Healthcare workers are those people that care for others and provide Health Services. This includes people working in District Health Boards (DHBs), Residential Care facilities, private facilities or in other people’s homes. They face a wide range of hazards on the job such as patient handling, manual handling, falls, biological hazards, working with chemicals, stress and violence.
What is the impact of injuries?
The most common types of injury to healthcare workers are musculoskeletal disorders due to the consistent and physical nature of their work, for instance handling patients. Slips, trips and falls also contribute significantly to injuries in the health services industry.
Injuries cost the health services industry in excess of $15 million per year, with approximately three new ACC claims received every day.
What can I do to reduce injuries?
ACC in consultation with the Health & Disability Sector Forum has developed comprehensive health and safety information that includes practical solutions for managing hazards typical in the health services industry.
A guide has been developed to support health professionals who work by themselves, without close or direct supervision. The ‘Health and Safety Guide to Working in Isolation in the Health and Disability Sector’ (PDF2.2M) has been written for lone workers and their employers. It includes guidance for employers and managers on:
- identifying, assessing and controlling the hazards associated with working in isolation
- developing appropriate policies and procedures to enable organisations to meet their legal obligations.
To order or download a copy, visit the Publications page and search for ACC5259.
‘A guide for your staff working by themselves in the health industry’ (PDF98K) has also been developed to support this booklet. This one page checklist is for staff to help ensure they know what to do if working in isolation.
To order or download a copy, visit the Publications page and search for ACC5260.
Download a copy of the New Zealand patient handling guidelines: the Liten Up approach (PDF6.9M). Please note, this is a very large file. You can download individual sections of the guidelines from the Publications page or request a hard copy by emailing healthsector@acc.co.nz.
There is also a Liten Up reference resource for moving students with special education needs (PDF3.6M). This is aimed at school workers who have received training on the Liten Up approach from a therapist.
WorkSafe programme
Use ACC’s key work safety programmes to establish health and safety systems and help keep your business injury-free. For further information, contact the Programme Manager by emailing healthsector@acc.co.nz, or see:
What other help is available?
There are a range of tools and resources to help you identify and manage hazards typical to your workplace – just search our Publications page.
ACC has a comprehensive training programme for workers in residential care facilities. Email healthsector@acc.co.nz for course details.
Related websites
Use these external links to find more information:
- Department of Labour (New Zealand)
- Healthcare facilities (United States Department of Labor)
- Hospital eTool (United States Department of Labor)
- Health and aged care sector (WorkSafe Victoria)
- Health and community services (Queensland Department of Employment and Industrial Relations)
- Health and community services (Worksafe Western Australia)
- Health and community services (WorkCover New South Wales)
- Health care (European Agency for Safety and Health at Work)
- Health and safety in social care services (UK Health and Safety Executive)
- Safety at Work health care information (Worksafe British Columbia)
- Carers New Zealand
Last updated: 8March2010