Health_and_Safety

Health and Safety Executive (HSE) – Relates to all different types of work related issues, they cover all aspects of health and safety in all different environments such as; • Accidents (RIDDOR) - Report serious accidents/incidents (law). • ill health-(something that is caused due to work injury or substances • Risk assessments- 5 steps to minimising the risks (risk assessment enclosed) • Welfare facilities- Toilets and washing facilities, rest room, drinking water, changing facilities etc. • Fire-Adequate fire signs such as fire exits, fire extinguishers with correct colour labels on, fire blankets etc. • First aid- First aider on duty every day. First aid box clearly marked and adequately supplied. • Training- Available on health and safety All these are protected by The Health and Safety at work act 1974. All settings should have on display or in the building an up to date Health and Safety Poster. The HSE also gives guidance on a wide range of Health and Safety issues in different workplaces. There are three main guidance, these are: • To help people understand the health and safety at work act • To help people comply with the law • To give advice. Guidance is not law and is not compulsory. There are many different sources of current guidance that early years and educational settings can use in order to plan for a healthy and safe environment or service, including the following: • Risk education- in the year 2000 HSE set up this programme for schools to manage risks. • General teaching requirements for Health and Safety- This was brought in for pupils to learn how to manage risks, incorporating the use of risk assessment, this allows the pupils to make their own choices and understand the consequences. • Incident/accident- All major accidents must be reported. • Workers roles and responsibilities- Rights to work in a risk free environment. To leave the area of work if there are risks. You must take care of your own health and safety and others around you if you are endangering them. You must cooperate and not interfere or misuse anything that is a given to you for health and safety reasons. Your employer must tell you how to do your job safely and what to do in emergencies (just a few examples of guidance’s). These all contribute when staff plan and provide healthy and safe environments and services for the children/young people in their care. The HSE guidance was put into place so workers and businesses can follow and provide healthy and safe environments (health and safety executive 2009). 1.4 Within my work setting we follow The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. It is the employer’s duty to put policies and procedures into place to ensure that the setting is meeting the standards of The Health and Safety at Work Act and the employee’s duty to make sure these are followed. We follow this act by making sure that * The building and environment is well maintained, clean and safe. * Equipment is stored properly and is regularly checked to ensure it is safe. * Hazardous materials and equipment is locked away and we follow the COSHH act. * We have systems in place to ensure the safety of children at all times i.e. fire procedure, accident and illness procedure. * We provide adequate facilities to suit the needs and abilities of all children and young people * all members of staff are qualified, CRB checked and given regular training. * Gloves and aprons are worn at all times when dealing with bodily fluids to prevent cross-infection. * All accidents and incidents are recorded are reported to the correct person . Many of our staff are first aid qualified and are able to deal with minor injuries within the setting. First aid boxes and fire extinguishers are in every room. We have a health and safety officer who oversees the running of the setting and ensures that risk assessments are regularly carried out and updated. Staff members are given guidance on how to protect themselves throughout day to day activities and also regarding manual handling. 2.4 A full risk assessment is carried out every term, any issues that need addressing are then looked at and rectified. It may be possible for some issues to be rectified there and then, such as broken equipment which needs to be thrown away. Other issues may need an action plan which sets out what needs to be actioned. How long this may take and by whom it should be carried out. The action plans are then reviewed within a manageable time frame to ensure the action has been completed. Some hazards can be dealt with straight away as they arise such as removing a trip hazard or cleaning up a spillage. A risk assessment is only valid at the time it is carried out. It is important to monitor risks identified and to change anything that needs updating.