Accidents

All accidents must be recorded/reported in the Accident Book and in children's Daily Records. If First Aid is given it will be necessary to record it elsewhere, see First Aid and Administration of Medication Policy.

If the accident is minor, the Home Manager must investigate the incident and initiate control measures and Risk Assess to determine the possibility of repeat accidents.

If the accident is more serious, it will be necessary to record/report it as set out in the following sections

These are any accidents or incidents that fall between 'Minor' and Health & Safety Executive (HSE) reportable (see Section 2.3, Serious Reportable or Notifiable Events/Incidents). For example:

• An injury to a person that results in them being unable to carry out their normal duties for up to two days;
• An injury that required hospital treatment but the person was not kept in hospital for more than 24hrs;
• Any accident involving a child or young person that requires hospital treatment.

In the case of these accidents:

• The records must be in the accident book and an accident report completed;
• The Home Manager must be informed and should conduct a Risk Assessment.

• These are accidents and incidents that are serious and are reportable or notifiable (for notifications procedure see Section 2.4, Notifications).

Over-seven-day injuries

As of 6 April 2012, the over-three-day reporting requirement for people injured at work changed to more than seven days.

Now it is a requirement to report injuries that lead to an employee or self-employed person being away from work, or unable to perform their normal work duties, for more than seven consecutive days as the result of an occupational accident or injury (not counting the day of the accident but including weekends and rest days). The report must be made within 15 days of the accident.

Over-three-day injuries

A record must still be kept of the accident if the worker has been incapacitated for more than three consecutive days. The company must keep an accident book under the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1979.

Major injuries are:

• Fracture other than to fingers, thumbs or toes;
• Amputation;
• Dislocation of the shoulder, hip, knee or spine;
• Loss of sight (temporary or permanent);
• Chemical or hot metal burn to the eye or any penetrating injury to the eye;
• Injury resulting from an electric shock or electrical burn leading to unconsciousness or requiring resuscitation; or requiring admittance to hospital for more than 24 hours;
• Any other injury: leading to hypothermia, heat-induced illness or unconsciousness; or requiring resuscitation or requiring admittance to hospital; for more than 24 hours;
• Unconsciousness caused by asphyxia or exposure to harmful substances or biological agents;
• Acute illness requiring medical treatment, or loss of consciousness arising from absorption of any substance by inhalation, ingestion or through the skin;
• Acute illness requiring medical treatment where there is reason to believe that this resulted from exposure to a biological agent or toxins or infected material;
• Serious or persistent self-harming or attempted suicide by a child (see Self-harming and Suicidal Ideation Procedure).

Specified diseases

If a doctor notifies you that an adult member of our team, visitor, child or young person suffers from a reportable work-related disease then you must report it to the enforcing authority.

Examples of reportable diseases include:

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

For further guidance on reportable diseases refer to Health and Safety Executive Website.

Dangerous Occurrence

If something happens involving an employee, self-employed person, visitor, child or young person which does not result in a reportable injury, but which clearly could have done, then it may be a dangerous occurrence, which must be reported immediately to the enforcing authority.

Reportable dangerous incidents include:

1. Collapse, overturning or failure of load bearing parts of lifts and lifting equipment;
2. Electrical short circuit or overload causing fire or explosion;
3. Any unintentional explosion, misfire, failure of demolition to cause the intended collapse. Projection of material beyond a site boundary, injury caused by an explosion;
4. Malfunction of breathing apparatus while in use or during testing immediately before use;
5. Failure or endangering of diving equipment, the trapping of a diver, an explosion near a diver or an uncontrolled ascent;
6. Dangerous occurrence at a well;
7. Unintended collapse of any building or structure under construction, alteration or demolition where over 5 Tonnes of material falls, a wall or floor in a place of work;
8. Explosion or fire causing suspension of work for over 24 hours;
9. Accidental release of any substance which may damage health.

A full definitive list can be found on the Health and Safety Executive Website.

Reports must be made initially to the Registered Manager or Responsible Individual, who will be responsible for notifying other senior managers and the following people/agencies:

• The Placing Authority/Social Worker (if a child is affected);
• Regulatory Authority;
• Health and Safety Executive Website;
• Health Authority where the home is located.