Ensuring Health and Safety

NQF level 5: BTEC Higher National — H1

HND Health and Social Care (Management & Care Practice)

In Course Completion of

UNIT 3: ENSURING HEALTH AND SAFETY

Submitted this _____

Submitted to:

Submitted by:

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Contents:

Answer to Question 1 - 1.1 3
Answer to Question 1 – 1.4 7
References 15
Bibliography 16
Appendix 17

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Answer to question 1 – 1.1

There are five steps involved in a risk assessment, these are namely: hazard identification,
knowing the people at risk, risk evaluation and identification of precautionary measures,
gathering of the output and implementation of actions/activities and review and revision. The
first step involves being able to point the areas that is in need of a remedy and constant
monitoring. In the given scenario, risk assessment was displayed upon the recognition of the
flaws that the management of the hospital has seen. In the given situation, the areas needing a
call for change are the security system of the hospital, accident prone zones and the breach of
infection control. Risk assessment is a very important step towards radical change and
improvement.

The second step involved is knowing which of the people are vulnerable to the type of health and
security threat identified. This will allow the planner or the change agent to become aware of
which groups are to be targeted and how activities and processes will be designed. Basing from
the given scenario, it was clearly stated that the institution caters different age groups with
various problems. Therefore, the type of plan that must be created shall compliment each age
brackets and type of illness that a patient has. The third step is to evaluate the risk and to take
note of the precautionary measures. In this stage, you must assess the severity and seriousness of
the risk. If there are several risks identified then all of them must be attended according to
prioritization. The most severe case must be entertained first since this has the capability to
directly provoke danger. Identification of the risks has to be followed by listing down the things
that must be done in response to the threats. In the scenario, tips and falls cases can be
eradicated through placing a proper signage if the maintenance man hasn’t arrived yet. Fire
exists can be made clear by implementing a proper exit route and fire alarms can be reactivated
and be repaired instantly by doing a regular maintenance check-up of all the hospital equipments
to see whether they are still efficient or not. Visitors can also be limited by imposing strict
visiting hours and controlling the number of people who can visit.

Data gathering and implementation, which is the fourth step, are made possible by recording
every single entry that has been observed and catered. This will then become the basis during

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the evaluation period. Evaluations are done to see whether improvements have been
implemented. The elements which are assessed including the planned interventions will now be
put into action. The last step includes review and revision; this is done after ample time has been
given for change provision. In the scenario, six months was given as the target period. After six
months, the elements that are found to be affecting the health and safety of the hospital will be
re-evaluated to see whether improvement has taken place or not. Revision will take place
whether the kind of change taking place is good or bad. The data gathered from the start need to
be compiled for future references.

Word count: 521

Answer to Question 1 – 1.2

Health and safety at work act 1974 and Health and Safety at Work regulations 1992 are two
types of policy that allows workers to be protected by supplementing them with enough
information necessary to prevent any work related accidents from occurring. These policies aim
to legally require the stakeholders or employers to provide the privileges that are needed by their
workers and not to allow any form of health hazard to affect the lives of the people. The
procedures behind these two policies also require the business operators to continually assess
health risks and revise institutional policies whenever necessary. Upon formulation of the
policy, the content must be clearly communicated to the workforce including the people involved
in the policy composition. The purposes, objectives and systems must be clearly stated and be
reflected in the organisational chart. This guides the workers as to how the flow of procedures
goes and the people who are strongly involved.

Implementation of health and safety policies means giving out trainings. However, before
implementing such change, rule or regulation, employees must primarily be consulted and their
concerns shall be considered. Consultation is a way of making the entire team feel part of the
decision making process and this also avoids post objections. Other than that, consultation can
also prevent culture shocks since even a small amount of change can already affect the workers.
A careful consideration must be given by allowing enough time for this. The Management for

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Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 is a great way to keep the skills of the care workers
up-to-date. This doesn’t only provide assistance to the employees but it can also help in the
overall improvement of the institution. Those in the field of health care can greatly benefit from
this since the field of medicine and health and social care involves a constant skill up grade. Due
to the advantage it brings both to the service providers and employers, resources are also saved
from being used up for worker medical assistance.

