Introduction
Outlined below are some of the hazards that you might come across in the disability support environment as well as some of the key controls that can be used to keep you, the people you support, and the community safe and healthy. Hireup’s Stop, Think, Plan Risk Assessment is a tool that you can use to identify the hazards and understand the risks of each new environment you, and the person you support, go into. Whether it’s someone’s home, a public place, a car or a restaurant, the risk assessment tool outlines three steps for support workers to use to assess risk on your Hireup shifts.
Reporting a hazard or incident
A safety hazard is anything that might harm you, a client, their family member or a community member, or cause damage to property e.g. dangerous surf conditions at the beach, medical waste like needles, or household pets. An incident is any event that actually resulted in human injury or illness, or property damage. Hazards and incidents should be reported as soon as possible and at the very latest within 24 hours of the incident occurring. If you would like to discuss a safety concern or report a hazard or incident, please complete a 24-hour online incident report form or contact Hireup on 02 9113 5933 or hello@hireup.com.au.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other Respiratory Illness - Infection Control and Hygiene
With the current coronavirus pandemic, it is extremely important to be aware of the risks of coronavirus and how to reduce them.
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The virus can spread from an infected person’s mouth or nose in small liquid particles when they cough, sneeze, speak, sing or breathe. These particles range from larger respiratory droplets to smaller aerosols. The most common symptoms include body aches, fever, sneezing, coughing, tiredness, loss of taste and smell.
To reduce the risk of contracting and transmitting COVID-19, please follow these general guidelines:
- Hireup strongly recommends vaccination against COVID-19 for all face to face support bookings.
- Ensure you and the Client you support practice safe hand washing.
- Ensure you and the Client you support both have access to appropriate personal protective equipment including a respirator (Support Worker) and eye protection.
- Practice infection control processes throughout the shift.
- Practice good respiratory hygiene.
- Clean all high touch areas (door knobs, benches, tables, handles etc) with cleaning products and disinfectant if available and appropriate.
- Continually self screen for symptoms and self-isolate if you become symptomatic.
- Cancelling/rescheduling shifts to prevent exposure to illness.
You can find more information in relation to how Hireup is responding to COVID-19 here.
Electrical Safety
The support that you provide could involve the use of electrical devices, like a vacuum cleaner or common household appliances. If so, it’s important to be aware of any hazards that may cause danger, including:
- Damaged or frayed electrical cords
- Damaged and older electrical appliances
- Electrical faults that could cause a fire
- Using electrical appliances around water
- Using electricity outdoors
The Industry Development Fund has more information on electrical safety.
Emergency Safety Plan
We know that unexpected emergencies can occur while providing support, so it’s important to make yourself familiar with each individual’s support plan. Here you can find vital information about the person you’re supporting, including:
- Emergency contact details
- Medical considerations
- Safety assessment (in the home, in the community and transport)
We recommend going over the emergency plan with the person you’re supporting and/or their family on your first shift.
When it comes to fire safety, controls should be implemented to eliminate or mitigate fire-related incidents. Going into someone's home, it will be important to know the emergency escape plan (found in the support plan), if there are working smoke alarms and where you can find fire safety equipment if it's available.
Hazardous Manual Handling
As a Hireup Support Worker, you may be exposed to hazardous manual tasks and duties that include lifting, pushing, pulling, holding, moving, restraining, carrying or repetitive movements may make up part of your role.
Before committing to any working relationship, we strongly encourage you to seek clarity on the nature of support that's required. In your first meet and greet with the person you're supporting and/or their family, you should receive details about the job requirements and whether manual handling tasks and duties will be involved. From here, informed decisions can be made around whether or not you would be a suitable support worker. When making these decisions, we ask that you never enter a workplace where you feel that your safety, wellbeing and duty of care to others may be compromised.
As we’ve mentioned previously, being aware of risks and taking the time to Stop-Think-Plan isn’t about eliminating all risks, but rather a framework designed to help you determine acceptable risk levels with the person and/or person’s family you’re supporting.
Asking the right questions associated with manual handling tasks and duties and working within your comfort zone will help to keep you and the person you’re supporting safe.
Some important questions to ask about manual handling:
- Will I be required to engage in manual handling tasks and duties while providing support? If so, what's the nature, size and weight of the person or object that requires manual handling?
- Will I be required to physically move and transfer the person being supported?
- What are the typical locations where support will be provided?
- Can you demonstrate how to safely use the lifting equipment (or any equipment) if it's required?
What do unacceptable risks look like when providing support?
Unacceptable risks could include:
- Engaging in manual handling tasks or using equipment if don’t have the appropriate training
- Engaging in manual handling tasks or using equipment if you haven't received effective on-the-job training
- Fully lifting a person without mechanical aids, assistive devices or another worker to assist you
- Using equipment to assist with any manual handling task that isn’t in good working order
- Lifting, pushing, pulling, holding, moving, restraining and carrying a person or item if there is a risk of any injury being caused to you or the person you're supporting
- Lifting, pushing, pulling, holding, moving, restraining and carrying a person or item if you have an injury
- Lifting above shoulder height
- Repetitive movements
Pushing and Pulling
Pushing is preferable to pulling because it involves less work by the muscles of the lower back and allows maximum use of your body weight.
Manual handling and transfer plans
If you’re supporting someone who requires manual handling for personal care, mobility and transfers, it’s important that you have access to their manual handling or transfer plan. These plans will go into detail around the manual handling tasks and duties for each individual that you’re supporting. If you need assistance to access the plans for any individual that you’re supporting, please contact Hireup.
