What are the BS/EN Standards in Health and Social Care?

BS/EN standards set expected levels of quality and safety within UK health and social care. They provide rules, procedures, and recommendations to guide practice. By following these standards, workers support safe and effective care for service users.

The initials ‘BS’ refer to British Standards, which come from the British Standards Institution. ‘EN’ stands for European Norm, which sets common standards across many European countries. Sometimes, the standards are called BS EN when adopted by the British Standards Institution from European-level agreements.

Meeting these standards means following agreed ways of doing things. This helps organisations avoid mistakes and provide care that is safe, high-quality, and focused on people’s needs.

Areas Covered by BS/EN Standards

BS/EN standards touch on almost every aspect of health and social care. They cover safety, infection control, management of medicines, handling equipment, and more. Examples include:

• Building layouts and fire safety in care homes
• Medical device testing and maintenance
• Hygiene rules for food handling and ward cleaning
• Handling records and information security

Each standard has a code and a title. These codes help with finding the right document for a topic.

Why Standards Matter

BS/EN standards are not just about compliance for its own sake. They give people clear rules, which:

• Support safe practice
• Reduce harm and risk
• Make outcomes more reliable
• Create consistency across settings

Following these standards is part of meeting Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulations. This keeps providers registered and open.

Areas of Health and Social Care Using BS/EN Standards

Below are some main areas where workers see BS/EN standards daily.

Infection Prevention and Control

Several standards relate to hygiene and infection control. They explain how to keep workplaces clean and prevent the spread of infection.

• BS EN 1500: Describes the correct method for hygienic hand rubbing with alcohol-based hand rub.
• BS EN 12791: Refers to surgical hand disinfection processes.
• BS EN 13697: Explains testing for disinfectant effectiveness on surfaces.

Following clear cleaning methods reduces risks for service users and staff. For instance, using the right concentration of disinfectant keeps environments safe.

Medical Devices and Equipment

Safe equipment use is a large focus of the standards.

• BS EN 60601: Covers safety of medical electrical equipment, like infusion pumps and monitors.
• BS EN ISO 14971: Lays out risk management steps for using medical devices.
• BS EN ISO 13485: Describes quality management systems in the manufacture and supply of medical devices.

Managers and staff must check that all medical devices meet these design and safety rules before use.

Handling Medicines

BS/EN standards help guide safe medicine storage, handling, and disposal.

• BS EN ISO 11607: Refers to packaging for sterile medical devices.
• BS EN 13727: Procedures for bactericidal activity of chemical disinfectants, important in medicine preparation areas.

Care settings often have their own medicines policy, but these standards support safe systems for all staff.

Food Safety in Care Settings

Food hygiene is closely linked to health outcomes, especially for vulnerable people.

• BS EN ISO 22000: Covers food safety management systems.
• BS EN 1672-2: Sets out hygiene requirements for the design of machinery used in preparing food.

Workers trained and up-to-date with these standards reduce the risk of food-borne illness.

Safe Moving and Handling

Moving people and objects carries risk of injury. The standards guide correct procedures.

• BS ISO 10535: Covers hoists for people with disabilities.
• BS EN ISO 11199: Looks at walking aids with wheels.

Staff use these standards to select the right aids and give safer support.

Record Keeping and Information Security

Information handling is controlled by both the law and BS/EN standards.

• BS ISO/IEC 27001: Provides a framework for information security.
• BS 10008: Covers the legal admissibility of electronic information.

This helps keep personal details, care plans, and records secure and accurate.

How BS/EN Standards Work in Practice

Workers see standards through policies and procedures. Staff do not need to remember every code, but must apply the main points in their daily work.

For example:

• Cleaning schedules in care homes are based on hygiene standards. This affects which chemicals and routines are used.
• When using a hoist, people follow instructions linking to BS ISO 10535, which ensures equipment is safe and correct for each use.
• Medication disposal policies follow standards covering the destruction of pharmaceuticals.

Supervisors and managers must signpost standards through training, policies, supervision, and checks.

Training and Ongoing Competence

BS/EN standards guide what training should cover. Workers are expected to learn:

• Safe methods (e.g., for hand hygiene or device use)
• Why each method matters
• What risks occur if the method is not used

Regular refresher training updates everyone on any changes. Audits or checks monitor what happens in practice.

Safeguarding and Legal Requirements

Not meeting required standards could breach regulations or the law. For example:

• Improper handling of confidential records breaks the Data Protection Act 2018.
• Unsafe equipment use risks prosecution under the Health and Safety at Work Act.
• Not following correct cleaning procedures may risk enforcement by the CQC.

Meeting BS/EN standards is part of legal compliance, not extra or optional work.

People receiving care must feel safe and protected. Their friends and families expect the same. Standards help create this trust.

Sources of BS/EN Standards

The British Standards Institution (BSI) is the official body responsible in the UK. Services can buy BS/EN standards from BSI or through organisational subscriptions.

Organisations must identify which standards apply to their setting. Some, such as food hygiene or medical device standards, are compulsory. Others may be recommended good practice. Workers should ask managers for the standards relevant to their role.

Continuous Improvement

BS/EN standards are reviewed and updated as new evidence, technology, or risks emerge. Staff need to keep up to date. This means:

• Training updates when policies change
• Reading bulletins or alerts from managers
• Reporting any problems, incidents, or unsafe practices so standards can be reviewed

Organisations should have systems for reporting and learning from incidents. This is a key part of following standards.

Examples of Applying Standards

Below are some examples showing how standards work in daily activities:

Example 1: Using a Walking Aid

A client in a care home needs a walking frame. Staff check:

• The product matches BS EN ISO 11199 safety rules
• The frame is the right size and in good condition
• Staff receive instructions on its use

When staff follow the manufacturer’s guidance and the matching standard, accidents become less likely.

Example 2: Cleaning a Spill

A worker finds a blood spill on the clinic floor. The cleaning policy, based on BS EN standards, says:

• Wear gloves and apron
• Use a suitable disinfectant (certified to BS EN 13697)
• Follow the listed contact time (how long the surface stays wet with cleaner)
• Record the clean in the logbook

By doing this, they lower infection risk and record their actions.

Example 3: Medicine Storage

Medicines must be locked away and kept at the right temperature. The storage unit or fridge may have a BS EN mark. The policy for checking and recording temperatures is based on the related safety standard.

Example 4: Handling Personal Data

A manager creates secure systems for electronic care records, using guidance from BS ISO/IEC 27001. Passwords, regular audits, and access logs form layers of protection to stop unwanted access.

Example 5: Equipment Maintenance

The care home’s hoists are checked every six months as per BS ISO 10535. Any faults are reported and acted on before use.

Benefits for Workers and Service Users

Sticking to BS/EN standards helps in many ways for both staff and those using services:

• Fewer accidents and injuries
• Safer, higher quality care
• Clear procedures mean less confusion
• Better staff training and confidence
• Evidence for inspections and audits

Service users benefit from better support and can have greater confidence in their care setting.

Final Thoughts

BS/EN standards provide a strong base for high-quality health and social care. They affect nearly every part of daily work. By following these standards, workers create safer, fairer, and more reliable settings for all.

Good knowledge and practice of standards protect everyone. They help workers do the right thing, prove good practice, and give service users the quality and safety they expect.

Ask your manager which standards matter most in your role. Stick to them as part of good working practice. By doing so, you play a valuable role in keeping people safe and well.