Health and Safety
Health and safety refers to the organised measures used to prevent work-related injury, illness and avoidable harm. It involves identifying hazards, assessing risks, implementing proportionate control measures and reviewing whether those controls remain effective.
In health and social care, safe working practices protect employees, people receiving care, visitors, contractors and anyone else who may be affected by workplace activities.
Aim of the course
This course aims to give learners the knowledge and awareness needed to recognise common workplace hazards, understand their health and safety responsibilities and take appropriate action to prevent harm.
It promotes a positive safety culture in which workers follow agreed procedures, use equipment correctly, report concerns promptly and contribute to the continuous improvement of workplace safety.
Scope of the course
The course is designed for care workers, healthcare assistants, support workers, nurses, administrative staff, catering and housekeeping teams, agency workers, volunteers and other people working in health and social care environments.
It provides general awareness of workplace health and safety principles, legal responsibilities, risk assessment, common hazards, incident management and safe working practices.
This awareness course does not replace:
- Role-specific health and safety training.
- Practical moving and handling instruction.
- Fire evacuation drills.
- First-aid qualifications.
- Equipment-specific training.
- COSHH assessments and product instructions.
- Workplace induction and local procedure training.
- Practical demonstration or competency assessment.
Employers must still assess the actual risks within their services and provide suitable information, instruction, training, supervision and control measures.
Topics covered
The course covers:
- The meaning and importance of workplace health and safety.
- Employer and employee health and safety responsibilities.
- The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
- The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.
- The difference between hazards, risks and control measures.
- The principles and stages of workplace risk assessment.
- The hierarchy of control.
- Dynamic risk assessment and responding to changing conditions.
- Slips, trips and falls.
- Moving and handling hazards.
- Hazardous substances and COSHH requirements.
- Safe use of workplace equipment.
- Electrical safety.
- Fire prevention and emergency arrangements.
- Workplace cleanliness, lighting, ventilation and welfare.
- Personal protective equipment.
- Sharps and exposure-related hazards.
- Violence, aggression and lone working.
- Work-related stress and staff wellbeing.
- First-aid arrangements and emergency response.
- Accident, incident and near-miss reporting.
- Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013.
- Communicating concerns and stopping unsafe work.
- Learning from incidents and maintaining a positive safety culture.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the course, learners should be able to:
- Explain why effective health and safety management is essential.
- Summarise the general responsibilities of employers and employees.
- Distinguish between legislation, workplace policies and guidance.
- Define the terms hazard, risk, control measure, accident, incident and near miss.
- Describe the main stages of a suitable and sufficient risk assessment.
- Explain how the hierarchy of control supports safer decision-making.
- Recognise common hazards found in health and social care environments.
- Identify measures that reduce slips, trips and falls.
- Explain the importance of safe moving and handling practices.
- Describe how hazardous substances should be managed.
- Recognise basic fire, electrical and equipment-related hazards.
- Explain when and how personal protective equipment should be used.
- Recognise risks associated with violence, aggression, lone working and work-related stress.
- Respond appropriately to an immediate health and safety concern.
- Explain why accidents, incidents, hazards and near misses must be reported.
- Recognise that only specified events are reportable under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013.
- Locate and follow workplace emergency procedures.
- Describe how workers can contribute to a positive health and safety culture.
The content reflects the general duties established by the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the HSE’s current approach to managing workplace risks and risk assessment.