Another policy is the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health; it is pretty much self
explanatory. Proper trainings and information dissemination is still their primary concern such
as using protective gears and emergency procedures involved. The Signpost to the Health and
Safety Regulation of 1996 concentrates on the labeling of materials, equipments and other
substances. This provides awareness to the people by making generic posts.

Word count: 398


Since I am currently employed in a hotel company, I would love to examine the responsibilities
of my workplace with regards to the management of health and safety. Basing from the
organisational chart found on the Appendix section of the paper [page 17],the lines represent the
involved personnel responsible for maintaining good levels of health and safety. Along with the
general manager and executive secretary, the food and beverage manager, executive house
keeper, executive assistant manager, chief engineering and the finance and account controller are
the ones primarily responsible in identifying, planning and implementing policies. The
subordinates under each of these departments with exemption to the general manager and
executive secretary also play a role in identifying factors which are in need of further
concentration. The problems and resolution will all be brainstormed according to each
department and the head is tasked to communicate these on the upper department. The
importance of the organisational flow chart is its representation of the clear chain-of-command
of the whole company.

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When all of the subordinates were able to properly voice out their ideas, thoughts and concerns,
the policy formation starts and shall be communicated back to the subordinates. Under the food
and beverage manager is the executive chef, assistant FB manager and the executive sous chef.
Maintenance of health and safety issues can be through the form of policies related to the safe
food handling since the subordinates under this department is specifically responsible on hands-
on food preparation. The health and safety for the consumers is therefore monitored by this
department by implementing strict compliance to food sanitation procedures. On the part of the
workers, their health and safety is protected by giving them proper training and self
protectiveequipments.

Health and safety is maintained by the executive housekeeper through the provision of policies
which would require facility check-ups, sanitation maintenance on each room and other related
activities. The front office manager is the one responsible for keeping security systems tight by
monitoring the flow of customers who are using the services and keeping track of those who
would like to contact the guests. The profile of each guest would also be kept private as this can
help promote safety. The chief engineering is the one responsible for the overall mechanical
systems involved in running the hotel and restaurant. Health and safety is at its best when every
system is properly monitored and checked regularly. This can help prevent power outage or any
damage that can result to harmful incidents such as fire. The finance and account controller
department manages the financial input and out flows. Vital and private records are also being
kept and this promotes privacy and safety on the part of the service users. The human resource
manager and the training manager are all responsible for the worker trainings, provision of skill
upgrades through seminars and screening of qualified applicants in accordance to the
requirements needed by the hotel e.g. health related issues (contagious disease free employees).

The executive secretary on the other hand communicates every concern through centralization,
decentralization or upward information relay. Everything communicated by the general manager
to the subordinates or vice versa has to be recorded by the executive secretary including other
legal or non-legal concerns. Implementation of safety is primarily on the confidentiality issues.

Word count: 552

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Basing from the given scenario, the health, safety and security priorities rests on the issues
regarding the accident prone zones, loss of private things owned by the clients, unsecure
institution, unclear fire exists, malfunctioning fire alarms, breach of nosocomial control,
unequipped and uncompetitive health workers. All of these priorities, however, must be attended
according to prioritization. In here, the disease outbreak within the hospital is the primary
concern since this doesn’t only harm the workers but including the health service users. Proper
attention must be given to this by changing and reforming policies to make it more affective.
Hygiene, sanitation and infection control procedures must altogether be used as a change agent.
Next priority must be given to the unskilled health workers. This means that proper trainings
and seminars shall be provided. If health workers lack the ability to provide efficient care to its
service users then there’s no sense in making institutional reforms since this alone is also
dependent on the involved stakeholders.

The third important issue is the accident prone zones. Tips and falls are small avoidable
incidents that are totally preventable; such problems can be solved immediately by improving
communication systems among the health workers in each department. Placing signage and
immediate referrals are among the common and simple activities that can help prevent
occurrence of health threatening accidents. Next in line are the security issues and safety of
client’s belongings. There must be a reform in hospital security policies by controlling the
number of visitors per patients, implementing strict visiting hours and keeping a log book for
every outsider who wish to visit a certain client. Service users must also be informed and
reminded regarding the non-accountability of the institution with regards to such events and they
must always be made aware of their personal belongings.

