ANSWERS

1. List the 4 main reasons why all personnel must receive appropriate information and training with regard to health and safety at work?
   
   • To ensure that they are aware of the hazards at the workplace.
   • To ensure that they are familiar with all relevant safety rules, procedures and codes of practice.
   • To ensure that they know where to locate and how to use first aid and fire fighting equipment.
   • To ensure that they are familiar with the procedures for reporting accidents and for reporting or raising other health and safety issues.
2. List ways in which the management can ensure compliance with the Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1992.
   
   • Staff are to be supervised until fully trained and assessed as competent.
   • Machinery, equipment and safety devices are to be regularly maintained and inspected, and are safe and suitable to use.
   • The work place is to be safe and suitable in terms of comfort, space, heating, lighting, ventilation, cleanliness and freedom from unnecessary hazards.
   • The practice is regularly reviewed to improve health and safety.
   • Accidents and incidents are to be investigated and appropriate actions taken to prevent recurrence.
   • Individuals are not to be expected to perform tasks that may present risks to them specifically due to their age, sex or health status.
   • An ongoing health surveillance scheme is to operate and records regularly reviewed to check for links between working practice and ill health and that any such links are fully investigated and the appropriate actions taken.
3. State the 2 regulations that ensure that practices have a legal and moral duty to: a) Inform staff of the substances and associated hazards they may be exposed to. b) Provide instruction and information to enable staff to handle substances safely. c) Assess the degree to which staff and visitors to the practice may be exposed to substances / hazards. d) Take action to reduce exposure and risk to the lowest level possible/practicable. e) Record the assessments and review them regularly.
   
   • The Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1992.
   • The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1994.
4. An employer with 5 or more employees in legally bound to prepare (& revise when necessary) a written health & safety policy statement. Describe the information that should be contained within such documentation.
   
   • General practice policies (see Key Notes 1).
   • Special responsibilities and written job specifications (with regard to the posts of safety officer, fire officer, first aider etc).
   • Employee responsibilities with regard to health & safety issues.
5. List sources where health & safety information may be found.
   
   • The COSHH manual.
   • NOAH Veterinary Data Sheet Compendium.
   • Specific product safety data sheets (found within the packaging of drugs/products).
   • Practice rules & regulations book.
   • Local rules.
   • The Health & Safety Law poster.
   • HSE Publications.
6. What questions should members of staff ask themselves prior to undertaking a new task or handling an unfamiliar product?
   
   • What am I about to do, where will I be doing it and how long will it take?
   • Do I know what hazards are associated with this task?
   • Do I know what harmful effects might be caused, and how they might arise?
   • Are sufficient safety precautions in place?
   • Is it safe for me (and those around me) if I continue?
   If you are unable to answer yes to all of these questions then advice should be sought before undertaking the task.
7. List the general duties of employees with regard to health & safety policy under Sections 7 & 8 of the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 and Regulation 12 of the Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1992.
   
   • To take responsible care for the health & safety of him/herself and of other persons who may be affected by his/her acts or omissions at work.
   • To co-operate with their employer and area safety officers so far as is necessary to enable them to comply with any duties or requirements imposed on them under any of the relevant statutory provisions.
   • Not to intentionally or recklessly interfere with or misuse anything provided in the interest of health, safety or welfare.
8. Veterinary waste poses a significant risk. State the 2 regulations and the 2 Acts that ensure the safe disposal of waste in the practice.
   
   • The Control of Pollution Act 1974.
   • The Environmental Protection Act 1990.
   • The Controlled Waste Regulations 1992.
   • The Special Waste Regulations 1996.
9. To which organisation should a suspected adverse reaction to a medicinal product be reported?
   The Veterinary Medicines Dictorate. (A copy of the report should also be sent to the manufacturer/marketing authorisation holder/product license holder).
10. What is the HSE Form B1 510 (available from the HMSO) commonly known as?
    The accident book.
11. List the information to recorded in the accident book should an incident occur.
    i) Full name, address and occupation of the person involved.
    ii) The signature and date of the person filling in the accident book.
    iii) Full name, address and occupation of the person filling in the accident book (if different to i).
    iv) When and where the accident occurred.
    v) Details about the cause of the accident.
    vi) Details of any personal injury.
    vii) Indicate whether the injury needs to be reported under RIDDOR.
12. What do the initials RIDDOR stand for?
    The Reporting of Diseases & Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1980.
13. State the 3 categories of accident that must be reported to RIDDOR.
    
    • Major or fatal accidents.
    • Three-day accidents.
    • Dangerous occurrences/near misses.
14. How and when must a major or fatal accident be reported to RIDDOR?
    By telephone, as soon as possible. Written confirmation (Form 2508) must follow within 7 days.
15. State the 5 categories of major accident.
    
    • Fracture of the skull/spine/pelvis.
    • Fracture of a long bone of the limb.
    • Amputation of a hand or foot.
    • Loss of sight.
    • Any other accident which results in an injured person being admitted to hospital for more than 24 hours (unless only detained for observation).
16. What is meant by a "three-day accident"?
    An absence from work for a minimum of 3 days as a result of an accident in the work place.
17. List the 5 dangerous occurrences that must be reported to the HSE (Form F2508) whether or not an injury occurs.
    
    • Explosion from a gas cylinder or steriliser.
    • Uncontrolled release of a substance that is liable to be hazardous to health.
    • Escape of substances that may result in problems due to inhalation/lack of oxygen.
    • Any case of acute ill health that could have resulted from exposure to pathogens in infected material.
    • Any unintentional ignition or explosion.
18. What are standard operating procedures (SOPs)?
    Clear, concise, written instructions that are tailored to the work protocols of each individual practice. Copies should be posted at the appropriate work stations so that a collection of SOPs in an area then form the basis of the local rules.
19. Name the act that ensures adequate precautions against fire.
    The Fire Precautions Act 1971.
20. Name the regulations that expand upon the general provisions of the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 with regard to manual handling procedures.
    The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992.