Health & Safety in Veterinary Practice

1. Health & Safety in Veterinary Practice

2. Health & Safety Legislation: • HASAWA 1974 • COSHH Regs 2002 • Management of H&S at Work Regs 1999 • H&S at Work Regs 1992 • Hazardous Waste Regs 2005 • Manual Handling Regs 1992 • H&S (First Aid) Regs 1981

3. Health & Safety Legislation: • H&S Display Screen Equipment Regs 1992 • Noise at Work Regs 1989 • The Working Time Regs 1998 • Electricicty at Work Regs 1989 • The Regulatory Reforms (Fire Safety) Order 2005 • Ionising Radiation Regs 1999 • RIDDOR 1995

4. Health & Safety Health & Safety Policy • Required by any business that employs 5 or more people • Written policy containing information on how employer will maintain H&S of employees

5. Health & Safety Health & Safety Policy- contains: • Who is responsible for H&S issues • Risk assessments that will be done • How practice will consult with employees • How safety of equipment will be maintained and by who

6. Health & Safety Health & Safety Policy- contains: • Implementation of COSHH • Arrangements for H&S training, accident & first aid • Fire and emergency evacuation procedures • How reviews of H&S will be done

7. Health & Safety All visitors must also be informed of H&S requirements

8. Health & Safety In groups decide how you would report the following and what safety procedures should be followed: • Fire • Accident • Chemical contamination • Gas leaks

9. Health & Safety Fire • Reported by alarm • Evacuate-999-meeting point-ensure you know who was in building-head count

10. Health & Safety Accident • Report in accident book • First aider- 999- wear gloves if blood involved-make area safe

11. Health & Safety Chemical contamination • Report to HES and Environmental health • Make area secure-don’t breathe fumes-avoid skin/ eye contact

12. Health & Safety Gas leak • Report to gas board • Switch off gas/ electric- no naked flame- secure area

13. Health & Safety What personal hygiene/ appearance do you need to follow at work in relation to H&S?

14. Health & Safety • Tie hair back • Remove jewellery • Wear PPE • Wash hands • Wear flat and sensible shoes • Only eat/ drink in staff room

15. Health & Safety- Risk assessments Risk assessments involve looking at workplace and type of work undertaken and identifying anything that could cause harm to people. Need to: • Identify hazard • Determine level of risk

16. Health & Safety- Risk assessments A hazard is something (e.g. an object, a property of a substance or an activity) that can cause adverse effects. For example: • Water on a staircase is a hazard, because you could slip on it, fall and hurt yourself. • Loud noise is a hazard because it can cause hearing loss.

17. Health & Safety- Risk assessments A risk is the likelihood that a hazard will actually cause its adverse effects

18. Health & Safety- Risk assessments Hazards: • Eliminate source of hazard if possible • If can’t eliminate substitute source 3. If can’t substitute control the source

19. Health & Safety- Risk assessments Steps in a risk assessment: • Carefully consider task • Identify hazards • Identify people at risk • Assess level of risk • What control measures in place? • Identify control measures needed

20. Health & Safety- Risk assessments Steps in a risk assessment: • Record all findings • Implement the control measures needed • Inform all relevant staff of findings-develop SOP if not in place • Train staff if required • Monitor and review regularly

21. Health & Safety- Risk assessments Carry out your own risk assessment for cleaning out a Guinea Pig’s accommodation Include potential hazards, risks and how to control them and who is at risk?