Elements and Performance Criteria

The Range Statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Add any essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts.


Definition of hazard:
A ‘hazard’ is something with the potential to cause injury or disease to people, damage to property or disruption to productivity
Hazards arise, for example, from workplace environment; use of plant for example and equipment; poor work design; inappropriate systems, procedures and/or human behaviour


Legislative requirements for manual handling and WHS consultation/participation vary in different states and will include:
National Work Health and Safety Model
Current relevant State/territory WHS legislation
Relevant state/territory Manual Handling Code of Conduct


Examples of manual handling hazards in the aged care and disabilities sectors include:
Carrying trays and other items
Lifting tasks such as moving a person in bed, assisting to stand, transfer to chair or wheelchair, lifting objects
Pushing pulling tasks such as pushing trolleys, wheel chairs, shower chairs, dressing clients
Reaching and postural tasks such as feeding a person, showering
Restraining tasks


The risk factors for manual handling are influenced by:
Duration and frequency of the task
Environmental conditions such as underfoot conditions, lighting, heat
Forces exerted
In people-handling the risk is also affected by the:
ability of client to support/control part/whole of the body
predictability in movement and behaviours
pain levels
ability to follow instructions
any equipment attached to the client e.g. catheters, IVs etc
client clothing
Movement undertaken
Postures adopted


Manual handling equipment may include:
Client hoists
Other manual handling assistive devices
Slide sheets
Standing lifters


Sources of risk to personal safety:
Alcohol and/or drug use
Behaviours of concern
Personal risks may arise from clients, client family, the public or animals
Risk environments may be in access to work (e.g. car parking arrangements, access to private home) and in carrying out work
Situations with a higher risk of threat and client related factors may be identified from incident reports, care plans, case management meetings
Working new, isolated and/or potentially unstable environments


Examples of workplace hazards in aged care, home and community care and disabilities sectors (other than manual handling) may include:
Biological hazards including body fluids; contaminated food; soiled clothing and linen; clinical waste; syringes and other 'sharps'; etc
Chemicals (e.g. toxic or hazardous substances, gases and liquids under pressure, includes cleaning chemicals)
Electrical hazards related to use of equipment, faulty wiring
Equipment including suitability for purpose and fitness for use
Personal threat by (e.g. through behaviours of concern) clients and/or visitors
Work organisation issues such as shift work or irregular hours/on call
Work-related environment (e.g. underfoot, lighting, space, noise, air quality, furniture/fittings, car parking etc)
Work-related stress


Standard precautions include:
Appropriate reprocessing and storage of reusable instruments
Aseptic technique
Personal hygiene practices especially washing and drying hands (e.g. before and after client contact)
Safe disposal of sharps and other clinical waste
Safe handling of sharps
Surface cleaning and management of blood and body fluid spills
Techniques to limit contamination
Use of personal protective equipment


Additional precautions may include:
Additional use of personal protective equipment
Dedicated equipment (e.g. to each client or as appropriate to work function)
Special ventilation requirements


Organisation procedures for managing risks, including those related to manual handling may be:
Client assessment documents and care plans
Communication, consultation and issue resolution procedures
Hazard management documents include policies and procedures on specific hazards as well as hazard and incident reporting (including follow up to sharps incidents) and investigation, workplace inspections, maintenance etc
Hazard management policies and procedures (these may be integrated with quality, care or other documents or be separated as WHS policies and procedures)
Human resources management procedures such as harassment and grievance procedures, induction programs, team meetings, management of performance levels, alcohol and drug policies
Job procedures and work instructions, including medications policy and procedures
Other related procedures including waste management, security
Post incident/injury management such as first aid, critical incident debriefing, compensation and return to work
Strategies for reducing the amount of manual handling required and manual handling risk
Supporting people with behaviours of concern


Work instructions may be:
In a community language
In English
Provided visually e.g. video, WHS signs, symbols and other pictorial presentation, etc.
Verbal
Work instructions include care plans and there should be an awareness of their role in risk management especially in risks associated with manual handling and behaviours of concern
Written


Designated personnel for WHS referrals may be:
Elected Health and Safety Representative/employee representative
Employer
Health and Safety committee
Other personnel with WHS responsibilities
Supervisor


