Contingency Planning

Contingency Planning

I have recently returned from a cruise of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. It was a pleasant holiday and I found it quite relaxing even if the waterproofing capabilities of our outdoor clothing was tested regularly (it rained every day). As a health and safety professional I am intrigued by the processes used to protect people in an industry that I am unfamiliar with. On two of the ports of call those braving the elements on shore rather than watching through a port hole had to be transferred from the ship by a tender boat. The age demographic of the passengers was, shall we say, at the senior end, and many had mobility issues. The transfer to shore was quite an experience but I was heartened to see some of my fellow elderly passengers using their mobility aids with dogged determination on heaving gangplanks with steep angles of decent, and with the aid of the crew, fellow passengers and sheer determination they succeeded in getting ashore and back. Unfortunately, while we were in port and preparing to leave for the next destination, one of the passengers became ill and needed to be transferred to the local hospital. The tender boat had been stowed (I did pick up some nautical language) ready for departure but had to be called into service again, this time as a waterborne ambulance. A tricky situation you might think, but the crew appeared well versed in this particular transfer procedure and the passenger was speedily on their way to an ambulance waiting in the quayside. It was evident that such a contingency had been well planned and practiced.

Care Sector Contingency Planning

As ever, my thoughts turned to similar situations that may occur in the care sector and the need, not only for contingency planning, but also practice in putting those plans in place. I recall one residential care home that I visited that was in the process of having the single passenger lift replaced. The task had taken far longer than the original estimate of one day.

No Risk Assessment

As a result, several residents missed hospital appointments as they could not be transferred downstairs without using evacuation aid mats. Residents above the first floor were deprived of social gatherings in the communal lounges. Meals for residents who could not use the stairs had to be carried from the kitchen by staff; laundry sacks had to be carried downstairs by staff – no risk assessment had been made for these tasks. You may think this was a ‘one off’ situation, but a similar scenario could occur due to a prolonged breakdown of the lift.

On Another Occasion

On another occasion I visited a home where a substantial part of the fire detection system was not working. The situation had been reported for repair, but my visit was one week into the breakdown period. No additional measures had been taken to mitigate the loss of the fire detection system such as engaging more staff on each shift to conduct regular fire watch patrols, ensuring all fire doors were closed, etc.

Business Continuity Planning

Contingency planning commonly referred to as business continuity planning should cover all foreseeable circumstances, not just the ‘standard’ of loss of utilities or flooding. A non-exhaustive list of issues to consider are:

• Loss of the lift – particularly important if there is only one lift in the building;
• Loss of laundry facilities;
• Loss of cooking facilities;
• Medication – loss of room cooling or breakdown of the storage fridge;
• Full or partial loss of the fire alarm and detection system;
• Loss of the assistance ‘nurse call’ system;
• Severe weather preventing staff from attending work;
• Industrial action by staff;
• Staff syndicate winning the lottery!

It should be ensured that risk assessments are conducted for all circumstances.

It is recognised that the safety and comfort of residents or service users is paramount and so practising for the response to disruptive circumstances may need to be mostly theoretical, but management and staff should be fully aware of the actions required. When staff are faced with unusual routines or circumstances the potential risks of injury may be increased. It should be ensured that risk assessments are conducted for all circumstances.

Contact us

Arinite clients appreciate we provide practical, no-nonsense advice about what you need to do to establish and maintain a safe and healthy working environment. Our team of health and safety consultants take pride in keeping health and safety simple. If you need to call upon our expert assistance, or just for an informal chat, please call our office 0207 947 9581 and ask to speak with Brendan Tuite, or type an enquiry to: Contact us