LO3- Roles and responsibilities

• Roles - expectations of an individual or an organisation
• Responsibility- day to day tasks that meet legislation and organisation policies and procedures
• Employers- role is to ensure compliance with health and safety legislation and must provide a safe place to work, training requirements, safe work equipment
• Employees- role is to work together with employers to maintain their own and other people's health and safety. Follow employers guidance, attend training and report hazards.
• Individuals who require care and support - role is to follow health and safety guidance and instructions of what to do in an emergency
• NHS- role is to provide a secure and healthy environment to work in and visit, provide staff with sufficient instruction, supervision and information
• Local Authority- role is to develop effective communication and consultation with employees to prevent accidents and ill-health.
• Manager/ care home owner- role is to develop, review and update the homes health and safety policy and procedures
• Headteacher/ Board of governors - Manage the schools staff site and activities to safeguard the health, safety, security and welfare of everyone
• Employers responsibilities

  • Promoting health and safety policies- ensuring training is provided, all health and safety policies are in place
  • Maintaining health and safety policies- ongoing training, policies updated regularly
  • Enforcing health and safety policies- regular fire drill practices, ongoing monitoring, supervision and training
• Employee responsibilities

  • Using equipment or substance- only use in accordance to training and guidance, take care of themselves and those around them
  • Reporting serious or imminent danger- immediately communicating hazards and anything dangerous to the employer, Implementing safeguarding procedures
  • Report Shortcomings- must report any shortcomings in health and safety arrangements or procedure
• Individuals who require care and support responsibilities

  • Participating in fire evacuation drills
  • Reporting any hazards they are aware of
  • Cooperating with safety instructions and risk assessments
• Consequences, Direct costs- claims on employers and public liability insurance, sick pay, fines
• Consequences, Indirect Costs - recruitment costs, overtime payments, low staff morale
• Disciplinary Action, e.g. written warning, final written warning, dismissal

  • Firstly carry out an investigation to establish the facts- employer may be suspended during this time
  • If no misconduct is found the employee may be asked to return to work
  • If there is a case then the employee would be informed in writing of the alleged misconduct as well as time and venue of a disciplinary meeting
  • Witness statements should be made available to the employee
• Civil (common law and criminal prosecution( statute law)- failing to take reasonable care for the health and safety of themselves or others can result in imprisonment for up to 2 years or an unlimited fine
• Being removed from professional registers- regulators of professionals hold registers of professionals because they have a duty to safeguard the public and ensure professionals provide high standards of care. If not fit to practice they can be removed or suspended for a period of 2 years or have a 'subject to practice' order which restricts their responsibilities
• Causing injury/harm- Not having a clear procedure for carrying out risk assessments meaning your employer cannot identify hazards. If unsure about a task or haven't received training they must inform their employer as not doing so can cause harm to employer, employee or service user
• Being injured/ harmed - Failure to meet health and safety responsibilities can lead to injuries, some minor or serious
• Importance of risk assessments

  • awareness and identification of hazards
  • identifying those at risk
  • eliminating/ controlling the hazard
  • preventing injuries/ illness
  • evaluating the likelihood of a hazardous incident occurring
• Impacts of hazards on individuals, employees, employers

  • Injury or harm
  • Illness
  • Poor standards of care
  • Financial Loss - theft, high staff turnover, legal action