Health and Safety Training in the Health and Care Sector: Where Injuries Can Occur, And How To Prevent Them

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Within the health and care sector, there are going to be instances where you’re going to have to mobilise service users. This could be for something as simple as having a bath, to more complex situations like an inter-hospital transfer. This is one of the more difficult tasks in the health and care sector, often requiring two people.

Moving and handling is a key part of the working day for many employees in the health and care sector; from moving  equipment, laundry, catering, supplies or waste to assisting residents in moving. However, it can still pose potential risks. Recognising the vulnerable points in your own business builds a foundation of safe practice upon which you can thrive.

Statistically, and perhaps unsurprisingly, mobilising service users is one of the points of care where it’s most likely that an injury or accident could occur which can injure both the person being moved and the employee.  Training can help you become aware of the risks this poses, and have an established course of action for your employees to follow that will allow them to be able to deal in these circumstances as seamlessly as possible.

How Do I Manage These Risks?

In order to successfully manage the risks that are associated with moving and handling, your business or organisation needs to have top-down support for its employees. There needs to be strong structural support in order for employees to not only thoroughly understand what their tasks, roles, and responsibilities are, and how they can be carried out according to best practice. One of the best ways to do this is through a clear policy statement, which is supported by your own internal organisational arrangements that ensure that the course of action described in the statement is continuously implemented.

So, what would this statement entail? In order for it to be as effective as possible, the statement should include the following:

•    recognition of the risks
•    commitment to introducing precautions to reduce that risk
•    a statement of clear roles and responsibilities
•    an explanation of what is expected from individual employees
•    arrangements for training and providing / maintaining equipment
•    arrangements for monitoring compliance
•    a commitment to supporting people who have been injured in connection with their work

Some of the most effective ways in which employers can reduce the risks of inflicting injury upon their own staff and those who use their services is by doing an analysis of the different practices that your organisation or business engage in. By better understanding the trends within your own organisation, you can reduce the risk of  handling tasks that could result in injury. Adequate training can help guide you, and your staff through all of the above.

What's Covered in Health and Safety Training?

A health and safety training covers the essential facts and procedures you need to understand in order to have a safer overall workplace.  The training course also meets the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) 'Working Safely' standards, meaning that it’s been accredited for its quality by an independent governing body.

The course is made up of six modules which cover an introduction to health and safety; the fundamental concepts behind risk assessment; how to control workplace health and safety hazards; improving your health and safety performance; the Plan, Do, Check, Act approach to health and safety management; and emergency procedures.

Within the health and care sector, health and safety training empowers employees to be able to deal with difficult situations which directly affect the health and/or wellbeing of those in your care.  By working through the different scenarios which would potentially impact the safety of employees and/or patients, the training course can act as an enabling tool, increasing their confidence.

Ready to take the plunge and get a health and training course for your employees? Get in touch and we’ll sort it out for you!

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