Health and Safety

Amanda Parker-Harrison 2014

Key Learning Points

Factual knowledge of safety requirements to employers and employees

• A working knowledge of legislation and regulations

• How to carry out a risk assessment

• Occupations hazards and avoidance

• General safety and security issues

Health and Safety at Work At 1974 Workplaces, staff and

patients covered

Regulated by the HSE

5 or more employees, must produce a H&S policy

Health and Safety (young persons) regulations 1997

Management of Health and Safety at work regulations 1999

Compliance with Health and Safety includes: Fire precaution (workplace) Regulations 1999

Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981

Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) 1994

Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences (RIDDOR) 1995

Environmental Protection Act 1990

Special Waste and Hazardous Waste Regulations 2005

Ionising Radiation Regulations (IRR) 1999

Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2000

Occupational Hazards

General Safety measures

General Security measures

Risk Assessment

Identify Hazard

Who may be harmed

Evaluate risk

Control risk

Record findings

Review process

Risk Assessment

In pairs

Carry out a risk assessment of the classroom

Points to consider

- Lighting

- -temperature

- -working space

- -airflow

- -SMARTboard

10minutes

Fire Precautions(Workplace) 1999

Identify Hazards

Who may be harmed

Evaluate risk of occurrence

Control risk

Record findings

Review periodically

Fire Precaution (Workplace) Regulations 1999

Fire Detection

Battery operated smoke detectors. Fire inspector will advise how many are needed.

Fire FightingClass A- Paper, wood and textiles

Class B – Oils solvents and petrol

Class C – Gas, butane, LPG

Class D – Reactive metal

Class E - Electrical

Class E – Kitchen fats

Smoking in the Workplace

Prohibited in all UK Workplaces

No Smoking sign must be displayed

Nurses must change out of uniform

Not be visible to patients

Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981

All workplaces must have adequate provision

All staff trained and certificated in basic life support

At least one employee trained in emergency first aid

Full first aid kit available

Accident book

Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) 1994

COSHH file must be kept

All materials used should be assessed

Available to whole dental team

Ensure storage is adequate

Suitable ventilation and temperature

Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 1995

Accidents in the Workplace fall into two categories:

Minor Accident

Major accident

Not relevant to patients in the Dental chair, only those on the premises.

Nurses that are registered with the GDC are personally responsible for their own errors under H&S law.

Minor Accidents• Slip ,trip or fall

• Clean needle stick injury

•Minor mercury spillage

Major Accident• Fracture of skull, spine

or pelvis

• Fracture of the long bone in an arm or leg

• Amputation of a hand or foot

• Loss of sight in one eye

• Hypoxia

• Any injury requiring 24hours or more hospital admission

Reportable diseases:

Legionella

Hepatitis B or C

HIV

Any acute ill health caused by infection with dangerous pathogen

Special waste and Hazardous Waste Regulations 2005

Dental Workplace Waste

Non-Hazardous

Waste

Offensive Waste

Trade Waste

Hazardous Waste

Medicines, out of date stock, lead

foil

Hazardous Waste

Non Infectious (chemical)

Fixer and Developer

Waste Amalgam and

Mercury

Teeth with amalgam

fillings and Mercury

Infectious (clinical)

Sharps

Teeth without amalgam, used LA cartridges

Soft

PPE, swabs, wipes

Gypsom Waste

Trade Waste

Dental equipment

Electronic waste

Lighting tubes

Batteries

Offensive Waste PPE

Toilet hygiene waste

Any waste not in contact with bodily fluids but which may still cause offence

Waste Management

Environmental Protection Act 1990

Has written policy

Segregate waste

Staff training

Correct storage

Licensed waste collectors

Consignment notes

Hazardous waste

Must accurately describe waste contents and be kept for 3 years

Non-hazardous

Must accurately describe waste contents and be kept for 2 years

Ionising Radiation Legislation Ionising Radiation Regulations 1999 (IRR99)

Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2000 (IR(ME)R2000)

Specific legislation in place to ensure compliance with Health and Safety

Aim of both sets of regulations is to keep exposures to a minimum required for clinical necessity

Occupational Hazards

Cross infection and inoculation injuries

Exposure to ionising radiation

Exposure to hazardous chemicals

Exposure to hazardous waste

Exposure to lasers, whitening and curing lamps

Display screen equipment

General Safety Measures

Manual handling

Safe means of entry and exit

Non slip floors

No trailing electrical cables

PAT testing

First Aid kit

Guards around heaters

Security

Alarms