Over 64% of all injuries in this field are caused by hazardous manual handling, as well as slips, trips and falls.

Jane Braddy, WorkHealth and Safety Manager at Multicultural Aged Care Services in Geelong, explained that many of the injuries in the sector tend to come from work practice. She’s found that in within their organisation, many of the injuries tend to occur through rushing, as well as small things such as burns in the kitchen. 

In aged care homes, spills frequently cause falls, however Jan noted that it’s not particularly an issue in their facility. Blood and bodily fluid spills are cleaned up straight away, and the dining rooms are quite accessible to the food serveries which means that spilled food is seldom an issue.

They also don’t tend to have much in the way of back injuries at their facility. They’ve introduced motorised trolleys for laundry delivery for example. Laundry delivery was formerly a job done by two people and now only one is required, and it’s much safer. A similar change has occurred with medication and food service trolleys as they were heavy and difficult to push, with staff previously reporting sore backs and shoulders.

There had been a back injury with the use of medication trolley before it was motorised, however the laundry and food service trolley changes were the result of observation and recognising the need to avoid injuries and unnecessary difficulties in the workplace.

In terms of the movement of patients, they have a minimal lift policy. Staff use hoists, all of the beds are electric and all patients are assessed to determine whether they’re a one or two person transfer.

Patients can sometimes be uncooperative but seldom aggressive. Health issues such as dementia can sometimes come into play, however if someone is aggressive or difficult to control, they are placed into a more suitable facility.

If a worker is injured, a list of light (modified) duties is available in every department which can assist their return to work plan. Jan believes that it’s important to assist injured worker in their return to work sooner rather than later, as well as having the worker actively manage their own injuries. She added that unfortunately this doesn’t always work. There was a case where a worker was injured and offered a different role which was suitable for their condition, but the worker didn’t take up the opportunity. “Sometimes your hands are a bit tied between what you are trying to achieve and waiting for insurance companies, and requesting IMEs and things like that. It can take quite a long time,” Jan said.

Aged care tends to attract workforce from an older demographic, however Jan hasn’t found any particular workplace issues as a result. Although there are minor complaints about the aches and pains of growing older, she hasn’t found this to be a hindrance in the ability of people to do their job. She suspects that in their workplace, there would be little difference in the physical requirements between a younger person and an older person.

 Aged care is well known as a high risk industry, and is traditionally a very heavy role. 

With Multicultural Aged Care Services opening of a new wing earlier this year, there are new staff and new routines being established, but they’re planning on looking into health and wellbeing activities for staff later in the year. In the meantime however, they certainly provide access.

Jan has also found that the past ten years has brought a lot of additional information and courses about return to work processes. She also noted the introduction of the new ‘certificates of capacity’ which replace the former doctor’s certificates. The new certificates are intended to focus on what the injured person is able to do at work, rather than what they can’t do. Thus far, Jan has found the new system a little confusing and GP’s aren’t used to filling in such extensive forms. In terms of health and safety, there has been an increasing inclination towards bring in changes to help protect workers.

They are fortunate to have a low injury rate in their facility, with more incidents being minor, such as burns and cuts in the kitchen.