Identifying Hazards and Reducing Risks

What is Hazard?

Hazard means a source or a situation with a potential A hazard is something that has the potential to cause harm or injury in terms of human injury or ill health, damage to property, damage to the environment, or a combination of these.

Hazard identification means identifying undesired events that lead to the materialization of the hazard and the mechanism by which those undesired events could occur.

The first step is to identify hazards around you by being alert and using tools designed to help. You can then work with your employer and colleagues to reduce or eliminate the risk. Collaboration and consultation are key to these processes.

Hazards might include a task that involves transferring a person, cleaning using chemicals or walking on a slippery surface. It can be walking alone at night to your car or working with electrical equipment that has a frayed cord.

Harm can be physical, such as a cut after a fall, or psychological, such as trauma related to witnessing an accident. A hazard does not have to cause harm for it to be a hazard; it simply has the potential to cause harm.

What is Risk?

A risk is the chance that an injury could occur as a result of the hazard, and what that harm could be. The level of risk is calculated by considering many different factors, such as the likelihood that harm could result, the severity of injury that could happen, and the steps you have taken to prevent harm.

Risk is, at minimum, a two-dimensional concept involving

1. The possibility of an adverse outcome, and
2. Uncertainty over the occurrence, timing, or magnitude of that adverse outcome.

If either attribute is absent, then there is no risk.

For Example: The risk of contracting HIV/AIDS from a client in community services is very low in comparison to the risk in previous decades. This is because there are fewer people with the infection due to community education, we have better ways to protect ourselves from contracting the infection via blood and people with HIV have access to medications that make the risk of transmission very, very low. On the other hand, the risk of contracting and spreading gastro-enteritis is very high for aged and disability workers. This is because it is a common infection in the community, it is spread in many different ways and we have very few medications or means to prevent it spreading.

It is not possible to completely remove all hazards. There will always be the chance of harm or injury. However, if we take care to think about what those hazards are, and how we can minimise them, we can work and provide support much more safely.

This table to check out some examples of hazards and associated risks that you might identify during the course of your work:

Type of Hazard	Examples of Hazards	Examples of Risks
Manual Handling	Lifting and transferring people Walking on slippery surfaces Cluttered floors, poorly maintained equipment Repetitive movements Awkward postures Unpredictable movements by clients during assistance	Back and other muscular injuries to staff Injury due to trips or falls Injury due to trips or falls Overuse injuries, such as repetitive strain injuries (RSI) or tendonitis, cumulative damage to joints, tendons, and muscles, leading to conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome. Muscle strain, particularly in the back, neck, and shoulders; development of chronic musculoskeletal disorders (e.g., tendonitis, disc injuries); fatigue from holding static or unnatural positions for extended periods, reducing overall strength and mobility. Sudden strain or twisting injuries when reacting to a client’s unexpected movement.
Infection	Being in contact with body fluids during personal care tasks Being in close contact with other people during personal care tasks Handling linen and other items soiled with body fluids	Infectious diseases and conditions, such as gastro, hepatitis, colds and flu
Electrical and Chemical	Using cleaning chemicals in confined spaces Using electrical equipment with damaged cords Clients smoking	Asthma and other respiratory conditions Burns to skin Electrocution
Equipment and Building	Unsecure exits Old transferring equipment	Residents with dementia could leave unnoticed Equipment could fail, causing a client or resident to fall
Kitchen	Boiling water and sharp utensils Stoves Sharp utensils	Residents or clients could injure or burn themselves
Flooring and Ground Surfaces	Slippery surfaces Liquid spills Leaf litter Obstacles that could lead to trip hazards and falls	Staff, clients or residents could trip
Weather Related	Weather events such as extreme heat or cold, bushfires, storms or flood Exposure to extended periods of UV light from the sun	Client could become sunburnt
Behavioural	Aggression Resistance to support	A client or resident hitting, biting or pushing another person
Vehicles	Transport to homes or venues	Car accidents
Human Error	Medication administration Lack of adequate supervision of new staff	Injury or poisoning

When accidents or injuries happen, there is nearly always a window of time in which the injury could have been prevented. Be alert to hazards around you, and it is more likely that you will catch this window and prevent an incident.

