LO2: Understand how legislation, policies and procedures promote safety and security in health,
social care and childcare environments
Legislation, policies and procedures
Legislation: a law or sets of laws made by the government
Policies: clear statements of intent of how an organisation intends to conduct its services.
Examples of policies may include a risk management policy or a fire safety policy.
Procedure: Details of how an organisation will put its policies into action. For example, it will
detail who is responsible for health and safety, what steps need to be taken to conduct a risk
assessment and which reporting form must be used.
Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
This act promotes health, safety and security in care settings by being the basis for other
health and safety regulations and guidelines. The act established the HSE (health and
safety executive) as the regulation for the health,safety and wellbeing of people in work
settings. The HASAWA established the key duties and responsibility of all employees
and employers within the workplace.
Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulation
This act places duties on employers to carry out and implement risk assessments of the
health, safety and security of the employees and others who live and work in these
caresettings. It requires work settings to have arrangements in place to hire competent
people to manage health, safety and security as well as procedures for emergency
situations. This act also requires employers to provide information, training and
supervision so work can be carried out safely.
Food Safety Act 1990
This act requires that good personal hygiene is maintained when working with food so
that it is safe to eat. It requires that records of food are kept so that it can be traced if
necessary. In addition to this, it requires that any food that is unsafe is removed and an
incident report has to be completed.
Food Safety (General food hygiene) Regulations 1995
This act requires that hazards involving food safety are identified. It requires that food
safety controls are in place, maintained and reviewed. The act also requires that food
preparation environments are kept clean. Raw meat and ready to eat product must be
prepared on separate chopping boards to prevent cross-contamination.
Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992
, This act requires that employers avoid hazardous manual handling tasks and assess
those that cannot be avoided. It requires that employers eliminate or reduce the risks
associated with manual handling tasks. The act also requires employers to provide
information,training and supervision for safe moving and handling.
Reporting of Injury, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR)
This act requires employees to report and keep records for 3 years of work-related
accidents that cause death, serious injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences
(incidents with the potential to cause harm). The act requires work settings to have
procedures in place for reporting injuries, diseases and incidents. It requires employers
to provide information and training on reporting injuries, diseases and incidents.
Data Protection Act 1998
This act is the main Act that protects the security of personal information. It requires that
information is kept safe and is accurate and up to date.
Control of Substance Hazardous to Health Regulations
This act requires employers to carry out risk assessments to prevent or control exposure
to hazardous substances. It also requires employers to have procedures in place for
people to remain safe when working with hazardous substances. COSHH requires
employers to provide information, training and supervision so that activities can be safely
carried out.
Civil contingencies Act 2004
This act sets out how organisations have to work and plan together to respond to
national and local emergencies. It establishes how emergency services, local authorities
and health organisations can work together and share information. It requires risk
assessments and emergency plans are put into place.
The Health and Social Care Act 2015
This act sets out how health and adult social care providers must share information
about a person's care with other health and care professionals to ensure safe and
adequate care is provided for the person. It requires health and adult social care to use a
consistent identifier (NHS number) when sharing this information. It reduces the risk of
harm and abuse by not allowing unsuitable people to work within these settings.
Safeguarding
Safeguarding adults involves protecting individuals rights to live free from abuse and neglect. It
also involves working with organisations to prevent the risk of abuse or neglect and promoting
the wellbeing of adults.
social care and childcare environments
Legislation, policies and procedures
Legislation: a law or sets of laws made by the government
Policies: clear statements of intent of how an organisation intends to conduct its services.
Examples of policies may include a risk management policy or a fire safety policy.
Procedure: Details of how an organisation will put its policies into action. For example, it will
detail who is responsible for health and safety, what steps need to be taken to conduct a risk
assessment and which reporting form must be used.
Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
This act promotes health, safety and security in care settings by being the basis for other
health and safety regulations and guidelines. The act established the HSE (health and
safety executive) as the regulation for the health,safety and wellbeing of people in work
settings. The HASAWA established the key duties and responsibility of all employees
and employers within the workplace.
Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulation
This act places duties on employers to carry out and implement risk assessments of the
health, safety and security of the employees and others who live and work in these
caresettings. It requires work settings to have arrangements in place to hire competent
people to manage health, safety and security as well as procedures for emergency
situations. This act also requires employers to provide information, training and
supervision so work can be carried out safely.
Food Safety Act 1990
This act requires that good personal hygiene is maintained when working with food so
that it is safe to eat. It requires that records of food are kept so that it can be traced if
necessary. In addition to this, it requires that any food that is unsafe is removed and an
incident report has to be completed.
Food Safety (General food hygiene) Regulations 1995
This act requires that hazards involving food safety are identified. It requires that food
safety controls are in place, maintained and reviewed. The act also requires that food
preparation environments are kept clean. Raw meat and ready to eat product must be
prepared on separate chopping boards to prevent cross-contamination.
Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992
, This act requires that employers avoid hazardous manual handling tasks and assess
those that cannot be avoided. It requires that employers eliminate or reduce the risks
associated with manual handling tasks. The act also requires employers to provide
information,training and supervision for safe moving and handling.
Reporting of Injury, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR)
This act requires employees to report and keep records for 3 years of work-related
accidents that cause death, serious injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences
(incidents with the potential to cause harm). The act requires work settings to have
procedures in place for reporting injuries, diseases and incidents. It requires employers
to provide information and training on reporting injuries, diseases and incidents.
Data Protection Act 1998
This act is the main Act that protects the security of personal information. It requires that
information is kept safe and is accurate and up to date.
Control of Substance Hazardous to Health Regulations
This act requires employers to carry out risk assessments to prevent or control exposure
to hazardous substances. It also requires employers to have procedures in place for
people to remain safe when working with hazardous substances. COSHH requires
employers to provide information, training and supervision so that activities can be safely
carried out.
Civil contingencies Act 2004
This act sets out how organisations have to work and plan together to respond to
national and local emergencies. It establishes how emergency services, local authorities
and health organisations can work together and share information. It requires risk
assessments and emergency plans are put into place.
The Health and Social Care Act 2015
This act sets out how health and adult social care providers must share information
about a person's care with other health and care professionals to ensure safe and
adequate care is provided for the person. It requires health and adult social care to use a
consistent identifier (NHS number) when sharing this information. It reduces the risk of
harm and abuse by not allowing unsuitable people to work within these settings.
Safeguarding
Safeguarding adults involves protecting individuals rights to live free from abuse and neglect. It
also involves working with organisations to prevent the risk of abuse or neglect and promoting
the wellbeing of adults.
