The Guide: Implementing Occupational Health and Safety in Residential Aged Care

This Guide, divided into twelve modules, covers all aspects of implementing occupational health and safety in residential aged care.

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Disclaimer

The Guide: Implementing Occupational Health and Safety in Residential Aged Care (The Guide) has been developed to provide information to assist residential aged care facilities to develop their own occupational health and safety programs.

The Guide is not, however, a legal document. The relevant Commonwealth and State occupational health and safety legislation should always be consulted in relation to any legal issues which may arise. Professional advice should be sought before applying the information contained in the Guide to particular circumstances.

The Commonwealth of Australia (and the authors) disclaim all and any liability to any person, whether a purchaser of this publication or not, in respect of anything and of the consequences of anything done or omitted to be done by any person in reliance, whether in whole or in part, upon the contents of The Guide.

© Commonwealth of Australia 2000

This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process without prior written permission from the Commonwealth available from AusInfo. Requests and inquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to the Manager, Legislative Services, AusInfo, GPO Box 1920, Canberra ACT 2601.

Development of the Guide

This guide on developing, implementing and improving occupational health and safety in residential aged care facilities was produced by NE&A Pty Ltd. It has built on the publication First Steps produced for the Commonwealth in South Australia.

NE&A Pty Ltd wishes to acknowledge the contribution of all people and organisations who provided feedback during the consultation process.

How to use this Guide

This Guide is divided into twelve modules:

Module 1

Establishing and Improving OHS Systems, provides an outline of a system and process for managing OHS based on risk management principles. Sample forms and flowcharts are included.

It is recommended that this module be used to:

• establish the principles on which OHS management should be based, that is, risk management and continuous improvement
• identify where your OHS systems do not comply with legislation, standards or best practice (self-assessment)
• guide the process of setting up or improving OHS systems, using the sample tools and processes described

Module 2

Injury Management is designed as a practical guide to help reduce workers' compensation costs of your home through improving the processes used for managing workplace injury. It provides all the tools that you will need to set up an injury management system, including sample letters to treating doctors, sample Return to Work Plans and information for staff.

Modules 3-11

Address the most common hazards found in Aged Care Homes. Each module has a checklist and suggestsion for planning and implementing risk controls.

Module 12

Resources, provides information on contact organisations and legislation that you will find of assistance in your task of improving OHS at your Aged Care Home.

Responsibility for OHS must be shared as widely as possible. Consultation is a crucial element in setting up good OHS systems. Circulate material from this Guide as widely as possible and include as many staff as possible in OHS processes such as hazard identification, risk assessment and risk control.
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