Local government

These are the most common injuries and hazards for people working in local government, as shown by injury claims.

Local government

These are the most common injuries and hazards for people working in local government, as shown by injury claims.

Safety solutions

WorkSafe expects employers to have safety solutions in place to protect workers from the most common sources of injury.

Hazards and solutions

Hazard 1
Chemicals handling
Treat all chemicals as potentially dangerous to health, unless material safety data sheet (MSDS) / label states otherwise.

Obtain material safety data sheets (MSDS) for all dangerous goods and hazardous chemicals at your workplace, and ensure employees have access to them.

Eliminate hazardous chemicals or use safer substitutes (eg non-bleach based cleaner).
Hazard 2
Electrical
Provide electrical safety protection (eg ensure home care workers have a portable RCD device).
Hazard 3
Lifting
Provide appropriate mechanical aids and equipment (eg trailers to carry plant trays or to relocate mowers, height-adjustable trolleys for shifting goods in and out of vehicles, mechanical aids - such as mechanical wheelie bin lifters to empty bins into skips or waste vehicles) and ensure they are used properly and maintained in accordance with manufacturer specifications.

Train employees in the selection and use of any mechanical equipment and aids and safe handling methods.

Develop policies (eg no-lift policy to ensure that manually lifting people is eliminated except in life-threatening situations).

Ensure employees are not exposed to repetitive work for long periods (eg by using job rotation, work variation, providing sit-stand stools and anti-fatigue mats) or work that requires a significant amount of high force.

11 per cent of the injuries were to a persons knee.

14 per cent of the injuries were to a persons shoulder.

9 per cent of the injuries were to a persons arm.

21 per cent of the injuries were to a persons back.

5 per cent of the injuries were to a persons leg.
Hazard 4
Motor vehicles
Ensure work vehicles are roadworthy and appropriate for the work (eg client-accessible, safe load / unload of goods).

Ensure drivers are licensed and competent for the vehicles they drive.

11 per cent of the injuries were to a persons knee.

21 per cent of the injuries were to a persons back.
Hazard 5
Repetitive work and awkward postures
Provide appropriate mechanical aids and equipment (eg rotary hoe in place of spade work, angled brushes for cleaning, height-adjustable equipment) and ensure they are used properly and maintained in accordance with manufacturer specifications.

Provide appropriate workstations (eg height-adjustable chairs, computers with height-adjustable monitors, adequate lighting, desk and foot space and mouse pad area, docking station for laptops). This includes home offices or off-site work areas.

Train employees in the selection and use of any mechanical equipment and aids and safe handling methods.

Ensure employees are not exposed to repetitive work for long periods (eg by using job rotation, work variation, providing sit-stand stools and anti-fatigue mats) or work that requires a significant amount of high force.

Provide sufficient people for the work.

Provide regular breaks.

14 per cent of the injuries were to a persons shoulder.

9 per cent of the injuries were to a persons arm.

21 per cent of the injuries were to a persons back.

5 per cent of the injuries were to a persons hand / fingers.

5 per cent of the injuries were to a persons leg.
Hazard 6
Slips trips and falls
Ensure floor or ground surfaces in work areas, car parks and entrances are clean, well lit, and clear of obstacles and in good condition. Ensure outside surfaces are non-slip (eg around swimming pools).

Clean up spills immediately and fix the causes of spills.

Develop policies (setup warning signs and barriers around spill, immediate clean up, mop last - where possible).

Ensure procedures are in place to handle spills and wet cleaning (eg warning signs barriers and immediate clean up).

Ensure employees wear appropriate footwear (eg non-slip).

Apply good housekeeping practises (eg remove unnecessary items, provide proper storage, and ensure things are put away).

11 per cent of the injuries were to a persons knee.

14 per cent of the injuries were to a persons shoulder.

9 per cent of the injuries were to a persons arm.

21 per cent of the injuries were to a persons back.

5 per cent of the injuries were to a persons leg.
Hazard 7
Work-related stress bullying and harassment
Develop and implement appropriate policies and procedures for workplace bullying and harassment.

Encourage a positive workplace culture, including reporting of bullying and harassment.

Ensure all employees understand what bullying and harassment is, and the procedures for reporting incidents (eg policies and procedures should be promoted during employee induction and workplace bullying prevention or training).

Provide access and encourage employees to use employee counselling/support services, where possible.

Encourage employees to report any workplace stress factors (eg work demand, low control, poor support, lack of role clarity, organisational culture) and control appropriately.

14 per cent of the injuries were to a persons psychological system.

Local government

Local government

Safety solutions

Hazards and solutions

Chemicals handling

Electrical

Lifting

Motor vehicles

Repetitive work and awkward postures

Slips trips and falls

Work-related stress bullying and harassment

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