3. Outline the main health and safety responsibilities of yourself, employer and others

You need to understand everyone’s health and
safety responsibilities in the workplace. Whilst everyone has a responsibility for health and safety, there are three key groups whose responsibilities differ.

The key health and safety responsibilities for me and other care and support workers like you.

-Taking care of our own health and safety.
-Following our organisation’s policies and procedures and only undertaking tasks we have been assessed as competent to complete.
-Cooperating with our employers and making sure we are appropriately supported and regularly checked as competent.
-Not putting ourselves and other people at risk by what we do or do not do at work.
-Following the code of conduct.
-We cannot wear jewellery (except a small wedding band) and we must follow dress codes.
-We must not interfere with or misuse anything that has been provided for our health, safety or welfare.
-We must tell our employers if we take medication that make us drowsy and might affect our ability to work safely.
-Watch out for those hay fever tablets – I had to change mine! Telling our employers if something happens that might affect our ability to work or need a more detailed risk assessment.
For example, becoming pregnant, suffering an injury or getting ill.

If we don’t follow these, we could end up
in court and lose our jobs. Our actions could result in serious harm to ourselves or someone else. The organisation might have to close and the
employees and the people receiving support would suffer.

Doing whatever is reasonably practicable to provide a safe
workplace
-Protecting the health, safety and welfare of my employees and
other people we come into contact with
-Providing an appropriate and safe working equipment
-Assessing employees as safe and competent to practice
-Putting in place policies and procedures to safeguard everyone at
work
-Carrying out risk assessments and address all risks that might
cause harm in the workplace
-Making sure my employees can enter and leave their workplace(s)
safely
-Consulting with employees on health and safety issues

If we don’t follow these, we could face
costly fines and bad press. Our actions could result in serious harm to people.
I could lose my job and the company might have to close.

Hello,
my name is Raffa.

I
receive support with getting out and about and managing my personal
finances. Raffa who receives support services
from a care agency. I
don’t know much about health and safety but I do know I have responsibilities
under the Health and Safety at Work Act.

·        
I have to take reasonable care of my own health and safety. 

·        
I have to follow health and safety advice given to me.

·        
I have to co-operate with the people who are supporting me to use
appropriate equipment safely. 

If I don’t follow these, I might lose my
support service and it is very important to me. I don’t want to cause any
danger or harm to the people who support me or to anyone else.