21 Oct Competition! – National Safe Work Month – Winner 3

We were excited to receive so many entries for our first week’s competition which was centred around Risk Management Fundamentals.. It was very difficult to choose a winner as there were quite a few excellent entries but there can only be one prize each week. The winning entry was submitted by Douglas Moss and he now has free enrolment to a BSB41419 Certificate IV in Work Health and Safety qualification.

The winning entry is:

Hi There,

Please see below my entry for week 3 of your National Safe Work Month competition. I live in Angle Vale in South Australia and work as a Local Area Coordinator for the NDIS

In my role as an NDIS Local Area Coordinator (LAC), I frequently conduct home visits to meet with participants. Each home presents unique risks, ranging from unrestrained dogs to hoarder conditions and the presence of drug and alcohol paraphernalia. To manage these risks effectively, I follow a structured approach that includes both pre-visit and dynamic risk assessments, guided by the Hierarchy of Controls.

Pre-Visit Risk Assessment: Before each home visit, I conduct a thorough pre-visit risk assessment. This involves identifying potential hazards and communicating with participants to ensure they understand the importance of mitigating these risks. For example, I inform participants that any unrestrained pets should be secured, and any hazardous items should be removed from the meeting area. Additionally, I emphasize the need for a suitable meeting space, such as a table and chairs, rather than sitting on a couch, to ensure a professional and safe environment.

Hierarchy of Controls:

1. Elimination: Whenever possible, I aim to eliminate hazards entirely. For instance, requesting participants to remove any dangerous items from the meeting area. Such as restraining animals away from the meeting space or ensuring dangerous items like firearms are locked away. (I have a lot of participants who live on farm lands and own firearms)
2. Substitution: If elimination is not feasible, I look for safer alternatives. For example, if a participant’s home environment is unsuitable, we may arrange to meet at a neutral location such as a community center, library or even our office.
3. Engineering Controls: These involve making physical changes to reduce risk. In some cases, this might include ensuring that the meeting space is well-lit and free from tripping hazards.
4. Administrative Controls: These are procedural measures, such as scheduling visits at times when other household members are present to provide additional safety. At times I have also conducted meetings with a second LAC who is mainly there to be extra safety.
5. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): As a last resort, I use PPE, such as gloves or masks, especially if there are concerns about hygiene or exposure to harmful substances. Facemask, gloves, and hand sanitizer were big during and after covid times as we regularly meet with high risk individuals.

Dynamic Risk Assessment: During the visit, I continuously assess the environment for any new or unforeseen risks. This dynamic risk assessment allows me to adapt quickly to changing conditions. For example, if I encounter an unrestrained dog upon arrival, I may request the participant to secure the pet before proceeding with the meeting. Similarly, if I notice any immediate hazards, I address them promptly to ensure the safety of all parties involved.

Employer Support and Training: My employer is highly supportive of ongoing training in risk assessment and management. This includes regular workshops and courses on the latest risk assessment techniques and methodologies. One such method is the DEM method of critical thinking, which emphasises fecision-making, evaluation, and monitoring. This method enhances our ability to critically assess situations, make informed decisions, and continuously monitor and evaluate risks in real-time.

By combining pre-visit risk assessments, the Hierarchy of Controls, dynamic risk assessments, and ongoing training supported by my employer, I effectively manage the diverse risks associated with home visits, ensuring a safe and productive environment for both myself and the participants.

So, remember this week’s competition is on the subject of Musculoskeletal Injuries:

The model Work Health and Safety Regulations define musculoskeletal disorders as ‘an injury to, or disease of, the musculoskeletal system, whether occurring suddenly or over time’. This definition does not include an injury caused by ‘crushing, entrapment or cutting resulting principally from the mechanical operation of plant’. (https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/system/files/documents/1912/work-related_musculoskeletal_disorders_in_australia_0.pdf). If we consider what causes these types of injuries, Hazards are the answer therefore controlling Hazards is of the utmost importance. In your time in the workplace, you would have seen some Musculoskeletal injuries, and we would like to know about the one that sticks in your mind. What was the Hazard? What was the injury? What control was supposed to be applied to the Hazard?

So get your entry in and share your story with the WHS world, You have until this Friday the 25th to submit your story. All you need to do is email your experience to [email protected]. Please put your name and suburb you live in, plus the theme you are entering for.

You may just save a life and win yourself a free WHS qualification.