Introduction
Placement providers are employers in their own right. Employers must ensure the health, safety and welfare of their employees. Students on placement are classed as employees and are owed the same duty of care as any employee. The primary responsibility for meeting statutory Health and Safety requirements within a placement remains with the placement organisation.
Placements
Students on placement have the same Health and Safety responsibilities as any other employee in the workplace. They must do the following:
- Take reasonable care of their own Health and Safety and of the Health and Safety of other people who may be affected by their acts or omissions
- Familiarise themselves with the Health and Safety Policy and Procedures at their health care setting.
- Co-operate with the employer in complying with the employer’s legal duties
- Plan for their own Health and Safety in travelling to and from placement, ensuring that their vehicle complies with the appropriate legal obligations (see section on travel and subsistence).
Incident and Accident Reporting
The University of Cumbria has a legal duty to report certain types of accidents, injuries and dangerous occurrences arising out of work activity to the relevant enforcing authority.
The University also has a responsibility to investigate and keep a record of all accidents causing injury, dangerous occurrences and occurrences of disease or ill health where they arise out of the work of the University.
For further details on the University’s Health and Safety procedures, and to download an Accident report Form see Health and safety procedures.