Policies to Enhance the Safety Measures - Essay Example

Policies to Enhance the Safety Measures Introduction The concept of workplace health and safety (WHS) is fundamentally described as an inevitable discipline, which mainly concerns about safeguarding the health as well as the safety of every stakeholder working in a specific workplace. It would be vital to mention that the health as well as the social care providers has the responsibility towards the service users and the practitioners’ safety. It has been apparently observed in this similar concern that poor health and safety policy at the workplace can impose adverse effects on the individuals, organisations and the communities at large. The health and social care organisations are often exposed to major health related risks. It is obvious that a workplace should possess its own set of schedules and norms to maintain standard health and safety practices for the service providers. Since, the health and the social workers work in a dynamic and hazardous environment, which is exposed to severe risk, the requirement for safety is at the maximum for these workers (Health and Social Care Board, 2011). Discussion 1.1 Review of Policies to Enhance the Safety Measures Health & Safety measures adopted in health and social care workplace represents that the people working in hazardous situations are protected with negative or adverse consequences. The practitioners providing services are most exposed to the risks rising at the social as well as healthcare centres. It is worth mentioning that effective communication of information about such policies is one of the important practices, which has the potentiality to ensure greater health along with safety of the individuals working in a particular workplace. Again, in order to maintain safety at workplace, it should be mandatory for all the employees to follow the legislative regulations laid down by their respective companies to form as well as develop a secured environment (Health and Social Care Board, 2011).. In order to develop the health and safety measures in the healthcare organisations, the Director of such organisations must pass a mandate with written norms of health and safety measures, which need to be followed for enhancing safety at workplace. To maintain greater health and safety at the workplace, the Director should follow the systems and the procedures that entail implementing policies within his directorate, disseminating those within the staff by explaining the area of responsibility and including new staff as a part of induction plan. In order to enhance the overall performance, the policies would also incorporate the measures like providing leadership, support and advice to staff regarding health along with safety issues and making suitable arrangements to facilitate the requirements of staff (Health and Social Care Board, 2011). While dealing with various complexities rose in delivering effective health social care to individuals in a workplace, certain health and safety related measures ought to be adopted at large. In order to make sure that the information based on health as well as safety is properly communicated in accordance with legislative requirements, the Board of North Staffordhshire combined NHS Trust can implement the regulations laid down under the ‘Health and Safety Act 1974’ with major focus on certain significant areas. These areas comprise ‘Controlling The Substances Which Are Hazardous To Health 2002 (COSHH)’, ‘Manual Handling Regulation 1992 (Amended 2002)’, ‘Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and any Dangerous Occurrences 1995 (RIDDOR)’, ‘Health and Safety First Aid Regulation 1981’ and ‘Personal protective equipment 1992’ (Collins, 2009) (HSE, 2014; Collins, 2009). In addition, implementation of varied safety measure like the walking aids, wheel chairs and improved door locks at the health care would certainly help in preventing the people from entering into the premises having hazardous materials. To prevent from any breakdown of equipment or apparatus, which may cause breach of safety, those equipment or apparatus ought to be maintained and monitored to mitigate the risks involved. Specially mentioning, control and maintenance of emergency exists and alarms would also help in enhancing the safety system of North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust. The availability of first aid at the right time is important in order to ensure that the practitioners do not get affected to any contaminated disease (HSE, 2014). 1.2 Responsibilities for Managing Health and Safety in the North Staffordshire Combined NHS Trust In order to manage health responsibilities at workplace and also to develop person centred development models, the Combined North Staffordshire and NHS Trust need to pass certain agendas like review of safety measures. It can be affirmed that this healthcare organisation is making striving efforts towards enhancing workplace safety and preserving healthy workplace with the intention of raising employees’ efficiency. In this regard, the major responsibilities of the Board would be focusing on understanding the key issues and accordingly decide how to communicate, promote and implement health and safety. Apart from these, the other responsibility also lies in auditing the standard norms of safety measures that are needed to ensure greater healthcare safety (IOD & HSE, n.d.). 