Examples of WHS issues which may be raised by workers with designated personnel may include:
Clarification on understanding of WHS policies and procedures
Communication and consultation processes, including carer input to care plans
Effectiveness of risk controls in place
Follow up to reports and feedback
Hazards identified
WHS impact of the changing condition of clients
Problems encountered in managing risks associated with hazards, in particular, manual handling (e.g. availability and appropriateness of handling and mobility equipment) and behaviours of concern
Training needs


Examples of contributions may include:
Attendance at meetings
Behaviour that contributes to a safe working environment which includes following WHS procedures
Identifying and reporting risks and hazards
Input to care plans
Listening to the ideas and opinions of others in the team
Recommendations on changes to work processes, equipment or practices
Sharing opinions, views, knowledge and skills
Using equipment according to guidelines and operating manuals


Examples of participative arrangements may include:
Documented issue resolution processes
Easy access to relevant written workplace information
Formal and informal WHS meetings
Health and safety committees
Meetings called by Health and Safety Representatives
Other committees such as consultative planning and purchasing
Other means and processes for raising requests and concerns as well as contributing suggestions and reports to management
Regular information sessions (using clear and understandable language) on existing or new WHS issues
Team meeting and case management meetings


Risk control in the work area may include:
Application of the hierarchy of risk control, namely:
Level 1 controls
Eliminate hazards
Level 2 controls
Substitute the hazard with something safer
Isolate the hazard from people
Use engineering controls
Level 3 controls
Use administrative controls
Use personal protective equipment (PPE)


Controlling manual handling risks in the work area may include:
Changes to the load or client
Changes to work organisation or work practices
Changes to workplace layout
Minimising amount of handling
Provision of equipment
Task-specific training


Report hazards in the work areamay be verbal or written and may include:
Face-to-face
Memos
Notes
Phone messages
Specially designed report forms


Basic home fire safety includes knowledge of:
Behaviour that may contribute to fire injury and/or fatality
High fire risk groups
Optimum placement of smoke alarms
Referring client for smoke alarm installation and maintenance
Role of a working smoke alarm
Smoke alarm testing and cleaning
Types of smoke alarms

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, Required Skills and Knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package.

Critical aspects of assessment:
This unit is most appropriately assessed in the workplace or in a simulated workplace and under the normal range of workplace conditions
Simulation should be based on the actual work setting and must include demonstration of practical skills such as use of appropriate equipment
Simulations may also include the use of case studies, scenarios and role play
In addition to the practical skills, this unit of competency requires a body of knowledge which may be assessed through questioning and the use of 'what if' scenarios both on site (during demonstration of normal procedures and walk throughs of abnormal ones) and off site (e.g. in transit, home visits, telephone counselling, etc)
Assessment will occur over a range of situations that may include disruptions to normal smooth operations
Assessment may need to be conducted over an extended period of time, or on more than one occasion to cover the relevant range of situations
Within the limits of worker, client and public safety and the requirements of the competency, consideration must be given to workers whose literacy skills are limited and/or who are physically and/or intellectually disabled


Access and equity considerations:
All workers in community services should be aware of access, equity and human rights issues in relation to their own area of work
All workers should develop their ability to work in a culturally diverse environment
In recognition of particular issues facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, workers should be aware of cultural, historical and current issues impacting on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
Assessors and trainers must take into account relevant access and equity issues, in particular relating to factors impacting on Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients and communities


Context of and specific resources for assessment:
Assessment will require access to:
Client handling and mobility devices commonly used in the industry sector including patient hoists, standing lifter, wheelchair, slide sheets and other client assistive devices and mobility aids
Recognised risk control strategies
Appropriate equipment
Workplace health and safety policies and procedures
Other related policies and procedures
Duties statements and/or job descriptions
Sample care plans


Method of assessment:
Assessment may be best conducted using a range of practical exercises and scenarios/case studies/what ifs as well as through questions to check the reasoning behind the observable actions
These assessment activities should include a range of routine problems that may have been generated from the past incident history and hazardous incidents in similar work contexts within the sector and/or industry
A diversity of assessment tasks is essential for holistic assessment