OCR Level 2 Cambridge Technicals in Health and

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

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

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.

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

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

Risk Assessment For example, hospital cleaning staff have to work with hazardous substances… What is the hazard? Cleaning substances. What are the risks? Employees, Ill health due to contact with contractors, patients or visitors could all be hazardous substances. 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.

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

Thank you for using this OCR resource. Other OCR resources are available at www. ocr. org. uk To give us feedback on, or ideas about, the OCR resources you have used e-mail resourcesfeedback@ocr. org. uk