Chapter 1 Identifying, assessing and minimising risks to personal safety

1. Chapter 1Identifying, assessing and minimising risks to personal safety

2. In this chapter you will learn about • Identifying risk factors • Using practical strategies and procedures to reduce risks • Identifying concerning behaviours and minimising risk • Identifying and minimisingrisks when travelling • Following workplace policies and procedures

3. Identifying risk factors You need to know the difference between a hazard and a risk. A hazard is something with the potential to cause harm A risk is the likelihood of harm occurring and an estimate of the severity.

4. In your role you might encounter risks such as • Work environment risks • Workplace situation risks • People risks

5. Work environment risks • SOME OF THE RISKS TO PERSONAL SAFETY THAT COULD OCCUR IN A WORK ENVIRONMENT

8. WORKPLACE SITUATION RISKS

9. THIS EXAMPLE SHOWS THE RISK FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH ALCOLHOL AND VISITORS

10. PEOPLE RISKS • TABLE PAGE 6

11. Class Task Complete Practice Task 1

12. AGGRESSION BETWEEN CLIENTS • You might be called upon to sort out issues between clients and there is a risk you might become the focus of the aggression. Care plans and workplace manuals will tell you how to deal with these types of problems. Your supervisor can also help you.

13. Aggression between family, clients and staff • There may be aggression between family members and staff or clients and staff. Family members may feel their relatives is not getting the level of care they expect. This may make them angry and they might become aggressive. Getting your supervisor to speak to the person and explain things will usually help to solve this issue

14. Using practical strategies and procedures to reduce risks • As a support worked, you need to use practical strategies to reduce risks. You should always refer to your workplace policies and procedures for guidance or ask your supervisor when you are not sure.

15. Strategies and procedures to reduce risks may be: • Hazard management policies and procedures on quality, OHS and hazard reporting. • Client assessment documents and care plans • Plans to reduce manual handling and manual-handling risks • Human resources plans such as harassment and grievance procedures, induction programs • Job procedures or work instructions • Team meetings • Post – incident debriefing sessions

16. Dealing with work environment hazards

17. Dealing with work environment hazards (contd.)

18. Workplace emergencies • The workplace emergency procedure will outline the steps you need to take if something happens to you or a client • Step 1 – contact you supervisor or manager • Step 2 – you may need to contact a health professional or doctor, ambulance or fire service

19. Risks to your personal safety may occur in the following situations • Medical emergencies • Fire • Bomb threat • Security threat

20. Medical emergency • Medical emergencies risk to your personal health include • Injure to you or the client e.g. during a care task or when driving a cart • Medical conditions e.g. you or your client may suffer a heart attack • Serous injury e.g. you or your client may fall. Yr workplace shuld ensure you have a the first aid training necessary to manage medical emergencies. Report all medical emergencies to the manager immediately

21. Fire • Fire can occur any time of the day or night in a residential or home care setting. • You need to know what to do if fire occurs. • You must report using the procedures outline by the individual workplace.

22. Bomb threat • Although bomb threats are not very common you still need to know what to do if you receive the call or find a bomb. • Once again refer to the workplace policies and procedures for guidance in this area. • Speak to your supervisor

23. Security threats • Your personal safety may be at risk if there is a security threat • Security threats include • Robbery e.g. you might disturb a thief • A break – in e.g. you might discover the workplace has been broken into • Damaged fixtures or fittings e.g. the door locks in a client’s home may need replacing • Dangerous environments e.g. you may need to work in poorly lit areas

24. Class Task Complete Practice Task 2

25. Identifying concerning behaviours and minimising risk • Your clients will have a great deal of experience and interesting stories to share with yu. Interacting with your clients can be enjoyable. • But like all of us they also feel pain, anger and fear. • As a support worker, you may need to know how to deal with concerning behaviours.

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28. A risk management approach Your employer’s risk management approach to challenging behaviours will include hazard identification. This means the workplace will have implemented procedures to ensure potential sources of aggression and violence are identified early, and assessed in order to prioritise prevention activities.

31. Dealing with aggression Verbal aggression Verbal aggression is when a person uses words to abuse, scare or intimidate you. It may be part of their medical condition and they might have no control over it. It is important to not respond with harsh words. Ask your supervisor how to manage this situation.

