Outline how legislation, policies and
procedures relating to health, safety and
security influence health and social care
settings.
In this assignment, it will explain some of the different legislations, policies and procedures
and how they relate to the health, safety and security of a hospital ward setting.
Legislation/Guideline How it influences/promotes health, safety and
security issues in my work placement (hospital ward)
Health and Safety at work Act This act is the UK’s main legislation on Health and Safety,
1974 and it ensures everybody – including carers, employees,
visitors and tenants – within the work setting is able to
remain safe, as much as is reasonably practicable. It
makes all employers throughout the UK responsible for
the safety and wellbeing of those who are in the setting.
This act influences health and safety issues in my work
placement because all NHS members of staff must
comply with the Health and Safety at work Act. For
example, the act makes it obligatory for all staff to receive
adequate training, thus reducing the risk of poor health
and safety in the setting. In relation to my work
placement, this means that all nurses, doctors,
volunteers and cooks must be adequately trained in their
area of profession to ensure that in all circumstances they
are following the correct procedures, to prevent patients
and other members of staff in the setting from coming into
risk. This includes the security issues that are in place in
my work placement. As the relevant members of staff
would have been properly trained in the area of security,
to ensure that all individuals remain safe from harm in the
setting. (www.healthyworkinglives.com, 2014)
Food Safety (general food This act is in place to ensure that any business or service
hygiene) regulations that deals with the serving of food, ensures that the food
2004 is safe for people to eat, and as a result does not pose a
risk to people’s health and safety.
The act states that all food must be safe for people to
consume – for example, ensuring that it is not out of date.
It also states that people cannot add/remove or treat food
in any way that makes it harmful for a person to eat. This
act influences the health and safety issues in my work
placement because it ensures that patients’ in the
hospital are receiving food that will not be harmful to their
health (e.g. you could add poison to a meal, which
obviously makes it harmful), as well as staff members
ensuring that the food patients’ are receiving is safe for
them to eat – this means making sure that if a patient is
allergic to something, it is not in their food which would
cause them an allergic reaction. (www.gov.uk)
procedures relating to health, safety and
security influence health and social care
settings.
In this assignment, it will explain some of the different legislations, policies and procedures
and how they relate to the health, safety and security of a hospital ward setting.
Legislation/Guideline How it influences/promotes health, safety and
security issues in my work placement (hospital ward)
Health and Safety at work Act This act is the UK’s main legislation on Health and Safety,
1974 and it ensures everybody – including carers, employees,
visitors and tenants – within the work setting is able to
remain safe, as much as is reasonably practicable. It
makes all employers throughout the UK responsible for
the safety and wellbeing of those who are in the setting.
This act influences health and safety issues in my work
placement because all NHS members of staff must
comply with the Health and Safety at work Act. For
example, the act makes it obligatory for all staff to receive
adequate training, thus reducing the risk of poor health
and safety in the setting. In relation to my work
placement, this means that all nurses, doctors,
volunteers and cooks must be adequately trained in their
area of profession to ensure that in all circumstances they
are following the correct procedures, to prevent patients
and other members of staff in the setting from coming into
risk. This includes the security issues that are in place in
my work placement. As the relevant members of staff
would have been properly trained in the area of security,
to ensure that all individuals remain safe from harm in the
setting. (www.healthyworkinglives.com, 2014)
Food Safety (general food This act is in place to ensure that any business or service
hygiene) regulations that deals with the serving of food, ensures that the food
2004 is safe for people to eat, and as a result does not pose a
risk to people’s health and safety.
The act states that all food must be safe for people to
consume – for example, ensuring that it is not out of date.
It also states that people cannot add/remove or treat food
in any way that makes it harmful for a person to eat. This
act influences the health and safety issues in my work
placement because it ensures that patients’ in the
hospital are receiving food that will not be harmful to their
health (e.g. you could add poison to a meal, which
obviously makes it harmful), as well as staff members
ensuring that the food patients’ are receiving is safe for
them to eat – this means making sure that if a patient is
allergic to something, it is not in their food which would
cause them an allergic reaction. (www.gov.uk)
