The Christian values of love, inclusiveness and service require health, safety and wellbeing to be paramount and safeguarded at all times.
Anglicare’s values of justice, respect, compassion and accountability require our employees, volunteers and carers to take all reasonably practicable steps to protect the health, safety and wellbeing of themselves, clients, residents, contractors and members of the public. These values require us to:
Ensure that workplaces are healthy and safe in accordance with legislative requirements;
Provide the resources, information, instruction and training necessary to maintain healthy and safe workplaces;
Monitor safety performance to identify opportunities for improvement; and
Encourage consultation and cooperation with employees, volunteers, carers, clients, residents, contractors and members of the public towards promoting and improving safety performance.
Anglicare’s employees, volunteers, carers and contractors are required to:
Comply with the requirements of our safety management system;
Protect the health, safety and wellbeing of themselves and others; and
Perform assigned duties in accordance with safe working practices.
Anglicare’s leaders are responsible for ensuring that staff and contractors working under their direction are aware of and comply with these requirements.
Safety Officers
Anglicare has part-time Safety Officers appointed in major workplaces with responsibility for staff consultation, workplace inspections and risk assessments. Safety officers also sit on regional and Anglicare OHS committees.
Safety Officers are appointed to the following workplaces:
Club 12/25 (Mark Ryan)
Jamieson House (Ann McFarlane)
ACT Childcare (Aimee Fenwick)
Goulburn (Allison Clack)
Wagga (Michael McKibbin)
Orange (Vacant)
Moruya (Eva Wheatley)
Blairmount (Carmel Swan)
Wentworthville (Tammy Hammond)
OHS Committees
Anglicare’s values of integrity, accountability and collaboration require effective consultation on OHS matters in order to achieve good working relationships, improved safety awareness and shared commitment to safe and healthy workplaces. Consultation on safety matters is facilitated through a network of OHS committees.
An OHS Committee in each residential aged care facility meets monthly or every second month. Aged Care OHS Committee members include the facility manager and others elected by the staff of the facility. A chairperson is elected by the committee members.
Each Anglicare region also has an OHS Committee that meets in February, April, September and November. Regional OHS Committee members include the:
Regional Manager;
Safety Officer(s) appointed in that region; and
Chairperson of any Aged Care OHS Committee in that region.
The Anglicare OHS Committee meets in July and December. Anglicare OHS Committee members include the:
Chief Executive Officer;
Regional Managers; and
Two representatives elected from each Regional OHS Committee.
A formal record of OHS Committee meetings is available on Barnabas.
Occupational Violence
The nature of human services can increase the risk of occupational violence. Anglicare is committed to the safety of staff and clients and believes violence to be unacceptable regardless of circumstances. Anglicare cooperates fully with Police investigations into criminal behaviour and provides legal and other supports to staff at risk.
In circumstances where aggressive or challenging behaviour is known to be an issue, the following tips should be followed:
Arrange to meet in a public place – an open space or work area with other people around reduces the risk of violence or intimidation
Avoid working alone – have someone else attend with you, either physically together or in sight of each other or in direct contact with each other
Have an escape route – sit with your back to the door or near an opening and ensure you know where the duress alarm is if there is one
Avoid confined spaces – such as small interview rooms, lifts, stairwells or vehicles
Tell someone – about the identified risks, where you are going, who you are going to see and when you will be back and have in place an early warning system so that if you do not return or get into contact this triggers an emergency response.
Manual Handling
Manual tasks account for approximately 45% of workplace injuries and many activities undertaken by Anglicare employees, volunteers and carers are high risk for these types of injuries. There are some simple tips that can significantly reduce the incidence of injuries arising from pushing, pulling, lifting or carrying.
Some tips for safely performing manual tasks are:
Size up the load and the route – assess how heavy or awkward the load is and review any obstacles along the route
Get mechanical assistance – can the load be put on a trolley or pallet jack or is a lifting sling or slide required?
Make two or more trips – don’t try and carry heavy loads or multiple items in one go
Be careful with stairs – always leave one hand free to hang onto the handrail
Don’t over reach – slide objects to you before lifting them and when placing them down put them close to you and then slide them into place
Ask for help – ask someone to give you a hand and if you are asked to help always do so willingly
Complete a mobility assessment – when helping a person to move ascertain whether he or she can weight bear, is likely to lose balance or is cooperative or uncooperative
Travel
Anglicare provides services from 43 work locations and to client groups spread throughout the Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn. The requirement for significant travel poses a risk to the safety of our employees, volunteers and carers. In planning and undertaking travel the following should be observed:
Do not travel when tired – if you have already done a full day’s work then a two to three hour drive at the end of the day can be very risky
Take regular breaks – at least 10 minutes for every two hours of traveling time
Allow sufficient time for the journey – running late is no excuse so always drive to the speed limit, to the road and weather conditions and within the limits of your own ability
Be familiar with the vehicle – ensure that you can put your hand on major controls such as lights, wipers, horn, indicators, sound system and cruise control without having to take your eyes off the road
Do not use a mobile telephone whilst driving – always pull off the road and stop before answering or making calls unless you have hands-free capability
