H & S Test - Best Practice
All businesses should have a health and safety policy (and if you employ over 5 persons it should be documented) and it should be communicated to all employees.
A health and safety policy is split into three sections:
General Statement
This will outline the companies’ policy on health and safety and those responsible for ensuring the statement is implemented in the correct manner at all times.
Organisation of Health & Safety
This area will detail who is responsible for Health & Safety, this could be more than one person if it is a large or multi site organisation.
Health & Safety arrangements
This will detail how health and safety will be implemented; this will follow the following sections:
- Risk assessments
- Emergency procedures
- Training
- First aid
- Policy changes
- Lone working
- Safe systems of work
- Chemicals
This section will vary depending on the nature of the organisation.
First Aid
It is a legal requirement to have sufficient first aid facilities in place, this includes a first aid kit and (as a minimum) an appointed person.
Depending on the nature of your business it may be necessary to have a qualified first aider on site, the number required will depend on the risks identified and the number of employees.
As a guideline your first aid box should contain:
- Medical Adhesive Plasters 40
- Sterile Eye Pads 4
- Individually wrapped triangular bandages 6
- Safety Pins 6
- Individually wrapped, medium sterile dressings 8
- Individually wrapped, large sterile dressings 4
- Individually wrapped wipes 10
- Paramedic Shears 1
- Pairs of Latex Gloves 2
- Sterile Eyewash (if no running water) 2
This should be checked on a regular basis and refilled as necessary. It is a good idea to store your accident book with the first aid box so it is completed when immediately after an accident and the details are fresh. When purchasing an accident book you should ensure that it is compliant under the Data Protection Act and the pages are removable from the book (these should be stored in line with data protection guidelines). When an accident occurs the following details should be documented:
- Personal details i.e. name, address
- Date and time of the accident
- Location of the accident
- Cause of accident
- Details of the injury
It is important to include the information your accident book provides when carrying out reviews with you health and safety policy and risk assessments.
Consultation with employees
It is a legal requirement to consult with employee any issues regarding health and safety, this can be done effectively by setting up a health and safety committee or appointing a representative that can present information easily to the management. These groups or persons can also be involved in risk assessments and investigations.
Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regs 1995 (RIDDOR)
There are a number of accidents that fall under these regulations and must be reported to the Health & safety Executive (this can now be done online), the types of accidents that should be reported:
- Death and serious injury
- Loss of limb
- Dangerous occurrences
- 3 day and over injuries
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Good quality and appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) is important if it is be of any effect. Ill fitting equipment or poorly maintained will greatly reduce its effectiveness in protecting the wearer.
Some examples of PPE:
- Safety helmets
- Goggles, safety glasses
- Ear defenders
- Gloves
- High Visibility Jackets
- Footwear
Safety Signs
Safety signs are an effective way to communicate any potential hazards within a particular area, all safety signs are colour coded:
- Yellow – Warning, this might be of a particular hazard
- Blue – Mandatory, something you must do i.e. wear eye protection
- Red – Prohibition, informs you of something you must not do
- Green – identifies safe conditions i.e. fire exit
Finished? Try some sample test questions here. (Answers can be found in the download section)