DCHS Health and Safety Handbook

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "DCHS Health and Safety Handbook"

Clinton Reynard McBride
5 years ago
Views:

1 DCHS Health and Safety Handbook

2 Stay safe for DCHS colleagues DCHS takes safety very seriously and you need to do the same. In your role you may be working on one site or may be required to work at different locations, therefore it is important that you know the policies and procedures for each area and stick to them at all times. Following policies and procedures helps you to Stay Safe and sets a good example to your colleagues. Health and Safety is not confined to any particular area. Each unique area presents different levels of risk: a hospital ward, kitchen, workshops and office environment has its own particular hazards. As part of your induction, your line manager will help guide you through your first few weeks of your employment. As part of this, you must complete the Stay Safe induction at the end of this handbook. If your role involves using any machinery or equipment including medical devices you must have received the appropriate information, instruction and training prior to using it. In this handbook you will cover the following areas: Slips, trips and housekeeping Taking care when lifting and carrying Awareness of vehicles Your PPE Storage of stock, supplies or substances Awareness of Lone Working & Security Fire Safety Equipment for working at height We will also cover what you need to do in the event of an injury at work. If you are involved in or witness: a) a near miss b) an injury c) an incident at work, then please report it to your line manager immediately. 2 DCHS Stay Safe Handbook

Slip, trips and housekeeping There were over 24,000 slip and trip accidents reported to the enforcing authorities during 2012 13, and 8,671 resulted in a major injury Housekeeping is exactly what it

3 Slip, trips and housekeeping There were over 24,000 slip and trip accidents reported to the enforcing authorities during , and 8,671 resulted in a major injury Housekeeping is exactly what it says it s about how tidy we keep our working environment. All areas have specific hazards; the office environment may have trip hazards that include trailing cables, damaged, worn or ill-fitting carpets. The wards and corridors also present hazards including spillages of liquids or food, equipment, and many more. Other things that can cause slips and trips may include poor lighting, obstacles, adverse weather conditions such as rain, snow and ice, and overgrown paths and gardens. One of the biggest contributory factors is human behaviour which includes not paying attention, rushing, taking short cuts and not using a safe route to enter a building. If you come across any obvious trip hazard on the floor then you should either remove it or wipe it up. If you are out in the community take extra care when walking to patients homes and always wear sensible footwear. Remember if you, SEE IT, SORT IT, and if you can t SORT IT, REPORT IT every time Housekeeping is everyone s responsibility no matter what your job is. Don t walk past it without taking action. DCHS Stay Safe Handbook 3

4 Taking care when lifting and carrying There are often times when you will have to lift, carry or move items or equipment using bodily force we call this Manual Handling. It is important that you make sure you lift and move items in the right way in order to STAY SAFE, if you lift and move something the wrong way you could injure yourself. Remember to consider: What you are lifting? Is the weight displayed? Is there a description of its content? What shape is it, are there sharp edges? Could the load move whilst lifting? Can it be broken into smaller loads? Normal spine - good posture To ensure you work safely when moving or lifting objects you need to adopt the 8 DIAG stay safe movement principles. 1) Offset base: remember to keep your feet apart and facing in different directions. 2) Mobile base: bend your knees to allow your body weight to shift. 3) Stay close to the load: keep the load as close to your body as possible. 4) Avoid over-reaching, stretching top heavy posture. 5) Avoid fixed holds: use open palms where possible, think about how you grip onto objects lift using your body, legs and arms. 6) Avoid twisting: try to lift and handle objects without twisting. 7) Avoid static postures, don t hold the same position and load for a long time, keep your muscles and joints moving if possible. 8) Make sure you can see where you are going when moving a load, and your head is leading the movement. Spine showing pressure on discs = jam doughnuts Bent spine and slightly twisted - poor posture, person bent forward and twisted 4 DCHS Stay Safe Handbook Jam doughnut Remember don t squash your doughnuts. Jam doughnut When you lift and twist the discs in your back can be put under a lot of pressure and can bulge or in some extreme cases can burst causing pain.

