Health, Safety and Welfare Study guide
Health, Safety and Welfare Regulations CQC Outcome 10 Working together to improve health and safety Key health and safety statistics according to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Report 2010/11: 1.2 million working people suffered from work related illness. 171 workers were killed at work. 115,000 injuries were reported under Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995. 26.4 million working days were lost due to work-related illness and workplace injury. 14 billion cost of workplace injuries and ill health (excluding cancer) (2009/10). Some of the most reported non-clinical incidents in the Trust Violence; harassment; aggression; assault Needle stick injury / sharps Personal injury incident Manual handling Staff / environment Chemical Exposure (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH)) Fire incident Slips / trips / falls unanticipated. Needles and sharps injuries Health care workers are at risk from sharps injuries (needle sticks) which can expose them to bloodborne viruses (HIV, Hep B, Hep C). REMEMBER THAT OTHER STAFF WILL BE PUT AT INCREASED RISK IF YOU DO NOT DISPOSE OF SHARPS SAFELY. If you suffer a sharps injury If you do suffer an injury from a contaminated sharp, you must follow the Trust protocol below: 1. Encourage bleeding of the puncture wound. 2. Wash with soap under running water, dry and cover with a waterproof dressing. 3. Contact Occupational Health on 020 7377 7449 immediately or out-of-hours contact the on call virologist via switchboard and notify Occupational Health the next working day. 4. Complete the Datix incident form. ALL STAFF MUST REPORT AND CHALLENGE ANY BAD PRACTICE Sharps injuries are the most common staff injury at Barts Health there were over 300 sharps incidents in the last year. Each injury could expose you to infections such as Hepatitis or HIV. The Trust has a Sharps policy which aims to reduce these incidents using the risk assessment process. It is your responsibility to safely dispose of the sharps don t cause harm to a colleague, patient or visitor by disposing of it unsafely. Make the safe choice the 1st choice. Attend training and promote good practice. Report unsafe practice on Datix. Standard Precautions Standard precautions such as hand-washing, gloves, aprons and goggles can reduce risk of contact and exposure to bodily fluids. 1
Health and safety information Lifting objects / inanimate loads (also known as manual handling) To reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injuries it is helpful to: Stretch your back before lifting heavy objects Always bend knees and not your back Turn using your whole body; don t twist your back Carry objects close to your body Not carry too many things at once Ask someone to help you lift, particularly heavy objects Use mechanical handling equipment to lift things for you whenever possible. Guidelines for safer lifting and lowering of loads Shoulder height Elbow height Knuckle height Mid lower leg height Women 3kg 16kg 3kg 13kg 13kg 20kg 25kg 20kg Men 5kg 15kg 5kg Shoulder height Elbow height Knuckle height Mid lower leg height HSE Manual Handling Operation Regulations 1992 Slips, trips and falls Slips, trips and falls from height can all have serious consequences. They can be caused by various factors such as poor housekeeping, slippery / wet surfaces, uneven surfaces, unsuitable shoes / clothing and climbing on furniture. Preventative steps Keep the workplace tidy. Clean up spillages immediately. Report any potential hazards. Wear the correct Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Restrict access to high-risk areas. Ensure regular and systematic cleaning. Ensure that flooring is properly maintained and cleaned. Post warning signs in areas of risk and remove after use. Ensure that areas are well-lit and suit the task being performed. Remove all possible floor obstructions. Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) It is important to control hazardous substances at work so that they do not cause ill health. The Trust is committed to the protection of staff from hazardous substances in line with the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002 (as amended). Simple steps can be taken to ensure that you are working safely: Use personal protective equipment (PPE) provided eg gloves, masks, respirators and overalls. Follow standard operating procedures (SOPs). Be familiar with your local COSHH file. Consult safety data sheets for information about the substance. Use control measures as instructed. Violence and aggression and physical assaults The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) definition of violence is any incident in which a person working in the healthcare sector is verbally abused, threatened or assaulted by a patient or member of the public in circumstances relating to his / her employment. Remember to: Report all incidents of violence and aggression, threatening behaviour or physical assault via the electronic incident form. Follow local violence and aggression and lone working procedures. 2
HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE Use your lone working security device in accordance with your local procedure, if you are a lone worker. Make yourself familiar with the Trust Violence and Aggression and Lone Working Policies. Stress The HSE defines stress as the adverse reaction a person has to excessive pressure or other types of demands placed on them. Tips to tackle stress Communicate with appropriate personnel (eg line manager, Employee Health Management Service or Staff Counselling). Take regular breaks. Learn to relax. Be organised. Sort out your worries. Change what you can. Look at your long-term priorities. Improve your lifestyle and exercise regularly. Consider changing work patterns eg flexible working. Focus on the positive aspects of your life. Hazard spotting If you spot a hazard and cannot fix it, then report it to the Ward / Departmental Manager or Risk Officer. Hazards can also be reported to the Estates Department and Facilities via the 24/7 relevant help desk for each site. Accessing Estates and Facilities Services Carillion Help desk (for St Bartholomew s, The Royal London and London Chest) 020 3465 7777. Carillion Geneva Help desk online. Email carillion.helpdesk@bartsandthelondon.nhs.uk ISS Facilities Help desk (for Newham and the Gateway Surgical Centre) 020 7363 8579, or internal extension 6279 E-mail: Newham. Helpdesk@uk.issworld.com or via intranet. Username is ISSNewham, password is Helpdesk. ERS Medical. There will be only 1 number for everything connected with Transport: 03332404096 which is a 24/7 help desk to book patient transport, taxis, couriers, pool cars. Carillion Help desk (for Mile End Hospital) 0845 155 0165 Email: mileendhelpdesk@carillionplc.com. References HSE - www.hse.gov.uk/ Adverse Incident policy - bartshealthintranet/policiesand-guidelines/documents/policies-trust-wide/ Adverse-incident-policy.pdf Sharps policy - bartshealthintranet/policies-and- Guidelines/Documents/Policies-Trust-wide/Sharps--- Safe-Use,-Handling-and-Disposal.pdf Occupational Health Exposure - bartshealthintranet/ HR-Online/Occupational-Health/Index.aspx Safe Moving and Handling policy - bartshealthintranet/policies-and-guidelines/ Documents/Policies-Trust-wide/Safe-Moving-and- Handling.pdf COSHH policy - bartshealthintranet/policies-and- Guidelines/Documents/Policies-Trust-wide/Control-of- Substances-Hazardous-to-Health.pdf Display screen equipment DSE checklist - bartshealthintranet/about-us/corporate-directorates/ Strategy/Estates-and-Facilities/Documents/Healthand-safety/DSE-checklist.doc Non-clinical slips and falls policy - bartshealthintranet/about-us/corporate-directorates/ Strategy/Estates-and-Facilities/Documents/Healthand-safety/Slip-trip-fall.pdf H&S - bartshealthintranet/about-us/corporate- Directorates/Strategy/Estates-and-Facilities/Healthand-Safety/Index.aspx Estates helpdesk - bartshealthintranet/about-us/ Corporate-Directorates/Strategy/Estates-and- Facilities/Index.aspx 3
Mile End Hospital Department Area of activity Mileendhelpdesk@carillionplc. com Contact FM Help desk All facilities management issues 24/7 Help desk on 0845 155 0165 Security All security issues 24/7 Help desk on 0845 155 0165 Newham University Hospital Department Area of activity Contact ISS Facility Services Help desk Domestic services Portering Catering Waste Linen and laundry Pest control Postal services Car parking Estates maintenance and repair 24/7 Help desk 020 7363 8579 or internal extension 6279 General office General enquiries 6281 Security All security issues 3133 In an emergency dial extension 4444 All facility management issues contact ISS with 24/7 Help desk Newham, Helpdesk@uk.issworld.com ISS Help desk 020 7363 8579 or internal ext. 6279. Medirest Office ext 5666 Whipps Cross University Hospital Department Area of activity Contact Healthcare Initial Cleaning help desk 9am to 5pm 5001 Portering help desk 9am to 5pm 5001 Out of hours 5pm to 8am Soft services Security 24/7 service 6060 Grounds and gardens 5903 Catering 6742 Waste management 6627 Car parking 6112 Sunlight linen and laundry Bleep 659 7am to 4pm Pest Control 6112 Clinical Engineering 5077 Maintenance Help desk Out of hours 5pm to 8am and weekends Policy / Further reading Risk Management Policies Health and Safety Intranet page Contacts Health and Safety/Fire Team Tel: 020 7480 4706 Moving and Handling Team Tel: 020 3416 Governance and Compliance Team Tel: 020 7480 4718 or H&Steam@bartshealth.nhs.uk MUST DO s Successfully complete the Health, Safety and Welfare quiz Following successful completion your records will be automatically updated 4