The three common procedures for identifying hazards in a workplace include:

Be vigilant

• Look for hazards as you work
• If you have found a hazard: Act quickly to remove it altogether (such as cleaning up a spill) OR » Isolate it (such as removing a faulty piece of equipment to a storeroom with a label to indicate that it cannot be used) OR » Report it as soon as possible

Use hazard inspection checklists

• Use a checklist regularly
• Tick the areas in the checklist that could be hazards
• More detailed checklists are completed by senior management or health and safety representatives

Collect information

• Managers collect information from incident and injury reports, near-miss reports, complaints and suggestions forms
• This information can help identify ongoing hazards
• You can help by reporting and documenting dangers in these reports

Hazard Signs and Symbols

Safety signs are used to alert people to potential hazards, show the location of emergency and safety equipment or give instructions for dealing with emergency situations. Symbols and graphics save time in emergency situations. They can easily be identified and interpreted by people who are unable to read or understand a written language.

Here is a chart of safety signs and symbols that are commonly used in most settings:

Remember that workplace hazard identification, assessment and control is an on-going process that is best conducted in the context of full consultation between an employer and their employees.

Aged care and disability support workers often provide services in clients’ own homes, or out in the community, in public spaces. These environments are quite different from working within a facility that is run by the service provider or employer. In the home, the service provider and the worker have less control over a wide range of factors affecting health and safety.

Common hazards in Home and Community Workplaces

Hazards in home and community settings are affected by various unique factors. These include:

• You might be working alone, without supervision
• The spaces that you use, such as bathrooms, may have restricted spaces or hazards that contribute to slipping or falls
• You have less control over other hazards, such as a dog on the premises, fumes from chemicals or unsafe electrical hazards
• You might injure yourself or the client driving to and from a community visit or to a client’s home
• Your personal safety might be threatened by a client, family member or stranger.

Rights and Responsibilities in Home Environments

Workers delivering home-based services and their employers have the same WHS safety rights and responsibilities as workers in any other setting. You have the right to work within a safe environment and the responsibility to act sensibly to protect your own health and safety. You must always work within the service’s policies and procedures, even if the person asks you to do something differently. Clients are given a list of policies that they must follow to keep you safe while you are in their home. If they do not follow these rules, you have the right to refuse to enter the home, and your employer must back you up on this.

The policies differ between services, but they might include:

• The client or other members of the household should not smoke inside while you are present
• Equipment that you use must be safety checked
• The areas you use must be clear and free from excess clutter
• Dogs (apart from service dogs) must be contained outside or in a secure room while you are visiting

As you have seen, some hazards can be easily managed and even removed by making a small change. Others, however, require further investigation so that the problem can be managed most effectively.

A risk assessment is a formal process involving documents such as a risk assessment document. This helps staff to:

• Decide whether the risk is high enough to take action
• Consider how urgent the risk is
• Determine how the risk should be managed.

A risk assessment should be tailored to the workplace and to the type of activity being undertaken. For example, manual handling risks can be assessed using a manual handling risk assessment. Examples and templates for this type of risk can be found on health and safety websites such as Safe Work Australia or the website of your state or territory authority.

Below is an example of a risk assessment matrix that looks at the likelihood and consequence of a risk.

Once you have identified the hazard, it is time to consider appropriate risk controls.

1. If it is not reasonable or possible to eliminate the risk, you and your service must do everything you reasonably can to reduce the risk as far as possible.
2. Eliminating risks altogether, if possible, is the best way to do this.

The Hierarchy of controls

The hierarchy of control is a tool used to help you to work through safety problems and reduce the risk. Here are each of the levels of the hierarchy of control.

