Health and safety
The RCN is committed to improving the working environments of our members. Nursing can be a physically and emotionally demanding job and nurses and health care assistants face a number of occupational hazards.
The RCN works with employer organisations, the Health and Safety Executive and organisations such as NHS Protect to improve health and safety conditions for members.
The RCN has a significant number of safety representatives working in a variety of sectors. RCN safety representatives play a valuable role in driving up workplace health and safety standards in health care.
The RCN UK Safety Representatives Committee advises on the development of workplace health and safety issues.
Key workplace health and safety issues for the RCN are:
- occupational dermatitis and glove use
- violence and aggression and lone working
- work-related stress
- needlestick and sharps injuries
- surgical smoke
- shift work and working hours
- health care waste
- improving the health and wellbeing of the nursing workforce
- RCN safety representatives.
Safety representatives can find more information on health and safety on getting started as a steward, learning or safety representative.
RCN members can find information on various health and safety issues in RCND online advice.