- You must follow the law on Health and Safety at Work.
- You must maintain a hygienic and safe practice environment. You must deliver care to your patients in a safe environment.
- You should comply with workplace safety policies and procedures. You should contribute to clinical audits.
- You should report any adverse incidents.
- You should use standard routine infection control precautions including, decontaminating the care environment and any equipment that comes into contact with patients.
- You should be aware of situations of increased concern announced or notified to you by your local public health team including, patients with transmissible infections. Where patients have suspected or confirmed transmissible infection, you should use transmission-based infection control precautions.
B1
This Guidance does not change what you must do under the law.
B2
You must be aware of, and work to, applicable health and safety legislation.
B3
You must ensure a safe environment in which to deliver care to your patients, and take appropriate action if this is not the case177.
B4
You should refer to the guidance sections on Infection control, Research and audit, and Use and supply of drugs or medicines in optometric practice.
References
177 General Optical Council (2016) Standards of Practice for Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians para 12.1 [Accessed 1 Nov 2023]
B5
You must follow the law on Health and Safety at Work.178, 179
B6
You must follow the regulations on substances hazardous to health.180, 181
B7
If you are self-employed or a locum you should also comply with the practice’s reasonable rules and instructions.
B8
You must report any potential risk to patients, yourself or colleagues to your employer or other appropriate person.182
B9
You must work safely and minimise risks to patients,183 including the use of hazard control and infection control. See sections on Infection control and Use and supply of drugs or medicines in optometric practice.
B10
If you are an employee, your employer is responsible for reporting injuries and incidents.184, 185 If you are self-employed, the person in control of the premises (which may be you) should report such injuries or incidents. If the responsible person is not present at the time of the incident, you should report it to them at the earliest opportunity.
B11
You should report any adverse incidents. See section on Protecting patients, colleagues and others from harm.
B12
You should contribute to workplace clinical audits. See section on Research and audit.
B13
You should respond to requests from organisations monitoring public health.
B14
You must act promptly if you think a patient is at risk as a result of:
- lack of care
- inadequate premises or equipment
- a colleague who may not be fit to practise
See section on Protecting patients, colleagues and others from harm.
B15
You should maintain your own immunisation and health. See section on Infection control.
B16
If you have a health condition that could pose a risk to a patient, you must take appropriate steps to minimise the risk of infection. See section on Infection control.
B17
You should be aware of situations of increased concern announced or notified to you by your local public health team including, patients with transmissible infections. Where patients have suspected or confirmed transmissible infection, you should use appropriate transmission-based infection control precautions.
References
178 Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 [Accessed 20 Nov 2023]179 General Optical Council (2016) Standards of Practice for Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians para 12.1.1 [Accessed 1 Nov 2023]
180 The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002, SI 2677 [Accessed 20 Nov 2023]
181 General Optical Council (2016) Standards of Practice for Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians para 12.1.4 [Accessed 1 Nov 2023]
182 General Optical Council (2016) Standards of Practice for Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians paras 11.3 and 11.5 [Accessed 1 Nov 2023]
183 General Optical Council (2016) Standards of Practice for Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians para 12.1 [Accessed 1 Nov 2023]
184 The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013, SI 1471 [Accessed 20 Nov 2023]
185 Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1997, SI 455 [Accessed 20 Nov 2023]
Department of Health (2013) Health Technical Memorandum 05-01: Managing healthcare fire safety. 2nd ed.
[Accessed 1 Nov 2023]
Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland [Accessed 1 Nov 2023]
Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents occupational safety advice and information [Accessed 1 Nov 2023]