Regular upgrades and maintenance must be implemented not only for the fire alarms and fire
extinguishers but including the equipments needed for the hospital day-to-day use. Specific area
reconstruction can be done in order to enhance the proper exit routes and a generic signage can
be followed in order to help both clients and workers be guided in case of emergency.

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Word count: 362


Risk assessment is an effective tool in determining care plans. It is also a perfect basis for
organisational decision making for formulation of institutional policies and procedures. The
information gathered through risk assessment can identify the areas which are in need of action
or change. Care plans are designed to help identify the activities suited for each objective. A
care plan needs to contain elements such as: assessment, diagnosis, objective/goal,
implementation and evaluation. Assessment or risk assessment, as you can see, is part of the
care plan itself, which is why risk assessments are necessary. One good example for this is the
need for manual handling of patients, safety, health issues and security.

Diagnosis is based from the data coming from the assessment area; in this section all of the
problems are being listed. The objectives or goals are then determined according to the
presented problems. In this area, the changes that an individual wants to achieve must be
enumerated. The activities that are helpful in acquiring the goals will then be placed under the
implementation section. The evaluation part will then determine the things that an individual
wants to see after such identified activities have already taken place. This is how valuable risk
assessment is especially as a part of the care plan for individuals, this technique is applicable for
both health related and non-health related workers.

For organisational policies and procedures, risk assessments still possess a significant role.
Without risk assessments, the institution will never be able to determine areas in need of a
change. There will never be room for improvements since in order for an organisation to decide
for a change or enhancement, there must always be a basis. From the given scenario, the
hospital’s identification of setbacks is one form of risk assessment. Due to the gathered
information coming from the risk assessment, the need for policy reform was greatly realized by
the institution. Regular monitoring and evaluation are then adopted by the hospital in six months
time.

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Word count: 334


Dilemmas that may arise include the resistance of care workers to change, culture shock, service
user’s inability to follow new set of guidelines, expenses needed to achieve change, resistance of
old workers to undergo trainings and seminars and lack of information delivery. These problems
are commonly seen on institutions that lack the ability to recognize its employees’ needs,
concerns and thoughts. Before new policies and procedures take place, meetings must be held in
order to allow proper information dissemination and brainstorming of ideas. The employees
must always be considered because they are the ones who will strongly be affected. To avoid
resistance, workers must also be educated with regards to the need of the change and its purpose.
Culture shock is also one form of hindrance to change progress since adjustments takes time. It
would be hard to alter a work environment, proper time allowance must be given to the
employees.

Service users are sometimes unable to comprehend the need for a company’s change since they
are the external part of the stakeholders. Institutions sometimes forget the significance of having
the aims and purposes of such change communicated to the service users. Loyal consumers can
become used to the old and usual way of doing transactions with the institution and might get
confused and irritated for such change to instantly occur. If change is urgent, this can be solved
by appointing employees responsible in assisting service users e.g. customer service
representatives. Another major dilemma is the source of budget and other resources, an
institutional reform can become very costly especially those which demand great change from
the policy, equipments and down to the whole system itself. This problem can be addressed by
asking for support funding coming from government organisations. Proper budgeting and a
serious resource allocation to those which are only necessary are also needed.

The worker’s resistance to change can be changed by givingemployees with enough time for
adjustments and bombarding them with information. The information must not only contain the
probable gains of the institution, it must also include the benefits of the care workers both

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monetary and nonmonetary gains e.g. skill upgrades. Information delivery on the other hand is a
very important method for institutions to acquire favor from the employees. The changes must
be communicated very well by implementing a general gathering and reevaluations must also
include the stakeholders. Possible rewards and recognition must also be given to the employees
since this can increase their confidence and they can reap encouragements out of this.

