
‘Disability Safe’ Your Safety Checklist
Do you have an OHS Management System in place?
Do you have an OHS Communication & Consultation Statement?
Do you have an OHS Risk Management Statement?
Do you have a Return to Work Policy & Program?
The above questions are the fundamental tools that any organisation needs to have in place to have an efficient safety system. The tools below will help you fill in the gaps. Any more questions on any of the above, please contact Susan Smith Disability Safe Project Manager on (02) 9256 3121.
Disability Safe is a project supported by NSW DADHC to inform the establishment of a consistent approach to reasonably practicable risk management in the disability service environment. To do this, resources are required to assist the sector deal with significant OHS risks confronting the sector but which were beyond the scope of the Disability Services Occupational Health and Safety Project (DSOP) summarised below.
Contact Susan Smith Disability Safe Project Manager on (02) 9256 3121 regarding Disability Safe.
3. OHS BENCHMARKING
News - 15 April 2009: NDS is launching an OHS benchmarking exercise, in order to gather concrete evidence about the number of injuries which are occurring and their causes. Workers Compensation statistics produced by State and Federal Authorities provide statistical breakdowns of injuries which occur in the Health and Community Services sector but there is only anecdotal evidence available regarding the type and cause of injuries occurring in the Disability Sector.
Benchmarking will assist Disability Service Providers to measure their OHS performance against that of similar organisations, and review the success of their OHS Management Systems. The record form and associated information is now available for download below. All information will be kept confidential. Participating organisations will complete quarterly returns, starting with the first quarter returns to the Disability Safe Project Manager, susan.smith@nds.org.au by May 15.
To participate, please download:
Disability Sector OHS Benchmarking Exercise Definitions (Word)
Benchmarking Support Information (Word)
Benchmarking Record Form (xls)
4. INFORMATION, TOOLS & RESOURCES
As part of the Disability Safe Project, we are providing you a one-stop shop of information, tools and resources on Safety in the Disability Sector. This information below provides links and documents that you are free to use. Click on highlighted menu items to go directly to information.
This table of resources was updated on 08 May 2009. This is an evolving table of documents. Please be aware that more information, tools and resources will be added at any time. Information is correct at the time of publication. Tools and information are advisory only and should be adapted to meet individual needs of the organisation.
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1. General OHS Information
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1.1 General Information
1.2 Risk Management
1.3 Workplace Violence
1.4 Plant Safety
1.5 Manual Handling
1.6 Electrical Safety
1.7 Working at Heights
1.8 Hazardous Materials
1.9 Working Environment
1.10 Procurement of Goods, Works & Services
1.11 Hazardous Substances & Dangerous Goods
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2. Workers Compensation & Injury Management Information
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2.1 General Information
2.2 Workers Compensation
2.3 Injury Management
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4. Training Material
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1. General OHS Information
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1.1 General Information
What is Reasonably Practicable? (pdf 66 kb)
Hazard Identification Report (pdf 140kb)
Thinking Safety Together We’re OK (pdf 43kb)
Risk Management Flow Process (pdf 142kb)
Poster Prevent Injury_PPE A3 (pdf 95kb)
Poster Prevent Injury_Safe Lifting A3 (pdf 110kb)
Sample Board OHS Report
Sample OHS Policy
Sample Critical Incident Planning
Emergency Procedures Standards
OHS Management Systems Factsheet
Sample Consultation Statement
OHS Consultation
Food Safety Guide
First Aid Management Guide
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1.2 Risk Management
WorkCover NSW Hazpak Risk Management Guide
Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) Sample
