wh & s improvement projects in southern illawarra over last few months. nia briguglio, katherine...

WH & S IMPROVEMENT PROJECTSIN

SOUTHERN ILLAWARRA OVER LAST FEW MONTHS.

NIA BRIGUGLIO, KATHERINE PERRY, KYLIE JUDD, ANGELA CAMPBELL, BRONWYN OAKES, CATHERINE MCLEOD & REBECCA PERRY

ALL SITES

• WH & S IS A STANDARD MEETING AGENDA ITEM AT ALL MEETINGS

• SAFETY TALK AT START OF MEETINGS• PROMOTING STAFF AWARENESS• REWARD & RECOGNITION TO STAFF TO GET

THEM INVOLVED

HOW HAVE WE ENGAGED STAFF

• Discuss WH &S weekly report at staff meetings• Encourage staff to give input and suggest how we

can improve our processes and systems to ensure safety is achieved.

• Memo to all employee’s from Area Manager recognising nil incidents on weekly report as recognition, managers share the success with their team e.g. chocolates, m/tea etc.

EMPLOYEE’S REACTION

• Nil changes at first as staff felt it was a manager’s role.

• Staff are now putting forward ideas where we can improve in WH & S and slowly getting on board.

• Manager’s have received positive feedback from their teams regarding the recognition when nil incidents.

Project at WBG in lifestyle

• PEOPLE MOVER PURCHASED- This is a device that attaches to wheelchairs and most air chairs for minimal manual handling from staff required.

• WHY- Due to the layout of the environment the amount of doors and slopes lifestyle staff had to try to manoeuvre through whilst pushing resident in chair to activities. This was identified as a high risk for injury to staff.

RESULT

• Nil injuries in lifestyle team• Lifestyle staff have stated the People Mover

has reduced the amount of muscle strain when pushing wheelchairs to the community room

PEOPLE MOVER

PEOPLE MOVER- Air Chair

PEOPLE MOVER- Air Chair

PEOPLE MOVER- Wheelchair

PEOPLE MOVER- Wheelchair

Project at WBG in Care

• Slide sheets and wall holders purchased over the last two months.

• WHY- Staff suggested a slide sheet holder be purchased for each resident so the slide sheet stayed in room, this encouraged safe manual handling and staff also felt it saved time by having equipment in residents room.

• IMPROVEMENT- When a resident is assessed of requiring repositioning whilst in bed by two staff members they will have a slide sheet and wall holder fitted in their room for their individual needs with transfers.

RESULT

• Nil injuries involving 2 person transfer in high care.

• Positive feedback with staff also requesting slide sheet/holder when residents needs change

SLIDE SHEET & HOLDER

SLIDE SHEET & HOLDER

Projects at WBG in Hotel Services

• RELOCATE STAFF SMOKING AREA• WHY- Current area is to close to internal staff

room and odour is coming through to foyer. A number of hazard logs have been filled out due to the odour

• IMPROVEMENT- Relocate area away from main entrance and staff room

CURRENT SMOKING AREAThis photo explains how close both areas are and the reason why the smoking area is to close to entry

SMOKING AREAThis picture identifies how close staff sit

to doorway of internal staff room.

SMOKING AREALittle area with limited ventilation

NEW SMOKING AREA This is currently being constructed

Projects at DT

• MEDICATION TROLLEYS WHEELS REPLACED• WHY- Staff were unable to use Med Trolleys

due to wheels becoming stuck in lift and staff were lifting trolley over lip which was a risk of injury from poor manual handling.

• IMPROVEMENTS- Larger wheels are now on trolleys which can slide over lift lip ensuring safe manual handling.

RESULT

• At first staff didn’t like using trolley’s preferred a basket which is not best practise.

• Since larger wheels have been put on trolley’s staff agree with process

• BUT• NEW PROBLEM- Bedroom doors have become

an issue if trolleys are kept outside unit but that’s a whole new story for another forum.

MEDICATION TROLLEY & LIFT LIP

MEDICATION TROLLEY

MEDICATION TROLLEY

MEDICATION TROLLEY

FIC

• PROJECT- Rearranging furniture in resident room• WHY- Resident was having a number of falls and

staff were concerned that she would hurt herself if she fell on furniture. It was also a hazard with using lifting equipment in room with limited space.

• IMPROVEMENT- Staff suggested moving furniture around and family taking some home that was not required to reduce number of hazards.

RESULT

• Family happy that they didn’t have to sign a restraint form due to removing of hazards.

• Staff satisfaction that they resolved an issue as a team.

IHC Projects

• Join WBG Care Centres WH & S committee meetings

• Nominate one employee to attend meetings• Commence Hazard register• Audit current WH & S system re: workplace

inspections and action plans. • Communicate all of above at staff meetings

WHERE TO FROM HERE

CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON WH & S IN EACH DEPARTMENT TO ACHIEVE SAFE WORK

ENVIRONMENT FOR EMPLOYEES RESIDENTS/CLIENTS & VISITORS.

IMPLEMENT A SAFETY OFFICER AT EACH SITE IF TRIAL IS SUCCESSFUL