M1- Describe the roles and responsibilities relating to the health, safety, and security of
individuals in a health and social care setting
In the workplace, everyone has roles and responsibilities to ensure that the working environment is
safe and fit for purpose. If employers and employees do not follow the responsibilities they have to
keep the environment safe it can result in work-related injuries resulting in worse cases like fines,
imprisonment, and loss of a job. I will now talk about the roles and responsibilities or health and
social care professionals and consequences if they fail to protect people they are responsible for.
Management responsibilities
Employer’s responsibilities under the occupation safety and health administration
1. Provide a workplace free from serious recognized hazards that comply with standards, rules, and
regulations issued under the occupational safety and health act.
2. Examine workplace conditions to make sure they are up to health and safety standards. This can
be carrying out risks assessments.
3. Make sure employees have and use safe tools and equipment and properly maintain this
equipment. Providing employees with effective PPE.
4. Use colour codes, posters, labels or signs to warn employees of potential hazards. Providing fire
excavation posters, how to administer CPR.
5. Employers must establish and use and provide updated policies and procedures to maintain the
health and safety of employees. Using relevant health and safety procedures, first aid procedures.
6. Report any workplace injuries and documenting them. Reporting them correctly and keeping
them for up to 3 years.
7. Employers must provide safety training in a language that all employees can understand.
Providing first aid training in different language or in sign language for employees who have different
needs.
8. Provide medical examinations and training when required. Regular training in manual handling,
and first aid.
9. Keep hazardous equipment and chemicals in a safely locked cabinet to prevent injury. Putting
chemicals in COSHH cupboards locked and safety equipment when using hazardous chemicals.
10. Provide welfare facilities for employees like toilets and areas to eat. Providing an area for
employees where they can have a break with relevant facilities needed.
Risk assessments
, Employers have duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 to provide people under their
supervision with a safe and healthy workplace. In addition to these duties also there are regulations
that deal with hazards that also must be followed. Your manager has a duty of care to make sure
while you’re at work your health, safety and welfare are looked after. So in order to prevent injuries
risk assessments should be done to spot possible health and safety risks. Employers must carry out
risk assessments by doing the following:
1. Identify hazards that may cause harm- An employer must assess all possible hazards in the
workplace including physical, mental, chemical and biological factors that can cause harm. For
example, if there is a potential hazard like a knife ensuring this safe is safe in a locked cupboard to
reduce the risk of it causing harm.
2. Decide who may be harmed and how- Then an employer should identify who is at risk within the
organization and how they can be harmed. This can be done by risk assessing and employees by
finding out if they are at risk of getting harmed. For example, when lifting a client ensuring a hoist is
used and used correctly to prevent harm.
3. Assess the risks and take action- An employer must consider how likely it is a hazard could cause
harm. This can be done by labelling risks as low, medium or high. When the risks have been labelled
it then gives guidelines of what risks need sorting immediately. For example, a fire extinguisher
blocking a fire exit is high risk because in the event of a fire the exit might not be useable.
4. Make a record of the findings- Employers with five or more staff are required to record in writing
the important findings in the risk assessment. This should include any details of any hazards noticed
in the assessment and action taken to eliminate the risks. For example, recording finding an
electrical fault in a plug then writing it down in the risk assessment.
5. Review the risk assessment- A risk assessment carried out must be kept under review to ensure
that safe working practices have been applied and to see if old risks have been eliminated. Also if
new equipment or machinery is used it should be risk assessed. For example, at a hospital, they get
a new CT scanner. This piece of equipment must then be risk assessed if necessary.
Providing training
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