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Showing results for tags 'Health and safety'.
Found 124 results
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Content ArticleIn this opinion piece for the BMJ, the authors argue that shortcomings in protection from contracting Covid-19 at work arise from legislation being ignored. They argue that government departments, including the Department of Health and Social Care and the Department for Education, did not adequately emphasise the legal obligations of employers to protect their employees health during the pandemic. The article states that laws dating back to the 1974 Health and Safety at Work Act make it a legal requirement for employers to ensure the health of their employees and of patients, students, and site visitors.
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News Article
Republic of Ireland: Most HSE staff felt negative change at work during pandemic
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
The vast majority of HSE staff in the Republic of Ireland felt supported during the COVID-19 pandemic but more than half felt there has been a negative change in their working environment, a new survey has found. Staff across the health service were asked about their work, and responses from almost 13,000 staff showed a mixed impact since the pandemic with staff saying they were more enthusiastic about their job than in 2018 but were less optimistic about their future in the health service. Three in 10 said they had been subject to assault from the public in the past two years. One in three felt more positively towards the HSE since before the pandemic began. The survey found there had been an increase in the satisfaction with the level of care delivered since 2018 but almost 4 in 10 felt the service delivered was deteriorating. There was a strong sense of job security among staff, but satisfaction levels have fallen back on the previous survey three years ago. A third said they were dissatisfied at present. Despite the fact that an anti-bullying taskforce was set up after the previous survey, the same number of staff reported experiences of being bullied by a colleague as in 2018. Three in 10 said they had experienced bullying or harassment at work from a manager, team leader or other colleagues. Read full story Source: The Irish Times, 6 December 2021 -
Content ArticleOzSAGE has created this infographic for creating safer indoor air for workspaces. It should be used with masks as a complete strategy. OzSAGE is a multi-disciplinary network of Australian experts from a broad range of sectors relevant to the well-being of the Australian population during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Content ArticleThe need to evacuate an intensive care unit (ICU) or operating theatre complex during a fire or other emergency is a rare event but one potentially fraught with difficulty: not only is there a risk that patients may come to significant harm but also that staff may be injured and unable to work. The Intensive Care Society and the Association of Anaesthetists have published new 2021 guidelines regarding fire safety and emergency evacuation of ICUs and operating theatres. These guidelines have been drawn up by a multi-professional group including frontline clinicians, healthcare fire experts, human factors experts, clinical psychologists and representatives from the National Fire Chiefs Council, Health and Safety Executive (HSE), NHS Improvement, Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Authority (MHRA), and representatives from relevant industries.
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Content Article
HSE: Health and safety management systems
Patient Safety Learning posted an article in Organisational
A formal management system or framework can help you manage health and safety. The Health and Safety Executive (HEE) highlights standards, documentation and useful resources. -
Content ArticleThis article by Alison Moore focuses on the problems and controversy associated with the Queen Elizabeth Hospital King’s Lynn Foundation Trust who had to evacuate its critical care unit earlier this year because of the dangers surrounding the safety of their roof.
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Content ArticleThis article discusses how advising and supporting managers/employers in risk management and control is and should have been one of the main preventive roles of occupational health experts, particularly in regards to legal duties on health and safety. In the article, the authors recommend that, as employees have the right to a safe working environment, all appropriate health and safety risk assessments should be carried out, along with published documented input from occupational health experts in addition to gaining employee agreement on Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE) for aerosol inhalation risk.
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Content Article
NHS Health at Work Network
Patient Safety Learning posted an article in Occupational health and safety
NHS Health at Work is the network of occupational health teams dedicated to ensuring that the NHS has a healthy, motivated workforce that is able to provide the best possible patient care. The NHS is the largest employer in the UK and aims to provide an exemplary occupational health service that is improving the health and well being of over 1.3 million NHS staff. NHS Health at Work influences and advises Government and other bodies about occupational health in the NHS. It also provides a gateway for businesses in the broader community who are seeking occupational health advice and support. -
Content ArticleThe Defective Medicines Report Centre (DMRC) is part of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). The role of the DMRC is to minimise the hazard to patients arising from the distribution of defective medicines by providing an emergency assessment and communication system between manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, pharmacies, regulatory authorities and users. This guide is for patients, healthcare professionals, manufacturers and distributors for reporting, investigating and recalling suspected Defective Medicinal Products.
