Safety at workAll employees have the right to a safe working environment. Theworkplace should be free of dangers or hazards that can cause harm orinjury to another person. Occupational Safety and Health legislationplaces a responsibility on both employees and employers to ensure asafe working environment. It is the employer‟s responsibility to providea safe working environment and to ensure the employees safety andhealth are not harmed. It is the employee‟s responsibility to report anyhazards in their working environment, to look after their own safety andhealth and not to put others at risk of harm.There are 3 principles of Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) that areused in workplaces to manage safety and health: Spot the Hazard,27, 28, 29, 30, 31Assess the Risk and Make the changes.1. Spot the hazard – identify any hazards. Hazards are anythingthat can hurt you or someone else. They can be spotted bylooking, listening, smelling or through your knowledge. Hazardscan include manual tasks, noise, lighting, electricity, occupationalviolence, psychological issues with potential to causepsychological or psychiatric injury (stress), biological hazards,hazardous substances, sharps, slips, trips or falls, vehicle hazardsor animals. Hazards can be found in the external environment –lighting, access, animals, route of travel; or the internalenvironment – floors, lights, facilities, electricity, tasks to becompleted, working in isolation, health status of the person beingsupported, suitability of equipment.2. Assess the Risk – Assessing the risk means to ask yourself: Howlikely is the hazard to hurt me or someone else? How badly couldI or someone else be harmed? Injuries can include;strains/sprains, neck/shoulder injuries, back injuries,slips/falls/crushes, and cuts/bruises/broken bones, hernias,Occupational Overuse Syndrome (previously called RSI). Manualhandling injury can cause pain and the inability to carry out manyactivities for an extended period of time.3. Make the changes – this includes either fixing the hazard ortelling someone that can. It is usually the employer‟sresponsibility to fix any hazards. In some instances you will beable to fix the hazard yourself. Ways of fixing the hazard caninclude:a. Elimination of the hazard, eg: cleaning up spillsb. Substitution of the hazard with a different item, tool orprocedurec. Isolation of the hazard by removing it from used. Adding safeguards of prevent hazards. This can includeemployers providing or workers attending training.<strong><strong>Support</strong>ing</strong> <strong>Disability</strong> <strong>Support</strong> <strong>Workers</strong> 40
e. Using the safest way to do something. For example, usingequipment such as a hoist for lifting.f. Using personal protective equipment such as wearinggloves and apronsThe working environments of <strong>Disability</strong> <strong>Support</strong> <strong>Workers</strong> are usually theperson‟s private home and the community. <strong>Disability</strong> <strong>Support</strong> <strong>Workers</strong>often work in an unpredictable environment and it can be difficult toensure workplace safety.To ensure a safe working environment it is important that <strong>Disability</strong><strong>Support</strong> <strong>Workers</strong>; Inform the coordinator of any hazards no matter how small Ask for training to undertake any duties or tasks may put theworkers health or safety at potential risk of harm Inform the coordinator of areas of work that they are unable to becompleted Look after their own health and wellbeing Attend any training offered.For any identified hazard or risk, the employer should; Act promptly on any identified dangers or hazards Provide relevant training and refresher courses Know the needs of the individuals that the <strong>Disability</strong> <strong>Support</strong>Worker with be supporting Fix any hazards or dangers If unable to fix the hazard or danger, examine alternatives suchas modified equipment or work practices.If in doubt about any situation, or unsure of what to do, always speak toyour coordinator.<strong><strong>Support</strong>ing</strong> <strong>Disability</strong> <strong>Support</strong> <strong>Workers</strong> 41