Infection Control Legislation Training Video

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Length: 1 min 49 sec

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Infection Control Legislation Training Summary:

(RIDDOR) Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995. Sometimes referred to as RIDDOR 95, or RIDDOR for short, these Regulations came into force on 1 April 1996.

Reportable Illnesses & diseases include:

  • Outbreaks of diarrhoea, scabies, impetigo, measles and sickness.
  • Certain Poisonings
  • Some skin diseases such as occupational dermatitis, skin cancer, chrome ulcer, oil folliculitis/acne
  • Lung diseases including occupational asthma, farmer's lung, pneumoconiosis, asbestosis, mesothelioma
  • Infections such as leptospirosis, hepatitis, tuberculosis, anthrax, legionellosis and tetanus
  • Other conditions such as occupational cancer, certain musculoskeletal disorders, decompression illness and hand-arm vibration syndrome

COSHH Regulations 1999
These regulations apply to all work with substances hazardous to health (including micro organisms). The substances hazardous to health which a general practitioner and his staff might encounter include not only the chemical agents present in the workplace, but also disease organisms brought in by patients to which staff might be exposed. COSHH information should be available where chemicals are stored.

The regulations provide a comprehensive policy for the employer to "manage risk". The object is to prevent exposure to hazardous substances if reasonably practicable. If not, such exposure should be controlled adequately. Methods of control will vary, but the use of personal protective equipment such as gloves, gowns and aprons should be regarded as a last resort.

The main features of the regulations are:

  • To identify substances hazardous to health in the workplace
  • To formally assess (in writing) the risk to employees from these materials
  • To control adequately and monitor the risk
  • To provide health surveillance where appropriate
  • To provide adequate instruction and training

    • Health and Safety Regulations 1996
    The employer has a duty of care toward his employees, service users and others who visit or work at the Care Home to provide a safe place of work, to train staff appropriately and to provide personal protective equipment (Health and Safety at Work Act 1974). Adequate supervision and clear lines of communication are important factors here. As a requirement of clinical governance, individual Care Homes are expected to develop their own customised infection control policy, which outlines the actual procedures used in their homes.

    If you are working in Care Homes, these can be complex system driven institutions employing large numbers of workers from different professional streams. They are also potentially hazardous workplaces and expose their workers to a wide range of physical, chemical, biological, ergonomical and psychological hazards. Thus Occupational Health and Safety issues relating to the personal safety and protection of its workers are a very important Environmental Health concern. Care Homes also play an integral role in community protection through wider Public Health issues including injury and illness prevention, health surveillance and disease notification. Additionally, food preparation and handling by the care home kitchens must be monitored. Finally, care homes should also be concerned with environment protection through their waste management strategy, and in particular, the collection and disposal of contaminated waste.