Eliminating the Risk (Level One)

Eliminating the risk is the highest level in the hierarchy. Removing a risk completely is always the preferred option when available as it means there is zero chance of a future incident occurring. While it may not be possible to remove the risk completely in most cases, it should always be the first control measure explored. An example of risk elimination could be providing extending poles operated from the ground to access a high window latch rather than requiring climbing a ladder, which presents a risk of falling.

Substituting the Risk (Level Tw0)

The next level down in the hierarchy is risk substitution. Risk substitution is the process of removing risk by replacing it with another risk that is either less likely to occur or less severe in its potential damages. Substitution is less preferred to eliminate the risk completely as it still leaves a risk present, albeit in a reduced form. An example of risk substitution could be to replace noisy equipment with a quieter option or it could be replacing a highly toxic chemical with a less dangerous version. It’s important to conduct a new risk assessment after the substitution has been completed to identify any new risks created by the substitute process.

Isolate the Risk (Level Three)

The third level in the hierarchy is risk isolation. Risk isolation is performed by placing some form of barrier between the employee and the risk factor in order to provide protection. The key difference between this level and risk elimination (level one) is that the risk is still present, with the employee only shielded from it by the barrier. If the barrier were to fail or require bypass, the risk would return to being uncontrolled. Risk isolation could be enacted by placing dangerous machinery in a separate room from the operating and installing remote control systems.

Engineering Controls (Level Four)

Engineering risk control is the process of designing and installing additional safety features to workplace equipment. Safety features could be installing more stringent ventilation systems in noxious environments or installing guardrails on a raised walkway.

Administrative Controls (Level Five)

Level five of the hierarchy is administrative controls. These are measures the management and chain-of-command can implement to reduce the likelihood of a risk occurring. Measures could include providing dedicated training targeted at the risk or arranging work schedules to limit exposure times in hazardous environments.

Personal Protective Equipment (Level Six)

The final level in the hierarchy of risk control is the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). It’s likely that this level will be utilised regardless of what other levels are also being used to control risk. However, it remains at the bottom of the hierarchy as it doesn’t remove or reduce the risk itself. Instead, this level is designed around assuming an incident will occur and protecting the employee from harm when it does. Personal protective equipment includes hard hats, noise-reducing ear protection, or cut-resistant gloves.

The hierarchy of control is designed to be used:

• Collaboratively — Work through the tool with others, particularly other staff most affected by the hazard.
• Creatively — Work through the tool with as many ideas as possible for each category. You can later refine each idea in terms of whether it is possible or not.
• Systematically — Consider the highest levels of control, and work your way down until you are able to eliminate or reduce the risk as far as possible.

You can use a combination of controls across the hierarchy to provide the highest level of protection, as long as the top-level controls are considered first. Often you will need to use a combination of risk control measures to control the risk effectively.

What is Manual Handling?

Manual handling refers to movement that involves force or changes in posture. Nearly every task you perform in an aged care or disability setting will include manual handling of some type.

You might be required to:

• Help a person to walk
• Use a computer
• Take part in an activity session such as yoga or dancing
• Help a person to shower
• Transfer a person using a hoist
• Clean a bathroom and toilet.

Any type of activity that involves movement puts you at risk of injury from falls, sprains, damage to your spine or muscles, stiffness and pain. Manual handling injuries cause significant risks to workers in your sector.

According to WorkSafe Victoria the most common injuries associated with manual handling are:

The above injures are referred to as Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSD) and can occur as a result from repeated damage or strain, or, in some instances, from a single case of overburdening.

Other common injuries associated with manual handling include:

• injuries to muscles, ligaments, intervertebral disc and other structures in the back
• injuries to soft tissues such as nerves, ligaments and tendons in the wrist, arms, shoulders, neck or legs
• abdominal hernias
• chronic pain.

What makes manual handling hazardous?