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Content Article
CDC: Hierarchy of controls
Patient Safety Learning posted an article in Occupational health and safety
Controlling exposures to occupational hazards is the fundamental method of protecting workers. Traditionally, a hierarchy of controls has been used as a means of determining how to implement feasible and effective control solutions.This Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) summarises the hierarchy of controls. -
Content Article
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The European Biosafety Network (EBN) commissioned a survey to understand whether, why and how there has been a change in the number, type and location of sharps injuries as a result of the COVID pandemic. The survey, conducted by Ipsos MORI in March/April 2021, included 80 of the largest hospitals in Europe, in Spain, France, Germany, Poland and Italy, covering more than 300,000 healthcare workers. Findings showed that the number of sharps injuries has risen significantly as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, with an average reported increase of 23% over the last year (an estimated increase of 276,000 sharps injuries). This presentation highlights several contributing factors including: Increased pressure/stress Lack of safety devices PPE Covid vaccination rollout. You can access the full presentation summarising the research by downloading the attached document. -
News ArticleNearly half the hospitals targeted in covid-related spot checks were found to be breaching health and safety laws. An unpublished Health and Safety Executive report found just five out of 17 acute hospitals inspected had high levels of compliance with measures to manage the risks around covid. Meanwhile, letters were sent to eight hospitals “formally requiring them to take remedial action to remedy contraventions of health and safety law”. The remaining four hospitals were given advice. The inspections — which involved 13 hospitals in England and two each in Scotland and Wales — focused on seven areas: risk assessment; management arrangements specific to covid; social distancing; cleaning and hygiene; ventilation; dealing with suspected covid cases; and personal protective equipment. The health and safety watchdog highlighted social distancing in non-clinical areas — which covered areas outside of clinical wards such as offices, rest areas, changing rooms and workshops — as needing improvement in some hospitals. The inspectors — who visited between November last year and January this year — also found some hospitals needed more robust covid security measures if they were to comply with government guidance. HSE also noted that, although all the hospitals had adequate supplies of PPE, not all had adequate arrangements in place for ensuring it was used effectively. Read full story (paywalled) Source: HSJ, 5 May 2021
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Content ArticleThe Natasha Allergy Research Foundation (NARF) has added its voice to a chorus of growing safety concerns about the rise in businesses operating out of people’s homes. NARF said urgent government intervention on food safety standards is required to deal with the subject that has gained increased attention during the coronavirus pandemic. Tanya Ednan-Laperouse, founder of Natasha’s Foundation, said the emergence of tens of thousands of at-home and dark kitchens during the COVID-19 pandemic raises fears about food safety, particularly for the two million plus people in the UK who have food allergies. “...we need ministerial intervention, laws to ensure businesses are regulated, inspected and rated, and an urgent commitment to boost resources targeted at food safety. The cost of failure for many families will be too high.” The Foundation was set up by the parents of Natasha Ednan-Laperouse who died in 2016 after an allergic reaction to sesame in a baguette. It has been instrumental in new labeling legislation, called Natasha’s Law, that will come into force in the UK beginning in October.
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Content Article
Are agency healthcare practitioners adequately covered to work in private hospitals?
Anonymous posted an article in Occupational health and safety
I would like to share with you my experience of an injury I sustained when working as an agency nurse doing bank shifts in a private hospital and highlight to colleagues the importance of knowing your entitlements when working for an Agency. Please make sure you are adequately covered for injury. -
Content ArticleA Virtual Clinic was set up at an acute general hospital in the Mid-Essex area with the specific aim to co-ordinate the care of adults diagnosed with intellectual disabilities (ID) coupled with two or more long term conditions. This is one of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) shared learning case studies. NICE has over 800 examples showing how our guidance and standards can improve local health and social care services.
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Content ArticleAccidents at work and occupational diseases are neither determined by fate nor unavoidable – they always have causes. By building a strong prevention culture, these causes can be eliminated and work related accidents, harm and occupational diseases be prevented. 'Vision Zero' is a transformational approach to prevention that integrates the three dimensions of safety, health and well-being at all levels of work. The International Social Security Association (ISSA) Vision Zero concept is flexible and can be adjusted to the specific safety, health or well-being priorities for prevention in any given context. Thanks to this flexibility, Vision Zero is beneficial to any workplace, enterprise or industry in all regions of the world.
