Accidents at Work Procedure

Transcription

1 Accidents at Work Procedure Policy Ref: C8-9 Author: Director of Organisational Development & Communications Consultation Process: Last Review: Board, SMT, Staff January 2014 Distribution: Next Review: Policy and Procedure Manual January 2017 Change Record Version Nature of change: Issue Date Ratified No: Date: Ratified: By: 1 First Issue Jan 10 Dec 09 CEO 2. Promotion of accident prevention. Combine Accidents at Work and Accident Investigation Procedures Highlights the importance of staff training relating to workplace accidents Feb 14 Feb 14 CEO Approved by CEO Page 1 of 7

2 Accidents at Work Procedure Scope This document outlines the procedures that are to be adopted when any employee, service user, visitor or contractor experiences an accident, near-miss or dangerous occurrence on the Association s premises. The Association will ensure that all reasonable measures are taken to reduce accidents in the workplace to as low a level as reasonably practicable. It is the policy of the organisation to identify and investigate accidents and near misses, their source and hence their underlying causes where appropriate. Responsibilities heads and line managers are responsible for the implementation of this procedure; staff are responsible for adhering to it. It is imperative that all accidents and near misses, irrespective of the resulting injury or damage, be reported according to the procedures outlined below. For the purposes of this procedure and to provide clarity, the Association deem an accident and near-miss to be defined as: Accident:- Near-miss:- any unplanned event that results in personal injury or damage to property, plant or equipment. an unplanned event which does not cause injury or damage, but could have done so. ACCIDENT PREVENTION Triangle aims to prevent and minimise accidents and incidents that occur by improving its procedures and advice given on Health and Safety matters, through regular risk assessment and monitoring, inspections, training and sensible anticipation and forward planning of actual and potential hazards. Triangle recognises its statutory responsibilities under the Health and Safety at Work Order (NI) 1978 and RIDDOR (NI) 1997, Registered Homes Order (NI) 1992 and The Domiciliary Care Agencies Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007 with regards to health and safety in the workplace and endeavours as far as is reasonably practicable to ensure safety in the workplace. All staff must be inducted and trained in health & safety best practice and basic first aid principles. Approved by CEO Page 2 of 7

3 Staff must be able to: Assess what might happen and how to raise the alarm; Know what to do including how to call the emergency services; Know where to go to reach safety or to get rescue equipment; Know who should take control of the situation and the names of other key people such as first aiders etc.; Know the essential actions such as how to cut off the electricity supply, turn off the water mains, cookers, hot places etc. Accident Books All accidents must be recorded in the Association s Accident Book (site specific/coded accordingly). New books can be requested from the Human Resources department. Accident Books should be completed by the injured person, where possible. Once an entry (accident or near miss) has been made in the Accident Book it should be detached from the book and forwarded to the Human Resources. Line Managers should be advised of the accident or near miss immediately. REPORTING PROCEDURE: ACCIDENTS In the event of an accident, there are four main priorities: Assess the situation and its requirements Make the area safe to prevent any further accidents Attend to any casualty Record and report all accidents and/or near misses in Accident Book available on site 1. All accidents must be entered in the appropriate Accident Book either by the injured person or, if this is not practical, someone else present at the time. 2. The accident form should be detached from the accident book and given to the immediate line manager/supervisor. 3. The immediate line manager/supervisor must then forward the accident form to the Human Resources department. 4. Should an employee be absent from work due to injury incurred as a result of an accident, the Line Manager must comply with the RIDDOR Reporting element of this procedure (see below). Approved by CEO Page 3 of 7