Word count: 421


In my experience, I can say that health and safety policies both affect the service consumers and
the workers since both need to abide with the standing rules and regulations implemented by the
institution. On the part of the service consumers, health and safety policies can protect them
from any danger and threats that they can possibly acquire the moment they choose to indulge on
the services offered by a certain institution. In a hospital, health and safety policies include the
presence of isolation wards, protective gears, visiting hours, and the signage that discourages
health service users to be lenient with regards to the security of their personal belongings. These
policies are all for the purpose of the client’s welfare.

Moreover, on the part of the health workers, policies intended for them can include the basic
rules which involve handling patients up to the professional issues e.g. chain-of-command. The
policies that are present on the hospitals are followed for the purpose of organisation and
protection. The imposed standard procedures e.g. use of gloves and reporting of needle prick
accidents are all for the benefit of the worker’s condition. The seminars which are being
sponsored by the institution are part of the policies (the need to provide growth of knowledge) is
both for the purpose of helping the workers increase its own learning and at the same time for the
employer to make use of its newly acquired skills. However, this does not only benefit the
employers and employees alone because the service consumers can also get a taste of the product
of the new skills and knowledge held by the health workers themselves. The importance of the
worker’s compliance to the regulations identified by the hospital is also the harmony and
cooperation it creates. All, if not, most of the institutions have existing policies and procedures

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which are for the purpose of creating unification of the entire workforce. The intentions of the
employers must also obviously flow on how they handle the health workers.

Word count: 334


A healthy, safe and secure environment is something that every human being yearns for. In
work, this accounts for a big chunk of responsibility but they are all attainable. Knowing the
various benefits and advantages that policies and laws can give to the workers can empower the
employees. In my own experience as part of kitchen staff, I am exposed to several health threats
e.g. corrosive chemicals, handling and cleaning unclean surfaces and etc. Due to the kind of
work nature I have, I am also concern of my own well being. Exposure to corrosive chemicals
can burn my skin without proper protective gears. Frequent handling of dirty things can increase
my chances of acquiring infection and other diseases. I used to be tolerant on these things since I
have no idea on the things that I can do to protect myself and I admit my lenient attitude towards
work safety despite my awareness. After knowing the lessons in this subject, I realized that there
is actually no need for me to sacrifice my well being for the sake of my job since I can fulfill my
duties and be at my best health at the same time.

I raised up the issue to our kitchen head and she gladly fulfilled her duty in providing us more
protective equipments and proper training. I am glad that I wasn’t only able to help myself but
the entire workforce benefited from the voiced out concern. Everyone in our work place took
part of one’s own and each other’s responsibility in maintaining health, safety and security in our
environment. Out from this learning, I also realized the need of each worker to be educated on
their rights, responsibilities and benefits. Information dissemination must be made since this can
greatly help on each employee’s wellbeing as a worker and a contributor of the economy’s
growth.

Word count: 315

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Health and safety policies and practices are all monitored and reviewed for the purpose of
increasing quality systems and at the same time in response to today’s ever changing world of
health care. Monitoring and review are all essential parts of quality assurance. This is done as
the last step to risk assessment. Monitoring and review involves checking the progress on the
output of the policies and practices implemented, checking developments and even fall backs.
This is the easiest and most urgent way in keeping the system up-to-date and making sure that
the implemented change is not put to waste. If recurrence of problems occurs, these dilemmas
are then identified in the earliest time being.

The data gathered during the past risk assessment must be reviewed and checked to see if
problems are still existing. The past risk assessment will then serve as the first attempt and the
second will be the first monitoring and review done. Take note of any positive or negative
impacts brought by the implemented change. Everything must be recorded since this will
become the basis. An exact date must be set and this will serve as the regular system monitoring
and review. Aside from reevaluating the previous assessment made, it is also important to take
note on the goals and objectives, planned interventions and evaluations to see if there are things
that are not met and also to determine the factors that are successfully attained.

After reviewing the data, an overall report to be communicated with the entire stakeholders must
be spread. This will encourage and motivate the whole team to continue the good performance.
However, if the results are terrible, then this will push the whole team to strive for more
excellence and improvement. It is always helpful to communicate every successful including the
non satisfactoryoutcome since the workers are primarily the big contributors for such results.

