Article Text
Abstract
Background First Safety forum for social and health services was organised in 2005. It brought together safety authorities and professionals in social and health services to discuss safety issues. The forum awoke need for national safety training for social and health services. The Finnish Association of Fire Officers started developing Safety card training for social and health services immediately and first trainings were held in 2006.
Board for safety in social and health services develops the training material constantly. President of the board is safety manager Anna Tamminen from the Joint Municipal Authority of the Pirkanmaa Hospital District. The board also has members from:
The Finnish Association of Fire Officers
The Finnish National Rescue Association SPEK
Ministry of Social Affairs and Health
National Institute for Health and Welfare
rescue departments
The Finnish Union of Practical Nurses SuPer
Tehy - The Union of Health and Social Care Professionals in Finland
the Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities
Methods The Safety card training for social and health services is meant for all employees and students in social and health services. It gives the employee tools for accident prevention and how to act in a case of an emergency. Duration of the training is one day and people who have completed the course receive a certificate card that is valid for five years. The training emphasises role of employee in risk prevention and includes theory, group work and optional practical exercise.
Results Safety card training for social and health services has been regarded very good training and you can emphasise different things depending on the target group. It is a basic safety training which guarantees employers certain basic level of safety training. There are nearly 30.000 people who have taken the safety card training.
Conclusions Safety of the social and health services should still be developed and the training material should be updated according to needs from the field. National safety training should be adopted even more widely and it should be a mandatory part of education in social and health services. There could also be international potential in safety card concept.
- Social and health services
- Safety
- Training