Four key risk factors that can make manual handling tasks hazardous include:

• Task
• Individual
• Load
• Environment

These risk factors can be easily remembered as "TILE":

Task
Sub-factors	Description
Task is too strenuous	Tasks undertaken too frequently with insufficient rest breaks Tasks undertaken for long periods of time / long distance Imposed working speed process unable to be altered
Awkward postures or movements	Bending backwards, forwards or sideways Twisting the back Raised arms above shoulder height Working with bent wrists Looking down for long periods of time Looking to the side for long periods of time Squatting or kneeling for long periods of time.

Individual
Sub-Factors	Description
Work familiarity / experience	Undertaking a task where you are not familiar with the movements, expectations and muscular effort required
Training / supervision	Training received prior to undertaking the task Management / peer expert supervision
Individual Physical capacity	Strength of individual Age of individual etc.
Previous known injuries	Previous and/or existing injuries

Load
Sub-Factors	Description
Too large	Loads that are unable to be held close to the body (e.g. arms outstretched more than 30cm from body). This increase the potential for overexertion and muscle fatigue.
Too heavy	There is no legislative weight limit that is considered ‘safe’ for manual handling and/or lifting. Individuals have different capabilities that must be considered when taking into account when lifting and moving a load
Difficult to grasp	Loads may be slippery Use of Personal Protective Equipment e.g. gloves may make gripping the load difficult Unsuitable handles or broken handles Surface textures Load is too small (e.g. having to pinch to pick something up)
Unstable unbalanced or contents can move	Moving water/chemical container Moving half-filled box Having to lift a person or animal
Difficult to reach.	Loads that are stored above shoulder height Loads that are stored below knee height

Environment
Sub-factors	Description
Available space	Having enough space to manoeuvre items or stand straight Walkways and entry/exit points are free from obstacles Enough clearance under desks to ensure workstation is set-up correctly
Floor surface	Working in areas where there are changes in levels e.g. navigating stairs Undertaking a task where there may be surface cracks, dips or holes Working where there is the potential to have a slippery floor e.g. spilt water or working outside
Climate (heat, cold, ventilation, humidity)	Working in hot conditions Undertaking tasks where there may be exposure to radiant heat e.g. welding Working in cold conditions Working in humid conditions Working in areas with a lack of ventilation
Vibration	Undertaking tasks using plant or equipment e.g. use of a power tool
Lighting	Adequate lighting to enable employees to see without squinting or leaning forward to see

Client Behaviours That Increase the Risk

People Unlike other types of loads you might lift or carry can be unpredictable. When a person needs help to transfer from bed to chair or from chair to wheelchair, they may use many different responses and behaviours that can put you at risk. The person might be frightened or anxious, and become rigid, making it more difficult to help them walk or move. They might have dementia and react aggressively because they are frightened or unsure of who you are and what you are trying to do. The person can hit out unexpectedly, causing you to move into an unnatural or dangerous posture. The person might stop helping you mid-way through the transfer and begin to fall. The natural reaction of most people would be to reach out and catch the person to prevent them from falling. This is one of the most dangerous reactions you can have. Let your supervisor know if a client uses a behaviour during a transfer that might put you at risk. Write down what happened using your workplace reporting forms, such as an incident form or near-miss report.

NOTE: Never attempt to stop a person from falling by reaching out to pull them up or by putting your weight against theirs as they fall. You could be seriously injured by this movement.

As difficult as it sounds, you must allow the person to fall to avoid putting yourself at risk. Your workplace will support you with training to help you understand this procedure's importance.

Reducing Manual Handling Risk

Your workplace must provide you with training in manual handling postures and techniques. During this training, you will learn certain universal rules that apply when transferring any load.

Here are some of these rules.

When working in the healthcare industry, employers often require proof of manual handling training. Manual handling is the use of force exerted by a person to lift, move, push, pull, or carry people and equipment. Due to the regular handling of patients, manual handling in healthcare is a common workplace injury. You can prevent manual handling injuries by identifying potential hazards, assessing risks, reducing risks, and regularly reviewing risk controls.