1.3 Safety Measures at the Surgical Service Area The surgical service area of any healthcare organisation deals with several critical issues and people working in this department need to make certain emergency responses. Since the level of work at the surgical department needs huge amount of concentration and mental stress generating from workload or distraction, chances of occurring accidents are even more. In order to analyse the health and safety priority for the surgical service area, the North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust must play an imperative role in establishing safety culture amid the team, enhancing teamwork and most vitally developing the design of the healthcare equipment. Owing to the exposure of the risks related to contamination, the Board needs to be involved in forming effective communication to develop greater consciousness regarding health and safety amid the practitioners (Patient Safety First, n.d.). Conclusion Based on the above analysis and discussion, it can be affirmed that people working with health as well as social care departments are highly exposed to various risks. These include contamination to diseases, accidents and injuries. However, owing to the involvement of huge number of individuals, the effects could also be experienced as huge. This shows the importance of the safety measures that are to be undertaken by the organisations to enhance safety and health of their employees as well as the third parties. However, it could also be identified that in order to maintain a standard health & safety care at varied healthcare centres, regular monitoring of the same is required. The plans and procedures relating to the management of health along with safety need to be rescheduled, monitored, revised and up dated in order to generate favourable outcomes. Case Study 2 for LO2 Introduction The death of an elderly citizen named Alice Belle due to an accidental fall at the hospital premises of South Birmingham Primary Care Trust projected lack of proper management amid the employees. The mismanagement amid the health providers was quiet prominent as the equipment, which was used to move the lady was although in good condition, but the size of the same did not match with the one required for the lady. It was observed that the lady slipped from the equipment and fell to death. However, the incident showed lack of special care that the healthcare organisation needs to adopt while dealing with highly dependent adult patients. The lack of reporting technique in the hospital made it difficult for the hospital authority to identify the requirement of proper equipment, which would have prevented the accidental death. Discussion 2.1 Role of Information from Risk Assessments in Assisting Care Planning In order to develop patient’s safety and enhance the quality care, the healthcare organisations must focus on better monitoring as well as paying greater attention towards developing a proper system of care. It can be ascertained from the provided case study that the poor quality care might affect the reputation of South Birmingham Primary Care Trust at large (ECRI, 2009). Since the selection of the hauling equipment was not appropriate as per the requirement of the patient, it could be affirmed that the employees were not aware of the risks involved in the same (HSE, n.d.). Consequently, it could be argued that the selection of the equipment as per the requirement becomes quite crucial at the time when handling patients with high amount of dependency. It has been apparently observed that while selecting the equipment, the employees failed to observe the need and safety of the individual. In this regard, the staff while dealing with patients should remain much aware while selecting the correct equipment, which would satisfy the need of the patient. Especially in the case of Alice Belly, the toileting sling was not appropriate for the patient and became a reason for her death. It is worth mentioning that toileting slings provide minimum support to the patients and in this case, the sling being of a bigger size exposed the patient to face danger in the form of death (HSE, n.d.). Specially mentioning, an effective risk assessment involves a series of strategies that need to be followed by the employees as well as the management team. It is obvious that healthcare service providers have to deal with a series of equipment on daily basis while treating varied patients. Hence, they possess lot of practical knowledge, which helps them to assess the risks involved with the use of the equipment while dealing with the patients. The lack of reporting technique available at South Birmingham Primary Care Trust served to be insufficient. It can be affirmed in this regard that if the Trust possessed a proper chain of reporting technique and efficient handling of the reports, the risk arising from the use of large sized hauling machine could have been reported before the occurrence of the fatal event (Smith, 2011; ECRI, 2009). 