Developing a health and safety culture in the practice

THIS article looks at health and safety from a different angle from the usual lists of regulations, and does not attempt to give a comprehensive review of the health and safety rules and policies that all practices should have in place. Rather, as Carole Clarke explains, the intention is to help practices develop their own approach to health and safety, and to develop a culture of awareness which will, with the appropriate support, result in a safe workplace; that is, a workplace in which health and safety issues are part of normal life, risks are spotted and avoided by all members of the practice team, and faulty equipment and other problems are dealt with efficiently.