Completed Sample SWMS Changing Bed Linen
Fatigue Fact Sheet
Sample Drug and Alcohol Policy
Sample Grounds Maintenance Handbook
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1.3 Workplace Violence
Workplace Violence SAFER (pdf 140kb)
Workplace Violence Information Guide, November 2007 (pdf 158kb)
Aggression Incident Report
Violence Audit
Workplace Harassment and Bullying Sample Policy
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1.4 Plant Safety
Management Safety of Plant Information Guide Version 1.0 (pdf 120kb)
Sample Building and Equipment Register
Sample Preventative Maintenance Schedule
Sample Asbestos Register
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1.5 Manual Handling
Manual Handling part of your OHSMS (pdf 59kb)
Checklist for Manual Handling of People
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1.6 Electrical Safety
Electrical Safety Guidelines
Electrical Equipment Risk Assessment and Inspection Record
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1.7 Working at Heights
Ladder Safety
Safe Working at Heights Policy
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1.8 Hazardous Materials
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1.9 Working Environment
Individual Risk Assessment Form
Home Risk Assessment Form
Pre-Use Venue Assessment Form
Workplace Inspection Checklist - External
Workplace Inspection Checklist - Internal
• Working in Isolation
• Noise Management
National Code of Practice for Noise Management & Protection of Hearing at Work, 3rd Edition 2004 (pdf 480kb)
NSW Code of Practice Noise Management 2004 (pdf 224kb)
Victoria WorkSafe Guide Noise Management, 2005 (pdf 3mb)
• Hazardous Locations
Bus checklist
Hazard Report Form
Incident Report Form
Induction Checklist
• Slips, Trips & Falls
Disability Safe Slips, Trips & Falls Management Guide
WorkCover NSW Preventing Slips, Trips & Falls Guide
WorkCover NSW Preventing Slips, Trips & Falls Information Fact Sheet for Workers
• External Locations
Initial Home OHS Assessment
Working at External Locations Fact Sheet
Working at External Locations Case Studies
Working at External Locations Risk Assessment Checklist
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1.10 Procurement of Goods, Works & Services
Contractor Management Guidelines
Sample Contractor Handbook
Pre and Post Purchasing Checklist
Subcontractors Statement
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1.11 Hazardous Substances & Dangerous Goods
Hazardous Substances Register
Chemical Storage Register
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2. Workers Compensation & Injury Management Information
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2.1 General Information
WorkCover NSW Watching out for You Poster (pdf 416kb)
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2.2 Workers Compensation
Workers Compensation in NSW (weblink)
Disability Safe Workers Compensation Guidelines
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2.3 Injury Management
Injury Management Flowchart Information Guide (pdf 152kb)
Injury Management Information Guide Ver 1.0 (pdf 86kb)
WorkCover NSW: Return to Work Programs Guide 2003
WorkCover NSW: Medical Certificate Form
WorkCover NSW: Medical Certificate Notes on how to complete
WorkCover NSW: Statement of Witness to Accident Form
WorkCover NSW: The New Simple Way to Notify Work-Related Incidents.
WorkCover NSW: Subcontractor Statement
Workers Compensation Commission website
Disability Safe: Guidelines for Confidentiality of Injury Management Information
Disability Safe: Return To Work Program
Disability Safe: Sample Return To Work Plan
Disability Safe: Sample Doctor’s Letter
Disability Safe: Sample Functional Assessment Form
Disability Safe: Information Consent Form template
Disability Safe: Pre & Post OHS Purchasing Checklist
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3. Research Information on Safety and Impact on the Disability Sector
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Best Practice Guidelines for Manual Handing Risk Management in the Disability Sector NSW Dept of Ageing, Disability and Home Care, June 2006 (pdf 357kb)
Out of Harms Way, Exploring the Intersection of OHS Legislation and Disability 2004, Larissa Burns, University of Western Sydney (pdf 121kb)
NSW OHS Act 2000 v’s Disability Services Act 1993 NSW Council of Social Services, 2005 (pdf 42kb)