5 Taking care when lifting and carrying When we undertake a Manual Handling Risk Assessment we often use the acronym TILE: TILE means... Task Individual Load Environment Criteria Example A Example B Task Pushing? Pulling? Putting down, lifting up? Any equipment used Moving multiple sets of patient notes from main desk into secure storage area Loading a car boot with laptop and treatment bags/ cases Individual Size, height, individual capabilities, disability, general health The reception staff and porters are all the staff healthy? Can they reach all shelves? Do they know the weight of an average set of notes? Do they know where to find the notes trolley? Can the members of staff lift a clinical case safely? Do they have any shoulder, wrist or back injuries? Do they have preferences for cases, rucksacks or bags? Load Unusual dimensions, heavy, wide? Difficult to carry, load or transport? Notes Do you need to split heavy case notes into more volumes? Can you grasp the notes safely? How many sets of notes are safe to load into one box? How heavy is the case? Does it have handles? Is it solid enough to rest on the car boot ledge? Can it be split into multiple loads? Can it be wheeled to and from car? Environment Working in restricted spaces, building design, weather? Route from reception to storage area are there any slopes, doors can you turn lights on, or access secure doors? Do you have to go outdoors to access an outbuilding? Limited space if car parked against wall or another car. Adverse weather conditions? Car design and type. DCHS Stay Safe Handbook 5

6 Display Screen Equipment (DSE) If computer work is part of your daily routine you ll need to complete a DSE selfassessment. Workstations are very personal to the person using them, there are documents available to download on the Stay Safe intranet web page. A general guide can be seen below: Viewing distance approx arm s length from the screen Screen position Optimum viewing angle is 15 below horizontal Relaxed shoulders Balanced wrist position 90 Source document Separate keyboard Accessible work surface (keyboard approx 30mm thick at home key row) Adjustable back support to support the small of the back Arm rests are optional Cords kept out of way Adjustable seat height to suit operator Thighs not compressed Sufficient thigh clearance under desk Swivel chair with stable base (castors are not recommended on smooth, hard floors) 5 star stable base Footrest may be required for some operators, especially where desk height is not adjustable Keep area free under desk for leg movement 6 DCHS Stay Safe Handbook

Awareness of vehicles Adverse weather conditions In adverse weather conditions, drivers should liaise with their Line Manager with regard to road and travel conditions.

7 Awareness of vehicles Adverse weather conditions In adverse weather conditions, drivers should liaise with their Line Manager with regard to road and travel conditions. All drivers must ensure that during the winter months suitable wet weather/ winter clothing and equipment is carried in the vehicle for use in the event of a vehicle breakdown. In winter months when snowing, drivers should ensure they carry de-icer, ice scraper, torch, blanket, boots, warm hat, hot drink and snow shovel. Carrying work equipment A risk assessment must be completed to ensure that the vehicle used is suitable to carry any required work equipment. If work equipment is unable to fit in to the boot area of the vehicle then it must be stored on the rear seats and secured safely to protect the driver or passengers Valuable work equipment must always be carried in the vehicle boot area out of sight Securing nets are available from your manager. Carrying substances hazardous to health Your manager is responsible for identifying all substances that need to have a COSHH Assessment. (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) You need to discuss with your manager suitable control measures to ensure that you are not harmed by any substance hazardous to your health which you may need to carry with you to perform your work duties Your manager will ensure that you are properly informed, trained and supervised in understanding and complying with COSHH and that evidence of training is kept on file Substances hazardous to health include flammable liquids, compressed gas, chemicals and any other harmful substances. DCHS Stay Safe Handbook 7

8 Awareness of vehicles At DCHS we are committed to ensure that you stay safe whilst on trust activity. The use of hand held devices such as mobile phones is against the law and you must not make or receive calls when driving, this also includes the making or receiving of text messages. We recognise that some vehicles are fitted with Bluetooth hands free systems that will allow users to make or receive calls hands free whilst driving. Employees must be aware that by making or receiving calls when driving using a Bluetooth hands free system that they must be in full control of their vehicle and drive with due care and attention. If you are involved in an incident or the police think you are driving without due care and attention then you may be prosecuted. If you do not feel comfortable making or receiving calls using a Bluetooth hands free system then you should switch off your phone, ignore the call or put a voice message on your phone with the following words. Hello You are through to the mobile phone of.., I am sorry but I am unable to take your call as I am currently driving. If you leave me your name, number and a short message I will get back to you when I have safely completed my journey. You should not feel under any pressure to make or receive calls whilst you are driving and must not compromise your safety or the safety of others. Managers should not call staff when they know they are driving, they should always check diary s before calls are made. If you are participating in a conference call you must dial in to the conference call whilst your vehicle is parked and under no circumstances must you dial in to conference calls whilst driving. Some modern vehicles are fitted with integrated systems that will mirror applications in the vehicle such as Facebook and Twitter. You should not access any application such as Facebook, twitter or others whilst driving under any circumstances. 8 DCHS Stay Safe Handbook

