Health, Safety and Wellbeing
Health, Safety and Wellbeing
General Practice Specialty Trainees (GPSTs) are employed by PSD Scotland and undertake training within approved General Practice placements across Scotland.
Whilst responsibility for the management of health and safety within the practice rests with the practice itself, GP trainees should receive appropriate information, instruction and support to enable them to work safely throughout their placement.
Local Induction
Practices should ensure that trainees receive an appropriate local induction at the start of their placement. This should include:
- Fire and emergency procedures.
- First aid arrangements.
- Security arrangements and personal safety measures.
- Lone working arrangements, where applicable.
- Local arrangements for raising health, safety or wellbeing concerns.
- Key contacts within the practice.
- Health and Safety Policies and Procedures
Trainees should be made aware of relevant local policies and procedures, including how to access practice health and safety information where appropriate. An example of a local health and safety induction checklist template can be found here: [GPST HSW Induction Checklist]
Incident Reporting
Trainees should be informed of local arrangements for reporting accidents, incidents and near misses within the practice.
In addition to local reporting procedures, PSD Scotland should be notified of any significant health and safety incidents involving a GP trainee, including work-related accidents, incidents, near misses, acts of violence or aggression, occupational ill health concerns, or any other event which has the potential to impact a trainee's health, safety or wellbeing.
Incidents should be reported to PSD Scotland using the Incident Reporting Form:
Prompt reporting enables PSD Scotland, as the employer, to fulfil its health and safety responsibilities, identify trends, provide appropriate support and ensure that any necessary follow-up action is taken.
Display Screen Equipment (DSE) and Workplace Adjustments
Where trainees are undertaking regular display screen equipment work, practices should provide suitable workstation arrangements and consider any reasonable workplace adjustments identified through Occupational Health or other support processes.
Trainees should be encouraged to raise any concerns regarding workstation setup, musculoskeletal discomfort or display screen equipment use as early as possible.
A template DSE Assessment is available to support practices in assessing workstation arrangements and identifying any adjustments that may be required:
Lone Working
Where a placement involves lone working, home visits, community-based work or out-of-hours activity, trainees should be made aware of local risk management arrangements, escalation procedures and emergency contacts.
Practices should ensure that suitable lone working arrangements are in place and that trainees understand how to obtain assistance should they encounter difficulties whilst working alone.
Once for Scotland Lone Working Guidance is available to support practices in reviewing local arrangements and includes a template Lone Working Risk Assessment:
Lone Working Policy Guide for Managers | NHS Scotland
Practices may use their own equivalent arrangements where these are already in place.
Health and Wellbeing Support
Trainees should be informed of the wellbeing and occupational health support available to them, together with routes for raising concerns regarding their working environment or training experience.
Further Guidance
Further guidance and support relating to health, safety and wellbeing matters can be obtained by contacting the PSD Scotland Health, Safety and Wellbeing Team.