Health & Safety Policy
The practice recognises that it has a responsibility to ensure that all reasonable precautions are taken to provide and maintain equipment and working conditions which are safe, healthy and comply with all statutory requirements and codes of practice. Our responsibility is to provide the above to all persons required to enter our premises for whatever reason. The arrangements we have made to ensure that these obligations are met are detailed below.
Organisation and responsibilities
All matters relating to health and safety are the responsibility of the practice manager. Employees also have a responsibility for health and safety.
Practice Manager
The practice manager is responsible for safety in the practice and will monitor the safety policy on a regular basis. They will ensure that sufficient resources are available to provide any equipment, protective clothing, training or other provision necessary for health and safety within the work place. Information and training for employees will be provided in order to achieve and maintain a high standard of safety proficiency.
It is also the practice manager’s responsibility to ensure that all staff are aware of the fire evacuation procedure, exit routes and assembly point, and the location of fire-fighting equipment. They must ensure that all fire related equipment is in working order and evacuation routes are free from obstruction.
Employees
All employees have a responsibility to do everything they can to prevent injury to themselves, their fellow employees and others affected by their actions or omissions at work. They are expected to follow practice procedures, in particular to report any incidents which have or may have led to injury or damage. All equipment should be used in accordance with the training given and the practice manager informed of any serious or imminent danger as well as any shortcomings in the protection arrangements. If the practice manager is not available, an employee may stop work and immediately proceed to a place of safety in the event of being exposed to serious, imminent or unavoidable danger. Any employee faced with such a conflict between the demands of safety and his or her job should raise the matter as soon as possible with the practice manager, after the danger has ceased or been dealt with.
Administrative Arrangements
Reporting Accidents
- In the event of an accident causing injury you must ensure that the injured person is being cared for and send immediately for a first aider. DO NOT MOVE THE INJURED PERSON.
- Report the full details to the practice manager who will record the incident in the accident book.
- Any “near miss” incident which occurs should also be reported to the practice manager who will be responsible for making a report.
First Aid
During the induction programme, employees will be shown the location of the nearest first aid box to their work area. All GPs and nurses are qualified first aiders.
Fire
All fire exits must be kept free of obstruction. Fire alarm call points, fire action notices and fire exits are clearly signed around the building. All personnel should be familiar with the location of the above.
In the event of a fire the practice manager will call the fire brigade. In their absence it is the responsibility of the GP on call that day.
Code of Safe Practice
Good Housekeeping
Undue hurrying and forgetfulness cause many accidents. Do not run. Use handrails going up or down stairs. Do not leave items where they may cause an accident and keep all passageways free of obstruction.
Electrical Equipment
Electrical equipment is normally safe, provided it is installed correctly and regularly inspected. Remember that all water based liquids and many others are conductors of electricity and their association with faults such as damaged cables, plugs, sockets, circuit overloads etc make electric shock more severe. Therefore you should:
- never touch electrical equipment with wet hands; move any portable electrical equipment without disconnecting it from the mains; make electrical repairs or do other electrical work unless you are an authorised individual;
- keep electrical supply cables away from wet areas, or from where they will be damaged by being walked over or knocked when moving equipment about;
- always switch off all equipment when not required and at night remove the plug from the socket unless continuous operation is necessary and/or instructed otherwise. Report any defective equipment to the practice manager.
Heights
- Do not attempt to obtain items which are beyond your reach. Use a ladder or stepping stool, ensuring it is in a safe condition. Do not overreach on the ladder, move it.
- Do not use chairs, open drawers or any makeshift device for climbing.
- Do not climb up the shelves themselves.
Manual Handling
- Do not attempt to move or lift items beyond your capabilities. Seek assistance or use the trolley provided.
- Ensure proper lifting technique is used to avoid personal injury.
Grievance Procedure
This procedure relates only to occupational health and safety problems, disputes or grievances. In the event of a grievance, employees should in the first instance refer the matter orally or in writing to the practice manager. In the event of there being a danger of death, serious imminent danger or health risk, staff may stop work and immediately leave the workplace and proceed to a place of safety. The matter should be reported as soon as possible to the practice manager who will investigate and determine what action should be taken. Following investigation, the employee will be informed that either:
- the practice has so far as is reasonably practicable eliminated the danger and employees must resume normal working;
- the practice does not consider that the matter constitutes a grave risk to health and safety and employees must resume normal working;
- the practice will undertake further investigations and may, if necessary, obtain expert opinion. Employees will then be suspended on full pay or transferred to alternative work whilst the investigation takes place.
