Legislation, Policies and Procedures
In this report I will be writing about legislations, policies and producers. As being Health and Safety reprehensive it is important that we all understand the different legal requirements that involve working in a residential home. Below are listed some of the different legislations, policies and procedures that are within the legislations and how these are to a residential home setting and how they promote the safety of all service users, staff and visitors.
Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
The Health and Safety at Work at 1974 is a law that places a duty of care on all employers ‘to ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work’ (healthyworkinglives, n.d.) The Health and Safety at work act was introduced in order to protect the service users, staff and visitors.
This legislation covers issues such as, fire evacuation, lone working, security of premises, cleaning, body waste and primarily the safety of the staff, service users and visitors.
Fire Evacuation
This policy would be essential to uphold in a Health and Social care setting. Staff members in a Health and Social Care setting should ensure that all the service users are able to know where the safe fire exits are, employers would need to make sure that all employees are competent knowing where the fire evacuation meeting point are so that the staff can pass this on to the service users. A fire drill should be completed from time to time in order to simulate a real fire experience. In a residential home, Staff are also to make sure that fire escapes are clearly marked in order for service users and staff to see these in an emergency, the exit signs should also be able to light up in case of a power cut. Some residential home will even have a map of the building and