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Within DCHS there are numerous activities undertaken where a varying level of personal protective equipment is needed.

9 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Within DCHS there are numerous activities undertaken where a varying level of personal protective equipment is needed. If it has been identified that you need to wear PPE whilst undertaking your role this will be provided and must be worn by you. Additional PPE will be provided to staff members who regularly work outside the office environment, taking into account of adverse weather conditions. Which PPE is appropriate to you in your role? Hard hat Goggles Gloves High Visibility Jacket Boots DCHS Stay Safe Handbook 9

10 Storage of stock, supplies and substances Storage refers to the storage of anything, anywhere, in offices, workshops, kitchens or wards. Where you decide to store your files, folders, boxes, equipment or other goods and products could have implications for health and safety. This section ties in with the Housekeeping section covered earlier in this booklet. Make sure that anything you store is not: Likely to cause a trip hazard Going to fall and injure someone Protruding sharp objects into walkways Stored too high to reach Stored on an unstable surface Too heavy. If you see anything you feel is unsafe, tell someone. Chances are, if it looks unsafe it probably is unsafe. IT S IMPORTANT THAT YOU USE THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT THAT S APPROPRIATE FOR THE JOB AND HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY DCHS Before using any equipment you should have had training and are confident to be able to use the equipment. (See Working at Height section for more information). 10 DCHS Stay Safe Handbook

11 Awareness of lone working Who are lone workers? A lone worker is someone who may have to work by themselves on a regular basis or someone who works in a separate part of a building. Some staff who work outside normal office hours and some mobile workers such as community health staff may also be classed as lone workers. What are the risks with lone working? The main risks associated with lone working are; entering safely to and from a building if you re a key holder, the risk of violence and aggression when working alone on site or in the community, sudden illness or an emergency situation such as an injury. So how do we control lone working? Anyone who is classed as a lone worker must have a risk assessment completed by their line manager. The risk assessment will include a lone worker profile and will describe how lone working will be managed. This could include a buddying system, escalation process, the provision of a personal attack alarm or a lone working device. Personal security DCHS premises, particularly those which are open to the public, can be targeted by thieves looking for attractive items to steal. Insecure personal property and cash are particularly attractive and often stolen by opportunist thieves, these items should always be kept secure. Staff can sometimes feel vulnerable when leaving work during the winter months, or when working in the community, often staff work late and find themselves the last person in a building. You should always be aware of what is going on around you and be alert; where possible it is a good idea to leave work with a colleague. For those working in the community adherence to the Lone Worker Policy should provide you with a safe system of work. Members of staff may have been harassed or contacted inappropriately by patients, or others who have come into contact with them. It is sensible to separate your work from your private life, allowing patients and others to access your private information such as personal telephone numbers and address details could result in harassment or stalking. Staff working within the community should ideally have access to work mobile phones. It is important that staff feel safe in their working environment, any incidents of violent behaviour no matter how minor should be reported, unacceptable behaviour towards staff, not only affects them personally but also has a negative impact on the standard of care that is delivered to patients. DCHS Stay Safe Handbook 11

