WorkSafe campaign targets aged-care violence

Managing violence and aggression in residential aged-care facilities is the focus of an inspection program being carried out by WorkSafe WA.

The program will hone in on reducing musculoskeletal and psychological injuries caused by workplace violence.

Inspectors will be primarily looking at how employers have responded to and prevented aggressive incidents and injuries.

“Inspectors will proactively visit residential aged-care facilities to assess the systems in place to prevent and manage incidents of violence and aggression,” said WorkSafe A/Director Sally North.

“Where workplaces are found to require improvement, inspectors will provide guidance and take further action if necessary.

“Earlier WorkSafe inspection programs in this area have highlighted to employers the need to implement proactive and long-term control strategies to address the risk of injury from violence and aggression.

“These control strategies can include altering job design, educating carers and clients, promoting incident response and investigation, and planning refurbishments or new builds to address client aggression risks.”

Over the past five years, violence and bullying accounted for nearly one-third of all lost time injuries in WA residential aged-care facilities. 93% of the injuries in this category were classified as being assaulted by a person.

While the most common injury to employees in residential aged care is soft tissue injury, the psychological impact of exposure to violence is harder to measure, especially where it is considered part of the job.

This program coincides with a WorkSafe Victoria public awareness campaign launched recently aimed at addressing the issue of occupational violence and aggression in the healthcare sector.

“WA is a keen participant in the national Australian Work Health and Safety Strategy 2012–2022, and the healthcare and social assistance sector is one of the key industries being targeted due to the high number of serious injuries resulting in 60 or more days off work,” North said.

“This inspection program aims to ensure that employers have all the information they need to provide and maintain safe and healthy workplaces for their employees.”