FOLLOW SAFE WORK PRACTICES FOR DIRECT CLIENT CARE

(A) What are the industry related risk?

WORK HEALTH AND SAFETY. IT IS EVERYONES RESPOSIBILITY TO TAKE REASONABLE CARE TO

ENSURE EVERYONES SAFETY.

It is a non negotiable and a legal obligation. So follow the care plan. If not
followed, you are putting client, organisation and everyone at risk. It is
everyones responsibility.

WORK HEALTH AND SAFETY COMMITTEE.

(1) DIRECTOR OF NURSING
(2) REPRESENTATION FROM OTHER DEPARTMENTS
(3) MEMBERS HAVE TO BE ELECTED OR SELECTED
(4) ELECT A CHAIRPERSON FROM THE COMMITEE ONCE IT IS FORMED.
(5) COMMITEE WILL GO UNDER TRAINING.
(6) COMMITTEE WILL MEET QUARTERLY WILL DISCUSS MATTERS LIKE HAZARDS, RISK AND
ISSUES RELATING TO SAFETY.
(7) CHAIRPERSON TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE HAS ACCESS TO MEETING POINTS.
(8) AUDITORS CAN ASK YOU QUESTIONS ABOUT THE COMMMITEE AND MEETINGS.

WHAT IS A HAZARD?

Hazard is a dangerous situation which can cause injury or illness.

WHAT IS RISK?

Risk is the likelihood/outcome of a hazard.

HAZARD MANAGEMENT.
1) ELIMINATTION IF POSSIBLE.
2) IF UNABLE TO ELIMINATE THEN SUBSTITUTE THE HAZARD.
3) IF STILL UNABLE, SEEK ADMIN OR ENGINEERING TO ELIMINATE HAZARD.
4) IF STILL UNABLE TO, THEN INFORM EVERYONE AND EVERYONE TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS.

HOW TO REPORT HAZARDS? (IT IS CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT AS WORKERS TO REPORT IT)

1) INFORM RN/ SUPERVISOR.
2) LODGE HAZARD LOG. (IT WILL AUTOMATICALLY GO TO AUTHORITIES AND THEY WILL HAVE TO
RESPOND WITHIN 24 HOURS)
3) HAZARD LOGS WILL COME UP IN COMMMITTEE.
4) COMMITEE WILL ENFORCE MEASURES TO BE TAKEN.

LEGAL OBLIGATIONS.
1) EVERY STATE WILL HAVE THEIR OWN WORK HEALTH SAFETY ACT AND A REGULATOR.
2) REGULATOR IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA IS "SAFE WORK SA"
3) THEY CAN AUDIT THE FACILITY ANYTIME.
4) IF ANY SAFETY MATTERS OR INCIDENTS IN FACILITY, WE HAVE TO REPORT IT TO "SAFE
WORK SA"

RESPONSIBILITIES OF EMPLOYERS.
1. TO PROMOTE AND MAINTAIN SAFE WORK ENVIORNMENT FOR EVERYONE.
A) PHYSICAL SAFETY.
B) EMOTIONAL SAFETY.

2. PROVIDE ADEQUATE FACILITIES FOR STAFF TO SUPPORT CLIENTS.

3. RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING TRAINING AND KNOWLEDGE TO STAFF AND KEEP THEM UPDATED.
4. RESPONIBILE TO MAKE POLICY AND PROCEDURES AND TO KEEP THEM UP TO DATE. AND TO
MAKE ALL UPDATES AVAILABLE TO STAFF.

RIGHTS OF EMPLOYERS.
1. RIGHT TO DEVELOP THEIR OWN POLICY AND PROCEDURES. (HAS TO BE AS PER GOVT
GUIDELINES)
2. RIGHT TO EXPECT CONFIDIENTTIALITY FROM EMPLOYEE. (APPLIES TO ALL STAFF)
3. RIGHT TO EXPECT LOYALTY FROM EMPLOYEE.
4. RIGHT TO EXPECT RESONABLE CARE FROM EMPLOYEE.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF EMPLOYEES.
1. TO TAKE REASONABLE CARE.
2. USE EQUIPMENT PROVIDED FOR SAFETY PURPOSES.
3. TO COMPLY TO THE POLICY AND PROCEDURES OF THE ORGANISATION.
4. TO NOT TO ENDANGER SAFETY OF SELF OR ANYONE BY BEING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF
ALCOHOL AND DRUGS.

RIGHTS OF EMPLOYEES.
1. RIGHT TO LEAVES. (ANNUAL/CASUAL/SICK/MATERNITY LEAVES)
2. RIGHT TO GET SAFE ENVIORNMENT.

THREE INDUSTRY RELATED RISKS.

1. MANUAL HANDLING RELATED. (MOST COMMON. 58% OF ALL INJURIES)
2. INFECTION RELATED.
A) CAUSED BY GERMS
B) OUTBREAKS- FLU/GASTRO/ RULE OF 3/3/3. 3 CLIENTS/ 3 DAYS/ 3 SYMPTOMS (48 TO
72 HOURS)
C) COVID - 5 PERSON POSITIVE/ LOCKDOWN PROCEDURES.

PREVENTION:
HAND WASHING/PPE/WASTE DISPOSAL/SHARP DISPOSAL/HAND WASH/INFECTION CONTROL AUDIT

3. CHALLENGING BEHAVIOUR RELATED.

TYPES:
A) VERBAL BEHAVIOUR. (VERBALLY REFUSING CARE AND PUSHING/
NOISY/AGGRESSIVE/ABUSIVE)
B) PHYSICAL BEHAVIOUR ( AGGITATED/THROW THINGS/UNSAFE AND CHALLENGING TO MANAGE)
C) WANDERING BEHAVIOR.

REASON FOR THIS BEHAVIOUR:

1) MENTAL HEALTH/DEMENTIA/COGNITIVE IMPAIREMENT/PAIN
2) SIDE EFFECTS OF MEDS
3) UNABLE TO COMMUNICATE/LANGUAGE/DEMENTIA/SPEECH IMPAIRMENT
4) UNWELL
5) LOSS OR GRIEF/TRAUMA
6) LIMITATIONS/ DEPENEDENCE ON OTHERS
7) UNFAMILIAR ENVIORNMENT/SORROUNDINGS
8) HUNGER/THIRST

UNDERSTANDING BEHAVIOUR.
1) WHAT IS THE BEHAVIOUR? (OBSERVE WHAT ARE THEY DOING)
2) WHO IS AFFECTED?
3) WHEN DOES THIS OCCUR? (ANY PARTICULAR ACTIVITY)
4) HOW OFTEN IT OCCURS?
5) HOW LONG DOES THIS LAST?
6) HOW SEVERE?

HOW TO MANAGE?
1) BEHAVIOUR SUPPORT PLAN (PART OF CAREPLAN/WILL INCLUDE HOW TO MANAGE THE
BEHAVIOUR)
2) ACT IMMIDEATELY WHEN YOU SEE IT.
3) COMMUNICATE POSITIVELY/ENGAGE AND CONNECT/FOLLOW STRATEGIES ON CAREPLAN.
4) ENSURE OWN SAFETY FIRST.
5) BE CALM/PAUSE/SILENCE/TAKE YOUR TIME.

ALWAYS GOOD TO REVIEW YOUR WORK AT THE END OF THE DAY.

(WAS I CALM? / WAS I RESPECTFUL? / DID I SPEAK SLOWLY? / DID I USE SIMPLE LANGUAGE?
/ DID I MAINTAIN EYE CONTACT? / DID I USE THEIR PREFFERED LANGUAGE? / DID I ARGUE
WITH THEM?)