Risk Assessment

The health and safety risks associated with potentially hazardous manual handling tasks are to be assessed, considering:

• If an individual is likely to be injured while carrying out the task?
• What preventative measures have already been put in place, and are they adequately managing the risk?
• What is the level of risk associated with undertaking the task?

The Department has developed some sample risk assessments that should be tailored to your workplace. These include:

• Display of artwork
• Stage set-up
• Transporting and storage of heavy and unstable books
• Transporting and storage of sporting equipment and transporting and storage of large boxes or containers

Risk controls

Control	Description
Do not undertake the tasks	Communicate to employees that they are not to perform the task Re-design the task so that manual handling can be avoided completely
Change the environment (workspace)	Change the layout of the area e.g. create a clear pathway to the door Store items close to where they are to be used Adequate and accessible storage solutions (e.g. weight rated shelves, shelves are built fit for purpose, items can be stored between knee and shoulder height) Lower the height of storage shelves to reduce the need to use a ladder or lift above shoulder height Undertake the task in more suitable temperature conditions (Compliance Code for Workplace Amenities states that for sedentary work 20°C - 26°C depending on the time of year and clothing worn) Allow enough space to conduct the task Keep items to be used at the same level to reduce the need for lifting or lowering Provide enough lighting
Change the nature of the work	Arrange for deliveries to be placed near area of use Team lifting Break down the task e.g. reduce the weight of object Determine working position e.g. sitting or standing Set realistic work rates/timeframes Rotate tasks
Modify the load	Reduce the weight of the load to be carried e.g. take objects out of box to be moved Place items in a smaller tub Purchase items in smaller containers instead of bulk
Use mechanical aids	Use of slings/straps Backpacks Tool belts Hoists Trolleys
Administrative aids	Develop, display and communicate safe work procedures Provide adequate supervision Provide manual handling training Display safety signage indicating the weight of the load is visible

Manual Handling Techniques

What is the maximum weight employees are allowed to lift? No legislated weight limit is considered “safe” for manual handling. Individuals have different physical capabilities, which must be considered when taking into account any manual handling task. The weight of an object is not necessarily the only thing that makes a task hazardous.

What techniques can I use to help prevent an injury?

• S.M.A.R.T Lifting Technique
• Team Lifting
• Pushing or Pulling Techniques when using mechanical aids

SMART LIFTING

Read more to learn about SMART LIFTING TECHNIQUES

Team Lifting

Team lifting can be an effective way of moving objects. However, it is important to consider:

• Whether there are enough people?
• Does anyone have a known pre-existing injury?
• Who will be coordinating the lift?
• Whether has a lifting plan been established and communicated to those involved?
• Whether all persons of the same size with similar strength?

Lifting of persons

A ‘no lift policy’ is best. If a student is required to be lifted, employees should use available equipment (e.g. hoist, wheelchair etc.) and the student's own ability to avoid unnecessary manual handling. Where it has been identified that a student will be required to be lifted, guidance should be sought from the Regional Office. Where there are behaviours of concern, a Behaviour Support Plan should be developed in consultation with Student Support Services, parents or carers or specialists.

Pushing and pulling techniques when using mechanical aids

The use of mechanical aids can assist in eliminating or reducing the need to lift, carry items/objects/persons in the workplace; however, it is important to consider:

• when pushing, lean forward
• when pulling, lean backwards (pushing is preferable as it involves less work by the lower back muscles and allows for maximum use of body weight). It allows employees to adopt a forward-facing posture, providing clearer vision in the direction of travel
• ensuring you have a good grip
• avoiding twisting and turning
• checking that the handle height is between shoulder and waist height
• checking that the handles or grips are in good condition
• checking that the wheels on trolleys are in good condition
• checking that the floors are free from obstacles and rubbish

Examples of mechanical aids include:

• Flatbed trolleys
• Upright trolley
• Laptop charging trolley
• Gym mat trolley
• Shelf trolley
• Wheelchair
• Chari trolley
• Sports equipment trolley
• Wheelie bin trolley
• Clax trolley
• Library book trolley
• Mobile hoist

Safe storage and housekeeping

Items should be stored safely with work areas are kept free from obstacles and debris. This can be done by:

• storing frequently used and heavy items between waist and shoulder height
• storing smaller, lightweight or infrequently used items in lower or higher areas
• removing all obstacles and/or obstructions in pathways or in front of storage areas
• knowing shelving weight limits (see label)
• having access to a step-ladder to raise the employee to the best working zone
• testing the weight of the object before picking it up
• conducting quarterly workplace inspections using the relevant Workplace Inspection Checklist or equivalent.

