on a regular basis.
5.2
Emergence procedures can be followed while a fire is starting such as informing other people certainly for evacuation, belling fire alarm to inform other people and neighbors. It is required to call the government’s helpline number fire brigade to ask for help. As referred to by Wang et al. (2020), training needs to provide to every employee to use in case of a small fire and able to make emergency decisions. Carefully dispense water and palace chemicals in a safe place supports to minimize chances of risk and effective control explosion. In case of a short circuit of electricity, it is important to cut electricity by switching off main source of electricity.
6.Personal Safety and Workplace Awareness
6.1
Safety awareness is crucial for increasing individuals’ moral reasons which helps them to be concerned about spending money, and accidents. Every person needs to be sure and aware of their surroundings while working in their workplace. Individual needs to gain knowledge about their security areas. It is important to access knowledge about what happening, policy and safety measurements about employee safety management, and the organization’s potential security management. It is necessary for every employee to be concerned and aware of the workplace and to inform their supervisor in case of anything suspicious. As opined by Madsen et al. (2020), the development of the HR process supports improving the well-being of women which delivers them workplace flexibility. In the case of lone working areas, female needs to contact other employees on a regular basis to ensure their safety. Moreover, they need to make sure about their personal belongings and it is their responsibility to serve notice. It is self-responsibility to influence co-workers for measuring tier personal safety and supports management in establishing safety policy. Within the workplace, it needs to ensure others’ whereabouts which supports improving their confidence. It is an individual’s responsibility to avoid unnecessary risk and also take responsibility for their job role. They need to avoid violent situations to maintain the workplace environment.
Reference
Websites
NHS, (2021), How to move, lift and handle someone else, Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/social-care-and-support-guide/practical-tips-if-you-care-for-someone/how-to-move-lift-and-handle-someone-else/ [Accessed on 10/03/2023]
Business, (2022), Health and safety in care service businesses, Available at: https://www.nibusinessinfo.co.uk/content/hygiene-and-hazardous-substances-care-service-businesses [Accessed on 10/03/2023]
Journals
Blagev, D.P., Harris, D., Dunn, A.C., Guidry, D.W., Grissom, C.K. and Lanspa, M.J., 2019. Clinical presentation, treatment, and short-term outcomes of lung injury associated with e-cigarettes or vaping: a prospective observational cohort study.The Lancet,394(10214), pp.2073-2083.
Davis, A.L., Allen, J., Shepler, L., Resick, C., Lee, J., Marinucci, R. and Taylor, J.A., 2020. Moving FOCUS–the fire service organizational culture of safety survey–from research to practice.Journal of Safety Research,74, pp.233-247.
Hou, L., Wu, S., Zhang, G., Tan, Y. and Wang, X., 2020. Literature review of digital twins applications in construction workforce safety. Applied Sciences,11(1), p.339.
Lockhart, S.L., Duggan, L.V., Wax, R.S., Saad, S. and Grocott, H.P., 2020. Personal protective equipment (PPE) for both anesthesiologists and other airway managers: principles and practice during the COVID-19 pandemic.Canadian Journal of anaesthesia,67(8), p.1005.
Madsen, S.R., Townsend, A. and Scribner, R.T., 2020. Strategies that male allies use to advance women in the workplace.The Journal of Men’s Studies,28(3), pp.239-259.
Michaelis, M., Hofmann, F.M., Nienhaus, A. and Eickmann, U., 2020. Surgical smoke—hazard perceptions and protective measures in German operating rooms.International Journal of environmental research and public health,17(2), p.515.
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Ostad-Ali-Askari, K., 2022. Management of risks substances and sustainable development.Applied Water Science,12(4), p.65.
Preim, B. and Lawonn, K., 2020, February. A survey of visual analytics for public health. InComputer Graphics Forum(Vol. 39, No. 1, pp. 543-580).
Ramasamy, S., Krishnan, V., Bedford, R. and Bedford, C., 2019. The Recognised Seasonal Employer policy: seeking the elusive triple wins for development through international migration.
Sadoughi, F., Ali, O. and Erfannia, L., 2020. Evaluating the factors that influence cloud technology adoption—comparative case analysis of health and non-health sectors: A systematic review.Health informatics journal,26(2), pp.1363-1391.
Safer, J.D. and Tangpricha, V., 2019. Care of the transgender patient.Annals of internal medicine,171(1), pp.ITC1-ITC16.
Schmidt, M., Schmidt, S.A.J., Adelborg, K., Sundbøll, J., Laugesen, K., Ehrenstein, V. and Sørensen, H.T., 2019. The Danish health care system and epidemiological research: from health care contacts to database records.Clinical epidemiology, pp.563-591.
Wang, D., Wan, K. and Ma, W., 2020. Emergency decision-making model of environmental emergencies based on case-based reasoning method.Journal of environmental management,262, p.110382.
