Health and safety: health (England and Wales)

Updating author: Julie Steele
Consultant editor: Capsticks

Summary

• The NHS Staff Council Health, Safety and Wellbeing Partnership Group has published a revised version of the workplace health and safety standards. (See Workplace health and safety standards)
• NHS Employers provides advice in the form of the Health and safety essential guide. (See Health and safety essential guide)
• Guidance on risk assessment is available. (See Managing risk)
• Guidance is available on managing the risk of slips, trips and falls. (See Slips, trips and falls)
• Guidance on manual handling is available. (See Manual handling guidance)
• Several pieces of guidance on blood-borne viruses have been published. (See Blood-borne viruses)
• A number of resources are available offering guidance on preventing violence against NHS staff. (See Violence)
• Information is available on managing latex allergies. (See Latex)
• Advice is available on implementing the EU Sharps Directive. (See Sharps injuries)
• Guidance is available on protecting lone workers in the NHS. (See Lone workers)
• The Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 came into effect on 6 April 2008. The Act aims to ensure that organisations, including NHS bodies, are held to account when a death has been caused as a result of gross failings by its senior management. (See Prosecution of NHS bodies)
• The Government has issued guidance specific to NHS employers regarding command, control and co-ordination arrangements, required in planning, preparing and responding to emergencies. (See Planning, preparing and responding to emergencies)
• The Health and Safety Executive has issued guidance on the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (SI 2013/1471) for employers in health and social care. (See Reporting of injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences)