Health and safety becomes fun at Barlborough NHS Treatment Centre

Company news

Feb 17, 2014

While health and safety regulations are seldom seen as fun, the team at Care UK’s Barlborough NHS Treatment Centre are planning a day of activities and information to show they can also be enjoyable as well as essential.

On Wednesday 19^th February the team at the centre in Lindrick Way Chesterfield will be celebrating Health & Safety Awareness Day. The aim is to engage with patients, visitors and colleagues to raise awareness of everyday health and safety risks both at work and at home.

Agnes Chirozvi, health and safety and infection prevention and control manager, is organising the event. She said: “Everyone thinks of health and safety as being the reason they can’t have fun, but this day is planned to show that not only can you have fun but you can prevent accidents and keep people safe in the process.”

On the day there will be a special quiz designed to test patients and professionals alike.  Agnes explained: “We will have two different spot the hazards. For our team members we are setting up a room, on the inpatient ward, with 10 different health and safety hazards for them to identify, such as a laptop wire running across the floor, a puddle of water on the floor or a fire door propped open. Then downstairs in our out-patients clinic, patients and visitors can have fun finding the hazards in a picture while waiting for their appointment or relative.

“Many of our patients tend to be older people with mobility issues and they come to us for treatment or surgery on their hips and knees. Older people, particularly those who have joint problems, are prone to falls that can set their health back further and we hope that the day will provide them and their relatives with lots of ideas and information that will keep them safe and well in their own homes.”

As well as colourful display boards and an information stand in reception, with information and statistics on slips, trips and falls and fire safety in particular, there will also be giveaways such as hand sanitizers, pens, posters and leaflets.