SafeWork SA inspectors begin safety blitz at aged care homes

The following is an abridgement of an article originally published on the SafeWork SA website.

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South Australia's residential aged care facilities are undergoing audits by the state's safety regulator, SafeWork SA, aimed at minimising injury risks for both residents and staff.

Manual handling of residents of significant concern

Manual handling of residents remains a significant concern in the aged care sector, as evidenced by the high number of claims reported to ReturnToWork SA between 2019 and 2023.

The Australian Work Health and Safety Strategy 2023-2033 identifies health care and the social assistance industry as one of the six high-risk industries that contribute to 70 per cent of fatalities and 58 per cent of serious workers’ compensation claims.

About the inspection campaign

Inspectors will begin compliance checks this month, focusing on how staff handle residents with limited mobility during transfers between locations. This includes moving residents from beds to chairs or baths, transferring them from wheelchairs to toilets, or adjusting their positions in bed.

SafeWork SA inspectors will provide education, operational guides, and checklists to ensure staff adhere to correct procedures. Non-compliant facilities may receive compliance notices, requiring them to rectify issues within a specified time-frame if they cannot be resolved during the inspection.

Common equipment used for resident mobility includes ceiling hoists, patient lifters, stretchers, wheelchairs, and slide sheets. The long-term campaign will address several key areas, including:

• Staff training
• Accessibility and maintenance of equipment
• Risk control for manual tasks.

This initiative encompasses both private and state-run aged care facilities across metropolitan and regional South Australia.

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Sources

Safety blitz at aged care homes by SafeWork SA, 29th May, 2024.