32. Dealing with aggression • If an incident of significant verbal abuse occurs, you should • Request the individual to stop • Diffuse the situation by removing either the abusive person or the person being abused. • Explain to those involved what you are doing and why.

33. Dealing with aggression If it does not stop Remove the individual form the area Give them time to cool down Get a staff member who is familiar with the person to speak to them after they have calmed down • Inform your supervisor • Complete an incident report.

34. Dealing with aggression Physical aggression • Physical aggression is when a person uses their body to abuse, scare or intimidate you e.g. they might stand very close to you, lean over you or raise a fist at you. • People can become physically aggressive if they feel under pressure to do things they don’t want to do. • Avoid insisting that clients do things they don’t want to do

35. If a client becomes physically aggressive • Move away form the client so they don’t feel threatened by you. • Tell other staff member if possible • Keep yourself and others safe • Move them away if necessary – however if it is usually easier to move others • Inform your supervisor • Complete an incident report.

36. Protecting personal safety Your workplace will have policies and procedures for managing risks posed by challenging behaviours. As support worker you need to know What to do in an emergency Emergency phone numbers Where the exits are located Evacuation assembly points Relevant security policies and procedures How to respond if a co-worker or client is threatened or abused by another person

37. Identifying and minimising risks when travelling • If you are using your vehicle to transport clients in working hours you may need to contact your supervisor who will sight your vehicle registration and insurance policies.

38. Class Task Complete Practice Task 3

39. Identifying and minimising risks when travelling Personal requirements for driving with clients • Undergo a police safety check • Understand all the duty of care requirements • Observe the speed limits • Be capable of handling the road conditions • Be familiar with the vehicle • Be medically fit • Hold a current driver’s license • Don’t smoke while driving • Report any problems, fault or accident

40. Identifying and minimising risks when travelling You should consider the following manual-handling tips before transporting a client • Wear appropriate footwear • Encourage the client to assist as much as they can • Check to see if you need another person to assist you • Make sure you know how to use all the equipment and equipment is in good working order • Identify the best route

41. Class Task Complete Practice Task 4

42. Following workplace policies and procedures • Organisations are required by law to provide a safe and healthy workplace for their employees, clients, and family members, visitors and the wider community. • You must follow all workplace OHS policies and procedures. These are based on legislation and regulations that support health and safety.

43. Following workplace policies and procedures To ensure you are complying with OHS responsibilities, you should • Cooperate with OHS representatives • Report any hazards to your supervisor • Report any job-related injury or illness to your supervisor or health and safety officer • Understand and exercise your rights under OHS • Wear protective clothing and equipment if necessary

44. Following workplace policies and procedures In Australia there is Commonwealth and state OHS legislation • Commonwealth – Occupational Health and Safety Act 1991 • Victoria - Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 Legislation is the law and regulations provide the rules to apply the law. Each state has regulations to support OHS legislation.

45. Following workplace policies and procedures CODE OF PRACTICE • A code of practice is an industry guideline based on regulations or best practice WORKPLACE POLICIES OR PROCEDURES • Your workplace policies and procedures should describe or interpret the legislation, regulations and codes of practice in an understandable relevant and accessible way

46. Following workplace policies and procedures OHS POLICY AND PROCEDURES OHS POLICIES AND PROCEDURES USUALLY INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION: • Personal protective clothing and equipment • Standard precautions • Handling hazardous/dangerous materials and goods, including completing material safety data sheets. • Emergency safety procedures • Standard housekeeping

47. Following workplace policies and procedures OHS POLICY AND PROCEDURES CONTINUED • Hazard identification and control systems • Manual handling • Staff development and training program • Waste management • OHS personnel

48. Following workplace policies and procedures • PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT PROCEDURES THIS MAY INCLUDE: • Overalls to protect the body form grime and hazardous substances • Safety boots • Safety gloves to protect hands form cuts, extreme hot and cold, chemicals and poisons. • Safety helmets, masks and goggles. • Respirators used to protect the lungs • Ear muffs for use in noisy environments

49. Following workplace policies and procedures STANDARD PRECAUTION PROCEDURES should be adopted such as hand washing techniques

50. Class Task Complete Practice Task 5