Training

All Department employees should complete the Manual Handling eLearning module. The Department has also made available a manual handling presentation that can be used during a staff meeting or other forum to assist in building capability and raising awareness of potentially hazardous manual handling tasks.

Discussing Unsafe Manual Handling Practices

If you feel that a manual handling task poses too much risk for you, let your supervisor know. They have the responsibility to help you and other workers find safer ways to perform the task, such as using aids for cleaning or transferring. If this is not possible or the risk is still significant, you should not perform the task. You can use the hierarchy of control to help you to solve manual handling problems with your work team.

Look back at the case study on Liliana to see how this was done in Liliana’s workplace.

In Australia, a range of publications have provided design guidance for residential aged care facilities, including “Design Guidelines for Queensland Residential Aged Care Facilities”, “Guide to the Safe Design of Aged Care Facilities”, and “Residential Aged Care Built Environment Audit Tool”. The importance of the functional capacity of the older person and the associated manual handling needs when designing acute health and aged care facilities were considered in the development of the WorkSafe Victoria “Guide to designing workplaces for safer handling of people (3rd Ed)” . Of note, this pivotal manual handling guidance publication highlighted problems associated with compliance with the “Building Code of Australia”.

Activity: Watch and Answer

Watch this YouTube video by Vocam Business Training TV about health and safety for people working in aged care: ‘Aged Care – Health and Safety for Carers

Answer the following questions:

1. Briefly describe three situations shown in the video where an aged care worker may be injured.
2. Identify at least one strategy for preventing injury in each of these situations.

Emergency Procedures

You will need to be familiar with your own organisation’s emergency policy and procedures and to understand what your role and responsibilities are in the event of an emergency. Emergencies can include:

• Internal emergencies, such as gas leaks, partial building collapse, fire or flood
• Natural disasters, such as bushfires, earthquakes, floods or major storms
• Aggression and violent threats, such as from an intruder or known offender
• Bomb threats over the phone.

Check with your own organisation and your own particular work site to access this information. Ask your supervisor if you are not sure how to find this information.

Organisations' Responsibility in Managing Emergencies

It is the legal responsibility of your service to ensure that workers and others have easy access to emergency equipment, such as fire extinguishers and fire blankets, and know how to use them. All organisations are required to hold practices or drills for emergency procedures such as fire and evacuation drills. Emergency procedures and emergency telephone numbers are displayed in a place where they can be easily seen. A copy of the emergency and evacuation floor plan and instructions must be displayed in a prominent position near each exit at the service. Casual staff should also be inducted into emergency plans and exits as part of their introduction to the service.

Staff Members responsibility in managing Emergencies

Emergencies can take several different forms, and you and other workers must be trained to manage them using emergency procedures while remaining calm and keeping in mind the welfare of clients and others around you. Familiarise yourself with emergency response procedures and evacuation assembly points for your work area. Know where equipment such as duress alarms and evacuation kits are kept, and be familiar with how they work.

During and after any emergency, your main priorities should be as follows:

• If you feel a situation is at all threatening or out of your control, never hesitate to call or ask another person to call 000. If the situation improves soon after, you can cancel the service.
• Stay calm. If you talk and think calmly, you are more likely to be in control of a positive outcome.
• Do not take risks with your own life or safety to protect others. You must only help others in an emergency situation if it is safe to do so. If you are in a personal risk situation, get yourself to safety before calling for help.
• Continue to provide care and support to clients or residents after an evacuation.