4 5. Management must report the accident to the appropriate authorities in accordance with the policy Health and Safety at Work Regulations (NI) 1978 and RIDDOR (NI) All serious accidents within Residential Care Homes, affecting the health and well being of tenants or service users must be reported to RQIA within 24 hours of occurrence and followed through with a written report of the accident and action taken with regard to the accident. 7. Inform other relevant parties such as significant family members or Trust commissioner as stated in the resident s, tenant s or service user s care plan. Minor Injury: Any injury sustained at work not requiring the attention of a medical officer. Record the use of any items used from the First Aid Box Inform your First Aider of the injury sustained Major Injury: Any injury sustained at work which requires more attention (A&E or GP) Ring emergency services Contact the First Aider for immediate attention The First Aider, will administer first aid action up to the level to which they have been trained until the emergency services arrive The Appointed Person (management person on duty, or management person available in central office), will assess the situation and act appropriately to minimise the risks Seek medical advice and attention; Emergency Major Injury: In the instance of a serious accident which requires urgent medical attention (Ambulance or Hospitalisation) Contact the ambulance service directly by a 999 telephone call, or delegate to an appropriate person Assess the situation and its requirements and take decisive action in line with whatever policy is most appropriate Make the area safe to prevent any further accidents Attend to any casualty as instructed above; Contact your line manager to inform them of the situation Contact the appropriate authorities, family, friends etc First Aid: Triangle will attempt to minimise the effects of personal injury by the provision of basic First Aid in accordance with the First Aid procedures. Road Traffic Accidents: All events involving employee personal vehicles, tenant mobility vehicles or other vehicles which results in injury and/or property damage must also be reported through the completion of the Accident Book. Approved by CEO Page 4 of 7

5 RIDDOR REPORTING Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (NI) 1997 Reporting accidents and ill health at work is a legal requirement. The information enables local authorities to identify where and how risk arise and to investigation serious accidents. RIDDOR is the law that requires employers, and other people who are responsible for work premises, to report and keep records of: Death or majory injury: where an employee or self-employed person working on your premises is killed or suffers serious injury. Or if a member of the public is killed or taken to hospital. This must be reported immediately by phone to the local authorities and a RIDDOR NI5208 form must be completed and returned within 10 days. Over-three-day injury: an accident connected with work (including an act of physical violence) and your employee or self-employed person on your premises suffers an overthree-day injury it must be reported to the local authorities within ten days by completing the RIDDOR form NI2508. Such an accident results in the injured person being away from work or unable to carry out their normal work for more than three days (includes non-work days). Dangerous occurrence: if something happens that did not result in a reportable injury, but could have done, must be reported immediately by phone to the local authorities. Disease: reportable work-related disease. All RIDDOR NI2508 forms to be forwarded and retained by Human Resources NEAR MISSES Near miss occurences often precede accidents. It is therefore, crucial to the health, safety and well being of employees, service users and visitors alike that the Association takes a proactive approach to identifying such occurrences and to eradicate these through effective risk assessment and safe systems of work. Why do we record and report near-misses? It enables companies to pro-actively resolve hazards before a tragic or costly incident occurs. It engages the workforce (all workers at all levels) in solving problems. It increases safety ownership and reinforces workers self-esteem. It exposes valuable information that otherwise might not be discussed. It develops a positive and necessary attitude surrounding safety. Approved by CEO Page 5 of 7

6 ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION Triangle will investigate accidents and near misses (where appropriate) to determine their underlying cause for the purpose of ensuring that there is no recurrence and using the lessons learnt to improve health and safety performance within the Association. The type and level of investigation will be appropriate to the circumstances. Those involved in the accident investigation will be competent to do so and will be provided with adequate training, information and support. The Accident Investigation Form (C8-9-1) will provide a factual account of the accident and draw objective conclusions and identify practical recommendations. Agreed actions will be implemented within realistic timeframes. In the event of an external investigation by the enforcement authorities, full co-operation will be provided. Actions to be taken in the event of an accident All premises will have nominated personnel responsible for ensuring that accidents are adequately investigated throughout the Association. Ensure the area has been made safe The accident should be investigated promptly Obtain specialist advice from technical experts when required Obtain factual information regarding the accident, including the accident location, the date and time of the accident, the work activity being undertaken, the people involved in the accidents and outline the sequence of events Conduct an inspection of the accident site once the area has been made safe, and take appropriate photographs Obtain written witness statements from all relevant parties Conduct and record interviews with relevant personnel If relevant, obtain physical evidence (equipment, damaged products etc) Obtain and review relevant documentation (training records, inspections, maintenance records, work procedures, etc) Review existing relevant risk assessments and corresponding arrangements Once the facts have been ascertained, the underlying causes should be established. The Accident Investigator will draw conclusions and identify practical recommendations to ensure that the accident does not recur. The recommendations must be agreed with the relevant staff and actions prioritised. On completion, the Accident Investigation Form (C8-9-1) will be returned to the Human Resources for retention. Approved by CEO Page 6 of 7

7 Related Form Index This procedure has the following associated forms: Form Index Accident Report Book (location specific) Accident Investigation form C8-9-1 RIDDOR Form (NI2508) Approved by CEO Page 7 of 7