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Local government
A snapshot of how people employed in local government get injured at work, and tips to help prevent these types of injuries from occurring.
Public administration and safety
Everything for the public administration industry in one place.
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Injury Hotspot skeleton diagram, text information below.
Hazards
- Hazard 1Chemicals handling
- Obtain material safety data sheets (MSDS) for all dangerous goods and hazardous chemicals at your workplace, and ensure employees and contractors have access to them.
- Treat all chemicals as potentially dangerous to health, unless material safety data sheet (MSDS) or label states otherwise.
- Eliminate hazardous chemicals or use safer substitutes (for example, non-bleach based cleaner).
- Hazard 2Electrical
- Provide electrical safety protection. For example, ensure home care workers have a portable residual current device.
- Hazard 3Lifting
- Provide appropriate mechanical aids and equipment. For example:
- 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.
- Train employees and contractors in the selection and use of any mechanical aids and equipment.
- Ensure mechanical aids and equipment are used properly and maintained in accordance with manufacturer specifications.
- Develop policies to reduce lifting risks. For example, a “no-lift” policy to ensure that manually lifting people is eliminated except in life-threatening situations.
- Ensure employees and contractors are not exposed to repetitive work for long periods. For example:
- use job rotation
- work variation
- provide sit-stand stools and anti-fatigue mats.
- Ensure employees and contractors are not exposed to work that requires a significant amount of high force for long periods.
- Provide appropriate mechanical aids and equipment. For example:
- Hazard 4Motor vehicles
- Ensure work vehicles are roadworthy and fit for purpose (for example, they are client-accessible, safe for loading and unloading goods).
- Ensure drivers are licensed and properly trained for the vehicles they drive.
- Hazard 5Psychosocial
- Psychosocial hazards are factors in the design or management of work that increase the risk of psychological or physical harm. Examples include:
- work-related violence
- work-related fatigue
- workplace bullying
- work-related gendered violence including sexual harassment
- violent or traumatic events
- remote and isolated work
- high and low job demands
- low job control
- poor support.
- Ensure systems are in place to identify, assess and control risks to psychological health in consultation with employees, contractors and any HSRs. Systems should include processes for regularly reviewing and revising risk control measures to ensure effectiveness.
- Consider the design and management of work. For example:
- Are employee and contractor tasks appropriate for skill level and experience?
- Do employees and contractors have adequate training, resources and support?
- Is workload allocated to ensure it is reasonable and appropriate to skillset?
- Do employees and contractors have clear roles and reporting lines?
- Ensure systems are in place for employees and contractors to report psychosocial hazards and risks. Employees and contractors should be confident their concerns will be addressed in a fair and timely manner.
- Provide employees and contractors with adequate support. For example, supervisory support, peer support and Employee Assistance Programs (EAP).
- Psychosocial hazards are factors in the design or management of work that increase the risk of psychological or physical harm. Examples include:
- Hazard 6Repetitive work and awkward postures
- Provide appropriate mechanical aids and equipment. For example:
- rotary hoe in place of spade work
- angled brushes for cleaning
- height-adjustable equipment) and
- Ensure mechanical aids and equipment are used properly and maintained in accordance with manufacturer specifications.
- Provide appropriate workstations (this includes home offices or off-site work areas. For example:
- height-adjustable chairs
- computers with height-adjustable monitors
- adequate lighting
- desk and foot space
- mouse pad area
- docking station for laptops.
- Train employees and contractors in the selection and use of any mechanical aids and equipment, and safe handling methods.
- Ensure employees and contractors are not exposed to repetitive work for long periods. For example:
- use job rotation
- work variation
- provide sit-stand stools and anti-fatigue mats.
- Ensure employees and contractors are not exposed to work that requires a significant amount of high force for long periods.
- Provide sufficient people for the work.
- Provide regular breaks.
- Provide appropriate mechanical aids and equipment. For example:
- Hazard 7Slips trips and falls
- Ensure floor or ground surfaces in work areas, car parks and entrances are clean, well lit, clear of obstacles and in good condition. Ensure outside surfaces are non-slip (for example around swimming pools).
- Clean up spills immediately and fix the causes of spills.
- Develop policies and procedures to reduce the risk of slips, trips and falls. For example:
- set up warning signs and barriers around spill
- clean up immediately
- mop last where possible.
- Ensure employees and contractors wear appropriate footwear (for example non-slip).
- Apply good housekeeping practises. For example:
- remove unnecessary items
- provide proper storage
- ensure things are put away.
'If you are injured at work' poster
Employers must display an 'if you are injured at work' poster in every workplace. You can download and print a poster in English as well as Arabic, Chinese simplified, Chinese traditional, Greek, Italian, Macedonian, Serbian, Spanish, Turkish and Vietnamese.