Word count: 315

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Every working environment has its own health risk to contribute. An office work can pose a
great threat to health in terms of stress and pressure overload. A more physical work e.g.
construction and porter men are at risk of hazards and accidents that may lead to disability. The
Health and Safety Executive (n.d.) annual figures for the year 2008/2009 states that:
1.2 million people who worked during the last year were suffering from an illness (long standing as well as
new cases) they believed was caused or made worse by their current or past work. 551 000 of these were
new cases.

Due to the dangers that are currently causing some strain on the part of the employees and
employers, several regulations have been implemented by the government to increase protection.
Other than giving out preventive regulations, health promotive measures were also found to be
the best way to avoid illness and other work related diseases. A press release coming from
theEuropean Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) by Müller et. al. (2010)
recognized the decrease of illness and illness related absence including fruitful and enhanced job
performance after applying the workplace health promotion programmes. This is a strong
evidence implying the effectivity of such adaptation of practice in the working area. This will
not only benefit the employees since the return of efficient work performance will also become
an advantage to the companies.

On the other hand, there were negative reports regarding workers who are attempting to use these
protection regulations as a means of abusing the legislation for one’s own benefit (Turner, 2010).
The policies both have a positive and negative effect but the consideration of progressive
outcomes are obviously much more important. Abuse to the legislation must also be controlled
and be eliminated in order to maintain the efficiency of the health and safety policies and
practices.

Word count: 314

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Relating to my current job, my own contribution in placing the health, safety and security in
other individuals rests on my ability to perform the job well and practicing basic hygienic
measures especially that I am dealing with the customer’s utensils. Aside from that, I am also
tasked in maintaining proper order on the kitchen area and cleaning the surroundings. Having a
work place that is properly sanitized and organised reduces the chances of work related illnesses.
Same is true with the service users since any disease outbreaks can make the restaurant
accountable.

Many reports have already been released with regards to the food safety handling issues and the
innocent people can be affected with worker’s inability to perform its own job very well. Safety
is also ensured to every worker in the restaurant especially when wet floors are attended
immediately, dangerous kitchen equipments are properly placed and when every machine is
regularly checked. Fire related accidents are very prominent in the kitchen area and it is hard not
to take precautionary measures and do standards procedures since this can result to probable
health hazards.

In my second job as a cleaner, students can sometimes become forgetful and they tend to leave
their personal belongings. I report such circumstances since implementing security must also be
part of my priority. Good health is also promoted by thoroughly cleaning the areas of the school
since a dirty environment can become a good place for bacteria to harbor. Safety is further
implemented by leaving floors dry after mopped and performing this only when there are no
longer students loitering. Through these ways, other people’s rights to health, safety and
security are properly addressed and respected. Recognizing the importance of these elements is
essential to having an environment that is a promoter of health.

Word count: 300

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References

Health and Safety Executive, n.d.Health and safety statistics [Online]. Available at:
http://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/index.htm [Accessed 2 August 2010]

Müller, B., Urrutia, M. & O’Brien, B., 2010.Workplace Health Promotion improves productivity
and well-being [Online]. Available at: http://osha.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/workplace-
health-promotion-improves-productivity-and-well-being [Accessed 2 August 2010]

Purwanto, A., 2009. Hotel Organization Chart [Online]. Available at:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/13269637/Hotel-Organization-Chart-Full [Accessed 31 July 2010]

Turner, K., 2010. Health and safety 'used as an excuse', Judith Hackitt warns [Online].
Available at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2010/hse-lordyoung.htm [Accessed 2 August 2010]

Bibliography

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Health and Safety Executive, n.d.Injury analysis – priority programmes: slips and trips
[Online]. Available at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/causinj/slips.htm [Accessed 2 August
2010]

UK National Work Stress Network, 2010.What is work-related stress?[Online]. Available at:
http://www.workstress.net/whatis.htm [Accessed 2 August 2010]

Appendix

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HOTEL OGRANISATIONAL CHART

(Purwanto, A., 2009. Hotel Organization Chart [Online].)

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