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News ArticleAlmost half of NHS Trusts in England have reported risks classified as “significant” or “extreme”, with issues facing funding, buildings and failing equipment, according to an analysis by Labour. Highlighting warnings of staff shortages and patient safety, the party demanded urgent action from the government to prepare the health service for the winter months as cases of COVID-19 accelerate across the country. Labour said its study of 114 NHS Trusts’ risks registers showed that over three quarters of trusts logged a workforce risk. The analysis also revealed that 66% reported a financial risk, 82% highlighted risks directly related to COVID-19 and 84% recorded a risk to patient safety. Almost half of Trusts (54), the party said, had outlined risks described as “significant” or “extreme”. One hospital trust reported it was “not financially stable” beyond the current financial year while another recorded a potential risk to patient safety due to “structural deficiencies” in roof structure. NHS hospitals are expected to consider risks to their operations and processes and when risks are identified, it is likely they will have been considered at board level and mitigations put in place. Describing the registers – compiled between March and August - as “worrying” in a normal winter, Jonathan Ashworth, the shadow health secretary, said: “In the coming winter, with the incompetent handling of the test and trace system leaving the NHS wide open and poorly supported, they take on a whole new meaning." "We urgently need a commitment from ministers to fix the problems with test and trace and a timetable by which these issues will finally be sorted. On top of this it is vital that ministers confirm that the NHS will get the additional support it needs to address these risks." Read full story Source: The Independent, 6 October 2020
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Content Article
Occupational health and safety ISO 45001
Patient Safety Learning posted an article in Applying standards
ISO 45001, Occupational health and safety management systems – Requirements with guidance for use, is the world’s first International Standard for occupational health and safety (OH&S). It provides a framework to increase safety, reduce workplace risks and enhance health and well-being at work, enabling an organisation to proactively improve its OH&S performance -
Content ArticleThis revised edition of one of HSE's most popular guides is mainly for leaders, owners and line managers. It will particularly help those who need to put in place or oversee their organisation's health and safety arrangements. The advice may also help workers and their representatives, as well as health and safety practitioners and training providers.
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Content ArticleAll health workers require knowledge and skills to protect themselves and others from the occupational risks they encounter, so that they can work safely and effectively. This course consists of five sections in response to these needs: Introduction Module 1: Infectious risks to health and safety Module 2: Physical risks to health and safety Module 3: Psychosocial risks to health and safety Module 4: Basic occupational health and safety in health services. The target audience for this course is health workers, incident managers, supervisors and administrators who make policies and protocols for their health facilities.
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Content ArticleThis checklist is the first step in identifying and prioritizing areas of action for improving the protection of health and safety of health workers in line with WHO–ILO Global Framework for National Occupational Health Programmes for Health Workers. It is designed to be filled out in discussion with management, responsible officers for occupational health, environmental health, infection prevention and control, human resources and representatives of workers in the health facility. This participatory approach will provide a variety of perspectives and a more comprehensive basis for identifying the existing preventive measures, possible problems and solutions for continuous improvement. Using this checklist to begin this process will give you an overview of areas where you can propose to take action and help you determine what to prioritize. These priorities guide you in planning for improvements.
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Content ArticleHealthcare organisations are committed to the safety of the patients receiving care, treatment, and services. Healthcare organisations are also committed to the safety of those who serve those patients – healthcare workers, whether they be nurses, physicians, medical technicians, pharmacists, lab workers, housekeeping staff. This new book from The Joint Commission pulls together a collection of checklists to keep those healthcare workers safe from chemical and physical hazards, infectious agents, workplace violence, ergonomic problems, work-related stress, and more. The checklists are built upon authoritative guidelines from OSHA, NIOSH, CDC, and others and are intended to simplify healthcare worker safety. Most of the checklists are intended for use by health care workers themselves, depending upon their clinical or other responsibilities. Some of the checklists are intended for management to ensure that policies, procedures, and resources are in place to ensure health care worker safety in all areas of the organization. All of the checklists are straightforward and easy to use and understand and cover the key areas of risk for healthcare workers. Each section of checklists is introduced by compelling statistics that show how dangerous working in the health care environment can be, without proper precautions. The checklists provide the procedures or must-do activities to ensure that health care workers are as safe as can be. Sample pages
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Content ArticleThis blog from Samrina Bhatti, Manager, and Karen Taylor Director, Deloitte Centre for Health Solutions, celebrates World Patient Safety Day 2020 by exploring how the safety of health workers, is a priority for patient safety.
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Content ArticleThe purpose of this Global Framework for National Occupational Health Programmes for Health Workers, as directed by the WHO Global Plan of Action (GPA) on Workers’ Health (2008–17) and consistent with the ILO Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 2006 (No. 187), is to strengthen health systems and the design of healthcare settings with the goal of improving health worker health and safety, patient safety and quality of patient care, and ultimately support a healthy and sustainable community with links to Greening Health Sector and Green Jobs initiatives.
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Content ArticleThe World Health Organization (WHO) is calling on governments and healthcare leaders to address persistent threats to the health and safety of health workers and patients. “The COVID-19 pandemic has reminded all of us of the vital role health workers play to relieve suffering and save lives,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “No country, hospital or clinic can keep its patients safe unless it keeps its health workers safe. WHO’s Health Worker Safety Charter is a step towards ensuring that health workers have the safe working conditions, the training, the pay and the respect they deserve.” The pandemic has also highlighted the extent to which protecting health workers is key to ensuring a functioning health system and a functioning society. The WHO Charter, released for World Patient Safety Day 2020, calls on governments and those running health services at local levels to take five actions to better protect health workers. Sign up to the WHO Charter here
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