Health and safety in health and social care Iechyd a diogelwch mewn iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol
The roles and responsibilities of employers, workers and others for infection prevention and control Rolau a chyfrifoldebau cyflogwyr, gweithwyr ac eraill o ran atal a rheoli haint

We are all responsible for the prevention and control of infection. The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 puts a general duty on an employer to protect the health and safety of employees. However, staff will also have a duty to comply with infection control procedures and take appropriate action to protect themselves.

The National Institute for Clinical Excellence has guidelines on infection control (https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg2) which include these standard principles:

• hand hygiene
• the use of personal protective equipment
• use and disposal of sharps
• education of patients, their carers and staff.

Many measures taken to protect patients using these principles will also protect staff. However, the risks staff face may be significantly different to the risks faced by patients as staff tend to be generally healthy, which will make them less vulnerable to many infections.

Rydyn ni gyd yn gyfrifol am atal a rheoli heintiau. Mae Deddf Iechyd a Diogelwch yn y Gwaith 1974 yn gosod dyletswydd gyffredinol ar gyflogwr i amddiffyn iechyd a diogelwch gweithwyr cyflogedig. Fodd bynnag, bydd gan staff ddyletswydd hefyd i gydymffurfio â gweithdrefnau rheoli heintiau a chymryd camau priodol i'w hamddiffyn eu hunain.

Mae gan y Sefydliad Cenedlaethol dros Ragoriaeth Glinigol ganllawiau ar reoli heintiau (https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg2) sy'n cynnwys yr egwyddorion safonol hyn:

• hylendid dwylo
• defnyddio cyfarpar amddiffynnol personol
• defnyddio a gwaredu offer miniog
• addysgu cleifion, eu gofalwyr a staff.

Bydd llawer o'r mesurau a gymerir i ddiogelu cleifion gan ddefnyddio'r egwyddorion hyn hefyd yn amddiffyn staff. Fodd bynnag, gallai'r risgiau sy'n wynebu staff fod yn wahanol iawn i'r risgiau a wynebir gan gleifion gan fod staff yn tueddu i fod yn iach ar y cyfan, a fydd yn eu gwneud yn llai tebygol o ddal llawer o heintiau.