Personal care and nursing assistants

Hazards and Solutions

1. Hazard 1 Lifting assisting and providing personal care to patients

   • Eliminate manual lifting of patients, except in life-threatening situations.
   • Encourage patients to assist in their own transfers.
   • Provide appropriate mechanical aids and equipment that is specific for the type of facility (eg overhead tracking, hoists, mobile hoists, wheeled equipment, slide sheets), and ensure they are used properly and maintained in accordance with manufacturer specifications.
   • Develop a patient care plan based on the patient’s capabilities that includes information about recommended mechanical aids and equipment, and safe handling methods (including how many people should assist with transfer). Review the plan regularly (and if changes occur in the patient’s condition).
   • Ensure that patient handling process / plan during personal care (eg toileting) is well communicated with the patient prior to and during the process.
   • Provide such information, instruction, training or supervision to employees as is necessary in the selection and use of any equipment and aids, and safe handling methods (eg ensure lifting work is carried out between shoulder and mid-thigh height).
2. Hazard 2 Performing ancillary / household tasks (eg cleaning)

   • Provide appropriate mechanical aids and equipment (eg backpack vacuum cleaners, waste/linen dumping systems) and ensure they are used properly and maintained in accordance with manufacturer’s specifications.
   • Ensure bins have wheels or provide a trolley.
   • So far as is reasonably practicable, ensure employees are rotated through a variety of tasks to ensure they are not exposed to repetitive work for long periods.
   • Ensure appropriate handling and management of chemicals, and provide current material safety data sheets (MSDS) for all chemicals used in the workplace.
   • Provide appropriate personal protective equipment, ensure it is worn, and provide such information, instruction, training or supervision as is necessary to employees on safe work practices.
3. Hazard 3 Pushing and pulling equipment (eg trollies and wheelchairs)

   • New or refurbished buildings must, so far as is reasonably practicable, be designed to be safe and without risks to the health of persons using it for the purpose for which it was designed. This includes ensuring that the design of workplace layouts minimises the push/pull forces required to move equipment (eg plans for new / refurbished buildings to incorporate safe design, good path design which is clear of obstructions, suitable floor surfaces).
   • Provide and ensure that mechanical aids (eg wheelchairs, beds with castors, mobile hoists) are used, fit for purpose, and maintained in accordance with manufacturer specifications.
   • Instruct employees to minimise pushing / pulling forces and walking/transfer distance (eg ensure dependent patients arrive at the nearest reception point).
   • Ensure all employees are trained in patient handling techniques, including identifying risks and controls.
4. Hazard 4 Slips trips and falls

   • Design and maintain all floors to be level throughout work areas.
   • Ensure floor or ground surfaces in work areas, car parks and entrances are clean, well lit, clear of obstacles, and in good condition.
   • Ensure good housekeeping (eg remove unnecessary items to reduce clutter in the patient's room, provide sufficient storage, ensure things are put away in their desired locations).
   • Provide height access equipment (for example, mobile steps with handrails) for reaching objects or performing work above shoulder height.
   • Ensure ladders, steps, stairs and handrails are in good condition and appropriate for the task (eg use a platform ladder when performing work above shoulder height).
   • Develop policies on how to safely carry objects (eg no unstable or unbalanced loads), particularly on stairs.
   • Provide employees with appropriate footwear (eg non-slip) and ensure it is worn.
5. Hazard 5 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 (for example; policies and procedures should be communicated during employee induction and workplace bullying prevention or training).
   • Provide access and encourage employees to use employee counselling / support services, where possible.
   • Investigate and implement effective controls when employees report any workplace stress factors (eg work demand, low control, poor support, lack of role clarity, change management, relationships, and incivility).
6. Hazard 6 Work-related violence

   • Develop and implement appropriate policies and procedures (eg exchange of relevant and up to date information between employees, shifts and offices, incident notification).
   • Instruct employees to report all incidents and provide appropriate incident response and feedback.
   • Provide appropriate personal protection, including methods to obtain assistance (eg duress alarms, mobile phones).
   • Ensure appropriate security measures are in place (eg toughened glass, no blind spots, access/egress control, barriers).
   • Provide security and/or call police to assist with occupational violence, when required.