2.2 Impact on Health and Safety Policy on Lifting And Handling in Health and Social Care Practice Health and social care plays a decisive role in dealing with critical patients especially who are highly dependent or have restricted movement. In order to provide effective healthcare to such patients, the health care organisations have to depend much on the hauling and lifting machines as moving and hauling of people is a regular task of the varied healthcare centres. However, with reference to the case provided, it could be identified that one the major loopholes, which led to the incident was the mismanagement of health and safety policies (HSE, n.d.). By taking into concern the fact that the patients being the sole importance of the healthcare centres, these centres need to become more cautious about handling the patients. The elderly patients who are dependent on others for movement should be taken special care while shifting. The healthcare organisation should be providing special care to the patients who are highly dependent on the nurses or the attendants for movement. Special policies should be incorporated in order to provide standard norms to deal with the elderly patients specifically who needs to be lifted and hauled (HSE, n.d.). 2.3 Description of the Dilemmas Will Encounter by the Care Workers While dealing with the dilemmas at the workplace especially in healthcare centres, it can be affirmed that such dilemmas mainly occur due to the lack of education amid the employees working in the field. The provided case refers to the lack of assessment among the employees dealing with patients like Alice Belle. This can be possibly because of the lack of training among the employees, which resulted in shortage of anticipation about the possibility of risks. Thus, it can be affirmed that this dilemma of anticipation of the risks involved in dealing with oversized haulers among the employees of the South Birmingham Primary Care Trust led to the death of the patient (ECRI, 2009). 2.4 The Effects of Non-Compliance with Health and Safety Legislation in a Health and Social Care Workplace Non-compliance with health and safety legislations in health and social care workplace leads towards malpractice and thereby causes fatal accidents. These policies and ways that are often laid down to aid the healthcare centres are framed in such a way so that a plan of activity to safeguard from such malpractices is formed. The non-compliance with the same would lead towards inefficiency of the healthcare system and prevent it from providing quality care to the patients. However, in order to prevent from the reoccurrence of the similar event as referred in the case of Alice Belle, South Birmingham Primary Care Trust must follow the rules laid down in the legislations of Health and Social Care Workplace (Social Care Institute for Excellence, n.d.). Conclusion By taking into concern the above discussion, it can be affirmed that the healthcare organisations dealing with diverse sensitive issues must need to adopt as well as implement effective healthcare related services and measures. The fatal death of Alice Belle eventually made South Birmingham Primary Care Trust to realise the gap and the exposure of risks that need to be mitigated in order to prevent the reoccurrence of such event in future. Thus, it can be concluded that the health as well as the social care centres must remain conscious while dealing with dependent patients like Alice Belle as observed in the provided case study. Case Study 3 for LO3 Introduction The newly built hospital was facing problem with the carpets used for decoration that caused the risks of hauling and shifting patients. Again, it could also be noted from the case that the nurses and other care providers had to use their strengths to shift patients from one place to other. This problem was reported to the management and the management adhered to the requirement with immediate effect. However, several options were accessible to mitigate this problem, however, they were either not cost effective or not suiting with the accommodations already implemented. Considering the available option, the hospital planned to incorporate new wheels to the hoist, which would provide better safety as well as would help the nurses to haul the patients easily. 3.1 Health and Safety Practices Are Monitored and Reviewed The health and safety approach at any workplace needs to be monitored and reviewed frequently for inhibiting the occurrence of any sort of accident. This particular practice would certainly enhance the effectiveness of the safety norms amid the employees and also enhance the responsibility of the organisation towards the third parties. It would be vital to mention that the measure adopted by the hospital was effective for both the patients as well as the nurses. It is strongly believed that this measure would lower down the risks involved in moving patients but would also reduce the stress on the nurses to haul such patients. Observing the measure taken by the hospital, it could be affirmed that the hospital was quite effective in monitoring the activities to ensure better protection. The reporting technique was also well efficient as well as the management was also quite effectual to meet the requirement of the safety measures. The company adhered to the requirement of the standard norms and as per the requirement of the situation made the required changes to prevent from any discrepancy. Thus, it makes a compulsion that the policies should be reviewed and monitored so that the requirement of change and development could be adhered to expected outcomes (HSE, n.d.). 