12 Fire safety We all know that fires are dangerous and we want to make sure that the chances of a fire occurring on your premise are as small as possible. However, if a fire breaks out in your area it is important that you know what to do to stay safe. If you don t know, find out. The questions below refer to your base location but it is appreciated that some of you may work at different locations and out in the community, therefore, it is important that you make yourself familiar with the local procedures, wherever you are. Dependant upon your role, you may have a responsibility for the safety of patients who may be immobile, their friends or relatives. So it is really important that you know the procedures specific to the area you are working from. Where is the nearest fire exit? On hearing the fire alarm you and you colleagues should evacuate the building by the nearest fire exit. Ask your line manager to show you where the fire exits are. Where is your nearest break glass point to your work area? Don t try to tackle a fire yourself unless you have received the appropriate training. Your first action is to sound the alarm to inform your colleagues that there is a fire Where is your fire assembly point? When you evacuate you must meet with the rest of your colleagues at the fire assembly point. Housekeeping is also linked to fire safety, if you remove litter and debris and prevent rubbish from building up and never block fire exits, this will help should a fire break out. If you see any fire exit that is blocked, unblock it and then report it to your line manager.fire resisting doors are there to protect your ways out of the building so ensure that they are not wedged open or obstructed. 12 DCHS Stay Safe Handbook

Equipment for working at height Most of the time you will not need to work from height. All ladder work will be undertaken by the estates department tradesmen or contractors.

13 Equipment for working at height Most of the time you will not need to work from height. All ladder work will be undertaken by the estates department tradesmen or contractors. So in general the only other working at height situations would be for the purpose of storage, and may mean you have to use a step ladder or kick stool. It is a common myth that you cannot be injured working from a small step ladder. Remember You don t have to fall a great height to suffer a serious injury. Step ladders The reasons people fall from stepladders are: Slipping or losing footing Overstretching A fault with the stepladder Stepladder wobble due to missing feet Stepladder being used sideways on to the work task. Pre use checks Check for any obvious signs of damage Ensure all four feet are intact. If any of the above are missing, or there is a sign of damage, then do not use. Using the ladder or kick stool Ensure that: The stepladder is the right height for the job It is fully open and locked off correctly You are wearing good sound shoes Steps to the ladder are clean It has four non-slip feet You don t overreach You work front on to step ladders or kick stool facing the item you are storing or collecting You set up on a firm and level base and make sure there are no overhead hazards Make sure you keep three points of contact on the step ladder, two feet and one hand or one foot and two hands. Kick stools Pre use check Check for any obvious signs of damage Check that the semi-brake castors are intact and in working order. Positioning Make sure that: You wear sensible sturdy closed shoes The standing platform is clean That you don t have to overreach You use the kick stool on a firm and level base. DCHS Stay Safe Handbook 13

FAQ 1) What do I do if things go wrong? If you have an injury or near miss whilst working, report it via the DATIX reporting system. 2) How I access the DATIX reporting system?

14 FAQ 1) What do I do if things go wrong? If you have an injury or near miss whilst working, report it via the DATIX reporting system. 2) How I access the DATIX reporting system? Please go to Staff Zone on the intranet. 3) How can I find out more information about Health and Safety in DCHS? Please go to Staff Zone and then click on the Stay Safe logo. 4) How do I contact the Health and Safety team? Our address is DCHST.staysafe@nhs.net 14 DCHS Stay Safe Handbook

15 Summary Section title Slips, trips and housekeeping Taking care when lifting and carrying Awareness of vehicles Your Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Key points Don t walk past a hazard, Keep walkways clear. SEE IT, SORT IT, and if you can t sort it, report it Follow the 8 Stay Safe Movement Principles REMEMBER Don t squash your doughnut s Be alert to all reversing vehicles whilst out in the community and on our hospital sites. EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED Wear Your PPE and make sure it is in good condition WHICH PPE should you be wearing? Section title Storage of stock, supplies and substances Awareness of lone working and security Fire safety Equipment for working at height Key points If you think it looks un-safe, then it probably is. Report Problems ALWAYS USE correct work equipment Be aware of Lone Working and your surroundings Know your evacuation Procedure, Sound the Alarm and get out. NEVER PUT YOURSELF at RISK If you need to use a step stool or kick stool check it s not damaged and make sure it s right for the job. Remember - three points of contact Colleague: Signature: Date: Line Manager: Signature: Date: DCHS Stay Safe Handbook 15

16 Health and Safety Department Walton Hospital, Whitecotes Lane, Chesterfield S40 3HW

OFFICE SAFETY ESSENTIALS

OFFICE SAFETY ESSENTIALS Introduction Health and Safety at work is everyone's responsibility. It is important that you have a general understanding of safety and health The employer must ensure that your