Health and Safety
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SUMMARY
HEALTH AND SAFETY POLICY
STATEMENT
INTRODUCTION
Benenden Hospital Trust is committed to developing a positive health and safety culture where the inherent risks in healthcare provision are controlled and reduced through the involvement and commitment of all staff in delivering a quality service.
It is the policy of the Hospital to do all that is reasonably practicable to prevent personal injury, damage to property, harm to the environment or any other form of harm or loss to staff, patients or others in conducting its business.
In particular the Hospital recognises its responsibility to:
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comply with relevant health, safety, welfare and fire regulations.
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provide and maintain a safe and healthy working environment.
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do all that is reasonably practicable to eliminate all major hazards from the workplace.
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avoid any unnecessary risk to staff and others and control those risks that are necessary.
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provide information, instruction and training to staff and others to enable them to perform their work safely and efficiently.
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provide the necessary safety equipment and supervision to ensure safe systems of work are employed at all times.
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consult staff, or their representatives, on matters relating to health and safety.
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STAFF INVOLVEMENT
The Hospital wishes to foster the total commitment, co-operation and involvement of all staff in developing and implementing health, safety and welfare programmes. It seeks to channel the ideas, experience and enthusiasm of staff into continually improving health and safety standards. A Health and Safety Committee has been established as a forum for joint consultation on health and safety matters with Occupational Health matters providing the agenda on a quarterly basis.
All staff are reminded of their duties under law to:
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take reasonable care for the health and safety of themselves and others who may be affected by their activities or omissions.
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NOT, intentionally or recklessly, interfere or misuse anything provided for safety.
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co-operate, so far as is necessary, to satisfy legal requirements.
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POLICY IMPLEMENTATION
Responsibility for implementing this policy is delegated through the line management structure to operational managers.
Relevant health and safety policies and procedures have been produced to specify regulatory requirements and safe working practices. They are available to operational managers to ensure consistent implementation of policy.
All staff are required to read and understand these policies and procedures and to have them explained if in doubt.
Risk assessments are conducted and used to define appropriate control measures and improvement activities with a view to reducing risk to a practical minimum level.
All contract, agency or temporary staff are issued with a summary of this policy statement and are expected to comply with it at all times.
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ORGANISATIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Hospital Director
The Hospital Director has overall accountability and responsibility for compliance with the Health and Safety at Work Act and other relevant health and safety legislation throughout the Hospital. Although day-to-day responsibility is delegated through executive directors and line management, the Hospital Director has also appointed the Director of Nursing to keep the Hospital Management Board informed of, and alert to, relevant health and safety management issues.
Director of Nursing
The Director of Nursing has delegated responsibility to champion a positive attitude to health and safety and promote a commitment to continuous improvement in performance.
Directors
Directors will define the responsibilities of their staff and ensure by appropriate monitoring that safe systems of work have been specified and are being implemented.
Departmental Heads/Ward Managers
Departmental Heads and Ward Managers are constantly required to set an example in safe behaviour and maintain a permanent and continuing interest in the safety of their staff, patients and the general public.
The Hospital will take all reasonably practicable steps to provide competent technical advice on health and safety matters, both internally through its appointed specialist advisors and externally from consultants and other agencies, where this is necessary to assist managers in their tasks.
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RESPONSIBILITIES OF STAFF
All members of staff have a responsibility for ensuring that they undertake the work they are required to do, with due regard to the safety of themselves, their colleagues, those in the care of the Hospital and for the public generally.
In addition, each member of staff must ensure that they:
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report all matters which he/she considers a hazard to health and safety to their line manager;
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report any incident in accordance with the Incident Reporting Policy and seek first aid treatment for injury, if appropriate;
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assist, where required, the investigation of accidents or near misses to discover cause and prevent recurrence;
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use and maintain safety equipment and facilities provided in a proper manner and to report any defects noted;
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are aware of the correct procedure in the event of fire or other emergency;
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are fully conversant with the local health and safety rules and procedures and comply with the responsibilities specified.
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REVIEW
This policy is subject to continuous review and is reviewed formally every two years. Each review is considered by the Health and Safety Committee and endorsed before issue. The details of the review are recorded.
Benenden Hospital welcomes feedback from staff, patients and other interested parties on health and safety matters. If you have any comments on this policy please write to:
The Health & Safety Advisor, Benenden Hospital,
Benenden, Cranbrook, Kent, TN17 4AX
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