Manual Handling Resource 2004 NSW WorkCover Authority (pdf 1.1mb)
Victorian Homecare OHS Guidelines, Oct 2005 (pdf 1.70mb)
OHS & Disability Discrimination Law Reflection, University of Western Sydney, no date (pdf 166kb)
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4. Training Material
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April 2009 - Flu Prevention
Toolbox Talks: Cold and Flu Prevention Presentation (PPT)
Disability Safe Poster: Cold and Flu Prevention
Disability Safe Poster: Washing Hands
May 2009 - Prevention of Slips, Trips and Falls
Toolbox Talks: Slips / Trips / Falls Prevention (PPT)
Slips / Trips / Falls Prevention Sample Risk Assessment
Checklist for the Prevention of Slips, Trips and Falls on the Same Level
Disability Safe Poster Slips / Trips / Falls
June 2009 - Fire Safety
Toolbox Talks: Fire Safety Presentation (PPT)
Disability Safe Poster: Fire Safety
July 2009 - Infection Control
Toolbox Talks: Infectious Diseases (PPT)
Disability Safe Poster: Infection Control
Disability Safe Poster: Infection Control Donning and Doffing PPE
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5. PROJECT UPDATES & NEWS
05 June 2009_Disability Safe Training Material available June is Fire Safety Month
04 May 2009_Disability Safe Manual Handling Forum Rescheduled to 4 June 2009
16 April 2009_Disability Safe Forum: Manual Handling - 7 May 2009
** Urgent Advice - Forum to be Rescheduled
15 April 2009_OHS Benchmarking and Regional Networks
11 March 2009_Return to Work (RTW) Coordinator Training Places Still Available
13 February 2009_Disability Safe: OHS Return to Work (RTW) Coordinator Training
18 November 2008_Disability Safe Return to Work Training - December 2008
08 July 2008 - Return to Work Coordinator Training Poll
17 June 2008 - Changes to Workers Compensation Premiums NSW (Info-e)
06 June 2008 - Workers Compensation Discussion Paper - NDS Submission (News Update)
05 June 2008 - New Resource: Pandemic Influenza Workbook from FaHCSIA (Info-e)
21 May 2008 - WorkCover Training Grants / National Manufacturing Week
16 April 2008 - Project News
19 December 2007 - Project Update - Training
18 December 2007 - Workers Compensation & Injury Management Poll
12 December 2007 - Project Update 02
13 November 2007 - Project Update 01
6. EVENTS
Boardsafe Training
30 July - Orange
5 August - Lismore
27 August - Wagga Wagga
OHS Regional Network Meetings
To be held after NDS Regional Meetings. View the Regional News Update for more information.
15 July - Hunter
16 July - Mid North Coast
17 July - Far North Coast
22 July - Central and Upper West
23 July - Metropolitan South
24 July - Southern
29 July - Lower West
30 July - Metropolitan North
31 July - New England/North West
Those interested in attending should contact Sue Smith on 02 9256 3121 or susan.smith@nds.org.au.
7. Disability Services OHS Project (DSOP) 2005 - 2006
The Disability Services Occupational Health and Safety Project (DSOP) began as a 12-month project being led by a Working Group made up of representatives of NDS NSW (formerly ACROD), WorkCover NSW and the Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care (DADHC). DSOP was jointly funded by NDS NSW and WorkCover NSW, and was established in response to industry concerns about tensions between disability services legislation and occupational health and safety legislation. Download DSOP Terms of Reference
DSOP was officially launched in August 2005 with a seminar, Occupational Health and Safety Challenges in the Disability Services Sector, which included concurrent workshops in the areas of accommodation support, community access, community support, employment and respite. The workshops were focused on issues relating to meeting the requirements of both disability services and occupational health and safety legislation. The issues identified during the workshops have provided a basis for further investigation by the DSOP working group. The DSOP Working Group has held 3 forums, and engaged consultants to undertake work with the sector on disability services specific resources in the areas of manual handling, violence and working at external locations.

ENTER DSOP WEBSITE HERE
DOWNLOAD THE DSOP REPORT
Disability Services Occupational Health and Safety Project Report, launched Friday 17 November 2006 by The Hon John Della Bosca, NSW Minister for Disability Services and Commerce. View the Minister's letter to the project group.