Health and Safety in Businesses That Provide Care Services

Health and safety in businesses that provide care services

Key health and safety requirements

You are responsible for the health and safety of everyone affected by your business and its activities.

To comply with health and safety regulations there's a range of key obligations you must fulfil:

* Report any accidents, injuries and near misses. This will help you identify potential problem areas. Read about the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) on the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) website - Opens in a new window.

* Carry out regular risk assessments, making sure you consider the increased risk that hazards may pose to vulnerable clients. Control measures may need to be included in the risk assessment for individual clients.

* Ensure safe storage, handling and disposal of all hazardous substances, eg cleaning products, medicines and clinical waste.

Drawing up a health and safety policy is an important step to take. It should take account of the special circumstances faced by care-service businesses and the specific needs of vulnerable individuals.

For instance, you may require a detailed fire evacuation plan to protect young children or elderly people with limited mobility. See our guide on how to create and operate a health and safety policy.

Health and safety in businesses that provide care services

Health and safety issues for care-service employees

Employees in care-service businesses can face a range of specific health and safety hazards. As an employer you must do all you can to reduce the risk of harm from these hazards.

Manual handling

Employees looking after the young, the ill and the very old often have to carry out manual handling tasks such as moving equipment around and lifting or assisting those who are unable to move themselves.

You can minimise the risks these tasks pose by training employees in proper lifting techniques and by using automation where possible - for instance...