Our Services: Occupational Health & Safety

Occupational Health & Safety

10 tips for Safer Health Care in pdf version.

Fall Prevention

Here are some helpful hints to reduce your risk of falling:

• Take time to familiarise yourself with the nurse call bell, light switches and your room.
• Ask visitors to return furniture to a safe place before leaving.
• Use the rails to steady yourself in the bathroom and the hallways.
• Always ensure you have appropriate clothing and footwear on that will not aid in an accident occurring.
• If your dizziness is new or becomes worse, tell your nurse or doctor.
• If you feel dizzy whilst sitting, remain sitting or lie down.
• If you become dizzy whilst standing or walking, sit down as soon as possible.
• If you are moving around, take your time.
• It may help to move slowly from one position to another.
• Walk safely within your limitations.
• ALWAYS ask for help if you need it to walk safely.

Attadale Private Hospital Responsibilities and Safety Commitment

Management:

• Provide a safe working environment
• Provide and maintain safe plant and systems of work
• Provide information, instruction, training and supervision to enable employees to work safely

Employees:

• Care for their own and others safety
• Cooperate with the employer to comply with legal requirements
• Follow safe work procedures
• Report incidents and injuries immediately to the supervisor
• Compliant in the Injury Management and Return to Work Plan

Specific Occupational Health and Safety

To ensure the health and safety of patients, staff and visitors to Attadale Private Hospital we all need to work together. This includes ensuring bags and personal items are stored safely and don't inhibit access and egress to room facilities, heart tables are cleared for meal placement and electrical appliances brought to the hospital have no damage to cords or plugs.

Incident Reporting

Attadale Private Hospital recognises that the health and safety of all personnel is important in maintaining a safe environment – all incidents, clinical, safety and environmental, must be reported as soon as possible to a staff member. All reported incidents are investigated to ensure that the possibility of recurrence or further risk is minimised.

Manual Handling

Attadale Private Hospital aims to optimise patient quality care as part of its ongoing quality improvement process. The hospital has implemented a patient handling system that eliminates the lifting of a patient's full body weight when handling, transferring and mobilizing patients.

As part of the Hospital Patient Handling Policy, the staff will encourage you to be as independent as possible and request your assistance, as appropriate, with all mobility. This will not only improve your mobility but may also speed your recovery. If you need assistance to move on or off the bed, the staff may use equipment or aides that will facilitate your movement, making it more comfortable and safe for you, whilst reducing the risk of injury to staff assisting you during the transfer.

Violence and Aggression

Every person working in or utilising the Hospital including staff, patients and visitors has a right to personal safety. Threatening, abusive or physically violent behaviour will not be accepted from anyone under any circumstances.

Environmental Conservation

It would be of great assistance to us and the environment if lights and unnecessary equipment are turned off when not in use. Please be part of our WaterWise program and conserve water usage.

Emergency Evacuation

Your safety is important to us. Attadale Private Hospital has procedures in place to handle any foreseeable emergency. Hospital staff are trained to adhere to the Site Emergency Management Plan during emergencies.

Although extremely unlikely, in the event of an outbreak of fire or other emergency, we ask you to remain calm and follow the advice of staff at all times, they will direct and accompany you to a safe location if required.

Smoking Policy

Attadale Private Hospital is a smoke free site; this means that no person is permitted to smoke anywhere on the grounds or within a building or structure of the hospital.

Alcohol Policy

Unless special permission is given on medical grounds, no alcohol may be brought into the hospital.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Legislation states that PPE must be provided and worn by staff to reduce the risk of exposure hazardous tasks and or high risk work areas.

1. Eyeglasses, gloves, outer clothing etc is provided for staff – staff MUST be compliant with the hospital policies – disciplinary action may be taken against staff if there is continual non-compliance.
2. Dispose of sharps in the sharp containers or point of use receptacles
3. Wash hands after every procedure
4. Use standard precautions for all patient contacts

Site Safety Inspections

Site Safety Inspections are undertaken on all areas throughout the hospital. These inspections are conducted by trained representatives. These inspections include housekeeping and workplace inspections, as well as observing staff undertaking high-risk activities to ensure compliance with PPE, manual handling etc.