Watch the following YouTube video by Andrew Mclean about evacuating in response to a fire in an Australian Aged care facility: ‘Evacuation Procedures Aged Care’

Fire Safety in Clients’ Homes Sources of home fires can include:

• Faulty electrical equipment or wiring
• Stovetop fires
• Candles and other open flames
• Combustible materials near heaters and open flame fire places

Some clients can put themselves and you at higher risk of a fire. When a person has dementia, for example, they might forget how to use the stovetop or might put a plastic electric kettle on a stove. They might have trouble remembering not to go too close to an open flame heater while wearing a highly flammable dressing gown or might use candles near a curtain. Dementia and other cognitive disabilities can also cause the person to forget how to respond to fire safety. They might panic and cause the fire to spread further. Small children and people with disabilities, including reduced mobility, hearing and sight impairments, are also more at risk in the event of a fire.

Responding to a Home Fire

If it is safe to do so, you can attempt to put out a small fire using a fire blanket, domestic fire extinguisher or by covering a pot with a lid. If you cannot do this without the risk of you or someone else being harmed, follow this procedure:

Remove anyone in immediate danger, such as the client, if it is safe to do so Alert others in the house to the presence of the fire, and tell them to call 000

Contain the fire by closing doors on the room with the fire

Evacuate the house immediately and call 000 Fire Blankets

Fire blankets

are primarily for use on hot oil fires such as frying pans or small deep fat fryers. They can also be used on someone whose clothing has caught fire. They work by smothering the fire, stopping access to the oxygen fuelling it and extinguishing it.

Watch this YouTube video by FIRE & EVAC SOLUTIONS to see how to safely use a fire blanket in a person’s home: ‘How to use a Fire Blanket Australia.’ 

Smoke Alarms

By law, all homes must have working smoke alarms. They are placed in all bedrooms, bedrooms, living areas and hallways, and should be checked and maintained regularly. If the person cannot do this themselves, you can refer them to your supervisor, to their landlord or to services who specialise in installing and checking smoke alarms. For people who have a hearing impairment, special types of smoke alarms that vibrate the person’s bed or chair, have flashing lights and are connected directly to emergency services can be funded and installed through government programs. You can find out more about smoke alarms for people with hearing impairments and the funding scheme on the Deaf Services Australia website: ‘Smoke Alarm Subsidy Scheme.’

Threats to Personal Safety

Your safety can be put at risk when a client or other person becomes aggressive or when you are walking alone between your car and the client’s home. This is especially true when it is dark. In-home and community environments, where you do not have other workers around you to call for help, it can be more difficult to leave these situations.

The most important thing to remember is that you must leave immediately.

Do not stay and argue or help the person, even if they or others are in danger.

Leave the area in any way you can, and call the police as soon as it is safe.

Be aware at all times of your personal safety. Carry a mobile phone, and park as close as possible to the person’s home.

Know the exits to a house or other space, and never allow yourself to be cornered by an aggressive person away from an escape route.

Passive self-defence is a strategy that aims to allow you to leave an aggressive situation safely.

When you are trapped in a room or space where an aggressive person is making threats or making you feel frightened. You should:

• Agree with the person rather than arguing—Being in agreement, even with untrue statements, can help to deescalate the person’s aggression long enough for you to get away. If you need to, divert blame directed at you to another source, such as to your manager or the government.
• Use passive body language—Keep your body movements to a minimum and use a low, calm voice. Make yourself appear smaller and unthreatening by lowering your shoulders and avoiding prolonged or insistent eye contact.
• Keep a distance between you and the person—Move away from them and towards a safer area such as a door if possible. Do not try to approach the person or touch them to calm them.
• Use objects to protect yourself—Make use of items such as chairs, tables or other items you are able to pick up. Protect yourself from harm with the item in your grasp while you attempt to leave so that you can call for help.

Read the case study below highlighting what you can do when you face a threat to personal safety.

Let's do a quick knowledge check by completing the quiz below, before you proceed further