While working, you should not be asked to engage in manual handling tasks or duties that are beyond your personal scope and limits as a support worker.
For further information, please reference Model Code of Practice: Hazardous manual tasks by Safe Work Australia.
Hazardous Materials
Always read the information provided on the labels of the chemicals you are being asked to handle (for cleaning or gardening as an example), and if you're uncomfortable with the chemicals you’ve been asked to use, or if they are beyond household grade (common cleaning products), you have the authority to stop unsafe work and contact Hireup immediately.
To avoid any harm, a number of controls can be implemented to manage your exposure, including:
- Eliminate the hazard: If necessary, communicate with the person and/or family you’re working with to eliminate the hazardous substance from the environment. This is the most effective control measure.
- Using something less hazardous: Is there a safer or less hazardous substance that can be used as a substitution?
- Personal Protective Equipment: Communicate with the person and/or family you’re working with to ensure that you have access to the appropriate PPE while providing specific supports. Eg. If you’re being asked to dress a wound, having access to gloves.
Source: www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au
Hazardous Medications and Waste
As a support worker, you may be required to administer hazardous medication (e.g. cytotoxic medication) to a client. Hazardous medications have a small risk of side effects to the person administering them, especially if they handle the medication often and/or for a long period of time (e.g. healthcare workers).
Hazardous medications require special care when preparing and/or handling them to risk the chance of side effects.
Any bodily fluids of a person who is taking or has recently taken hazardous medication will be considered as hazardous waste for a period of time depending on the specific medication. As with hazardous medication, hazardous waste should be handled in a particular way to reduce the chance of side effects.
If a client you are supporting is taking or has taken a hazardous medication, we recommend that you discuss with the client or account manager about how they manage hazardous medication and waste within their home.
A support worker who is pregnant should consult with their doctor before handling any hazardous waste or medications.
For more information about how to manage hazardous medication and waste, please see our Hazardous Medication and Waste Guide.
Psychosocial Hazards
Psychosocial hazards are aspects of work which can have the potential to cause psychological or physical harm. Psychosocial hazards can include, bullying, fatigue, mental stress, sexual harassment, violence and aggression, discrimination and misconduct, poor and challenging relationships between you and your Client and co-Support Workers and lack of role clarity.
Access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provides counselling and psychological support. You can access it by calling Acacia EAP on 1300 364 273, this phone line is available 24 hours a day. We recommend you save this number in your phone for easy access when you need it.
Incidents or concerns of bullying, harassment including sexual harassment and discrimination please refer to Hireup’s Harassment, Bullying and Discrimination Policy
As your Employer we want to support you. If you would like to discuss an incident with us or raise a safety concern, please contact the team via hello@hireup.com.au or on (02) 9113 5933.
Slips and Trips
There are various factors that can contribute to the risk of slips and trips. Slips usually occur when there is a loss of grip between the shoe and the floor. Trips occur when a person's foot hits a low obstacle in the person's path causing a loss of balance. There are several precautions you can take to prevent an injury from a slip or trip.
The following factors can contribute to the risk of slips and trips.
- Uneven surfaces
- Slippery or wet surfaces
- Loose mats or rugs
- Trailing cords and cables
- Weather conditions
- Obstructed views
- Poor lighting
- Clutter
- Unsuitable footwear
- Rushing
- Fatigue
Preventing slips and trips
There are ways that you can help prevent slips and trips and keep your support shift safer for you and your client by being observant and vigilant of the surrounding environment.
- Clean up spills immediately
- Mark areas that have spills and are wet until they are cleaned and dry
- Mopping or sweeping debris from walking surfaces
- Make sure walkways are free of clutter and obstacles
- Mats and rugs are laying flat
- Work areas are well lit
- Wearing slip resistant and appropriate footwear
- Paying attention to where you are walking
- Take your time and not rushing when walking
- When carrying or moving items make sure you can see the walkways in front of you
Make sure you are always aware of your surroundings and where you are walking. If you see a hazard let your Client or co-support workers know. If you are injured you should report your injury to Hireup as soon as possible.
Vehicles and Driving
Whether you’re driving a car that you own, or one owned by the person you’re supporting or their family, a number of safety precautions need to be considered when using a vehicle. Please refer to Hireup’s Providing Safe Transport Policy for more detail.
Some important questions to be aware of and ask are:
- Do you hold an unrestricted driver’s licence for the state or territory that you’re working in?
- Is the vehicle you’re planning to drive registered and insured (Compulsory Third Party Insurance (CTP) as a minimum)?
- Does the vehicle you’re driving have comprehensive insurance that covers you as a driver?
- Can you legally drive the vehicle if it has been modified for the person you’re supporting? If so, are you comfortable driving the vehicle?
- Is the vehicle maintained and roadworthy?
- Do you know who to contact if an incident occurs while driving?
- Is there a safe space in the car to store any support equipment e.g wheelchairs?
We understand that each environment you drive in may present different hazards, depending on the time of the day you're driving, other drivers on the road or the weather. In these situations, it's important to stop and think about whether the hazard could harm you, the person you're supporting or someone in the community.
Remember, you are not permitted to consume alcohol or drugs while providing transport, or otherwise operating any vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Miscellaneous Tools and Equipment
Before you use any equipment, it’s important that you have experience in operating it, or have been shown by the appropriate person how to operate it safely. For example, if you were being asked to use a hoist that you hadn’t used previously, a detailed demonstration by the appropriate person would be important.
If you are being asked to operate equipment that you’re not comfortable using, or feel as if it could compromise the safety of you and the person you’re supporting, you have the authority to stop unsafe work and contact Hireup immediately.