Training activity information
Details
Perform a health and safety risk assessment within the department
Type
Developmental training activity (DTA)
Evidence requirements
Evidence the activity has been undertaken by the trainee​.
Reflection on the activity at one or more time points after the event including learning from the activity and/or areas of the trainees practice for development.
An action plan to implement learning and/or to address skills or knowledge gaps identified.
Considerations
- National legislation and guidance relating to health and safety
- Organisational policy
- Local SOPs
- Occupational health/staff support protocols
- Identification of workplace safety issues
- Risk assessment
- Change control
Reflective practice guidance
The guidance below is provided to support reflection at different time points, providing you with questions to aid you to reflect for this training activity. They are provided for guidance and should not be considered as a mandatory checklist. Trainees should not be expected to provide answers to each of the guidance questions listed.
Before action
- What specific area or activity within the department will be the focus of your health and safety risk assessment?
- How does this activity relate to effective communication, applying organisational policies, and understanding team management principles in the context of safety?
- What are your objectives for this risk assessment, such as identifying hazards and recommending control measures?
- What are the relevant organisational health and safety policies and procedures?
- Are there any previous risk assessments or incident reports related to the department?
- What are the common hazards associated with the activities performed in the department?
- What risk assessment tools or templates are available for use?
- Who are the key staff members you should consult with during the risk assessment process?
- What do you hope to learn about the process of conducting a health and safety risk assessment in a healthcare setting?
- How will this activity improve your ability to identify potential hazards and assess associated risks?
- What insights might you gain into the implementation of control measures to ensure a safe working environment?
- Will you discuss the scope and focus of the risk assessment with your training officer and departmental safety lead?
- Will you familiarise yourself with the relevant health and safety legislation and organisational policies?
- Will you consider different areas or activities within the department that might benefit from a risk assessment?
- Will you plan how you will systematically identify hazards, assess risks, and recommend control measures?
- Do you feel you have a good understanding of health and safety principles in the workplace?
In action
- How are you currently approaching the health and safety risk assessment?
- What areas of the department are you focusing on?
- What are you observing and documenting?
- How are you identifying potential hazards?
- How are you assessing the likelihood and severity of potential harm?
- What control measures are you considering or recommending?
- Are you finding the identification of obvious hazards or the assessment of less apparent risks more straightforward?
- Where are you having to consciously apply your knowledge of health and safety regulations, departmental procedures, and risk assessment principles?
- Is your risk assessment systematically identifying potential health and safety hazards within the department?
- Are you appropriately evaluating the associated risks and proposing suitable control measures?
- Are you encountering difficulties in identifying all potential hazards, accurately assessing the level of risk, or determining the most effective control measures?
- Are you developing a better understanding of health and safety risk assessment processes, common hazards within a pharmaceutical department, and the principles of implementing effective control measures?
- Are you applying your understanding of health and safety regulations, risk management frameworks, and departmental operating procedures?
- If your initial assessment is not identifying many hazards, are there other perspectives or assessment methods you could use (e.g., talking to staff, reviewing incident logs)?
- Would it be helpful to discuss your findings and proposed control measures with your supervisor or the department’s health and safety representative?
- Are you confident in your ability to perform a health and safety risk assessment within the department at your current level of training?
On action
- What areas of the department did you focus on for your health and safety risk assessment?
- What potential hazards did you identify?
- What were your assessments of the likelihood and impact of these hazards?
- What control measures did you recommend or identify as being in place?
- What did you learn about the process of performing a health and safety risk assessment in a healthcare setting?
- How did this activity enhance your awareness of potential health and safety risks within the department?
- What factors are important to consider when assessing and mitigating health and safety risks?
- How can organisational policies and procedures guide health and safety practices?
- How will this experience influence your approach to identifying and addressing health and safety concerns in the workplace?
- What specific areas of health and safety regulations or best practices do you want to learn more about?
- How can you contribute to maintaining a safe working environment within your department?
Beyond action
- Have any changes been made to the department or its working practices since you conducted the health and safety risk assessment?
- Have these changes introduced new potential hazards?
- Have you been involved in subsequent health and safety audits or risk assessments?
- Did your previous experience inform your participation?
- Have you discussed health and safety concerns with colleagues or your departmental safety representative?
- Has this activity enhanced your awareness of potential health and safety risks within the department and the importance of adhering to organisational policies?
- Are you more proactive in identifying and reporting potential health and safety hazards in your workplace?
- How has this training activity contributed to your understanding of applying organisational policies in the workplace in relation to health and safety regulations?
- What did you learn about the process of hazard identification, risk evaluation, and recommending control measures that will be valuable in ensuring a safe working environment in future roles?
- How will you approach future health and safety risk assessments, perhaps being more comprehensive in your assessment or focusing on specific areas based on this experience?
- Has this training activity highlighted the importance of individual responsibility and a proactive approach to maintaining a safe working environment for yourself and your colleagues?
Relevant learning outcomes
| # | Outcome |
|---|---|
| # 3 |
Outcome
Practice effective communication with a range of stakeholders using a variety of methods. |
| # 5 |
Outcome
Apply organisational policies in the workplace. |
| # 8 |
Outcome
Discuss the principles of managing small teams within an NHS department. |