3.2 Effectiveness of Health and Safety Policies and Practices in the Workplace in Promoting a Positive Health and Safety Culture Specially mentioning, if safety policies and procedures are properly planned and implemented, then these would certainly aid in minimizing the amount of accidents and risks involved in the workplace. Identification and the review of the opportunities to enhance the safety measures will increase the efficiency of the organization to provide the employees a safer workplace. Subsequently, the plans and policies need to be adhered and developed for mitigating the chances of occurring risks at the maximum level. The managers and the employees of the organisation must be efficient in promoting the security requirements in the organisation. In the case referred, it could be widely observed that the management and the employees of the hospital was efficient in following the safety policy laid down in the legislation of the Health & Safety at Workplace. Nurses and the other health service providers were efficient enough to report the problem to the management at the point of occurrence and could prevent the risks of the patients. However, the management was also efficient in replacing the wheels to increase the quality care towards patients and also increasing the safety of the nurses from the strain they might face while hauling the patients (OCR, 2005). 3.3 Evaluation of Own Contribution in Placing Health and Safety Needs Of Individuals The safety needs of every individual whether employee of the organisations or the people visiting such organisations should be considered with utmost significance. While working in a healthcare setting, I became much aware of the fact that effectual safety and healthcare practices are required to be performed for adhering with the requirements of the patients. The wheel chairs that were being used in the healthcare organisation wherein I was associated with used for hauling outdoor patients got eroded easily. This caused a slippery texture outside the wheel and had huge chances of slipping on the tiles that were used at the entrance. I had reported the risk involved in hauling the outdoor patients, which needed to be replaced immediately. The management intervened into the issue and the wheel chairs were replaced with solid wheels that provided more support than the previous ones. This practise made the healthcare organisation to increase its efficiency in the workplace and thus prevented the occurrence of any accident within it. However, the increased support helped to develop a better efficiency and eased the hauling of the outdoor patients who have been visiting the hospital only for consultation. The pre understanding of the posed risks and the efficiency of the management to implement the necessary changes made the healthcare organisation a much safer place for the patients. Conclusion Based on the above discussion, it can be apparently noted that the effectiveness of the newly built hospital was praiseworthy in dealing with the issue, which involved huge amount of risk. The hospital through its effective decision-making procedure could mitigate the risk, providing greater safety to its personnel. By taking into concern the above discussed aspects, it can be affirmed that if effective safety policies and procedures are followed in any workplace, these could help in establishing enhanced safety as well as healthy workplace setting. It is worth mentioning that the effectiveness towards maintaining greater health along with safety at the workplace finally leads towards ensuring developed performance of the individuals and attainment of desirable as well as favourable outcomes at large. From the provided case study, it was quite clear that the hospital was much efficient in identifying the loopholes and rectifying them before any adverse situation emerges. Thus, based on the above analysis as well as discussion, it can be concluded that the efficiency in maintaining the legislative norms to maintain safer environment in the workplace ultimately gets enhanced through proper planning and implementation and effective healthcare related measures. This in turn, results in gaining greater patient satisfaction and ensuring their maximum loyalty towards a particular healthcare organisation. References Collins, S., 2009. Health and Safety: A Workbook for Social Care Workers. England: Jessica Kingsley Publishers. ECRI, 2009. Risk Management, Quality Improvement, and Patient Safety. Risk and Quality Management Strategies 4, Vol. 2, pp. 3-17. ECRI, 2009. Falls. Safety and Security 2, Vol. 2, pp. 1-10. Health and Social Care Board, 2011. Roles and responsibility. Health and Safety Policy, pp. 5-20. HSE, 2014. Health and Safety Legislation - Laws in the Workplace. It's Important To Know How Workplace Legislation Applies To You. 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Social Care Theory for Practice. Chapter 1. [Online] Available at: http://www.pearsonschoolsandfecolleges.co.uk/FEAndVocational/HealthAndSocialCare/HNC/Standaloneproducts/HNCinSocialCare/HNC_Chapter_1.pdf [Accessed June 21, 2014]. Social Care Institute for Excellence, No Date. Key Legislation - Health and Safety Legislation. Dignity in Care. [Online] Available at: http://www.scie.org.uk/publications/guides/guide15/legislation/otherlegislation/healthandsafetylegislation.asp [Accessed June 21, 2014]. Smith, J., 2011. The Guide To The Handling Of People – A Systems Approach (Sixth edition). United Kingdom: BackCare. Appendix Care Cycle Source: (Pearson Schools and FE Colleges) Read More