Your Industry
Your industry - Health and Community Services
The health and community sector encompasses public and private hospitals, nursing homes and other aged care facilities, home care services. Workers in the health and community sector can be exposed to a wide range of hazards which can have serious effects on their health and/or safety. This section provides more information for workers in this sector (scroll down).
There has been plenty of research which shows that unionised and organised workplaces have a better OHS record than un-unionised sites as these sites are far more likely to have well-trained and resourced elected OHS Reps, joint OHS Committees and support from the union. This applies not only to traditional 'blue collar' workplaces, but workplaces in industries like education too.
WorkSafe Victoria has webpages for Health and Aged Care Sector and Community Services where you can find information, advice, guidance material, such as material on Manual Handling, patient handling and the Home Care Industry OHS guide, and much more. The ASCC has produced a profile for health and community services nationally [pdf] detailing the number of workers, claims and fatalities.
FAQs
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Electrical Equipment - What are the laws/guidelines?
Employers must ensure the workplace (including the plant) is safe and without risks to health - what does this mean for electrical equipment (eg testing and tagging)? [read more] -
Rest/meal breaks - what am I entitled to?
There's nothing specific in OHS legislation. Read more.
[read more] -
Offices - what OHS legislation applies?
OHS legislation in Victoria is generic, and covers all workplaces - including offices. [read more] -
Office Hazards: Computers and VDUs - what are the guidelines?
Working with computers can cause workers a number of problems. Read more.
[read more] -
Offices - computers and eyesight
Does working on computers affect your eyes?
[read more] -
Office space
What are the minimum space requirements for offices? [read more] -
Offices: Temperature and humidity – what are the “rules”?
The VTHC OHS Unit often receives questions like "What does the legislation say about temperature in offices?" [read more] -
Breaks for computer/VDU users?
There is no requirement under Victorian OHS legislation to provide specific breaks to computer/VDU users. However ... [read more] -
Other FAQs
Workplace amenities, fire escapes and more..
[read more]
Hazard
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General information on Infectious Diseases
General information covering a wide variety of infectious diseases in the workplace. [read more] -
Lasers
Lasers were developed out of post World War 2 technology. Some types of laser equipment are now used in industry. [read more] -
Latex
Latex in rubber is an irritant which can lead to skin problems and allergies in workers. Many unions, both in Australia and overseas, have campaigned to eliminate the use of latex rubber gloves. [read more] -
Legionnaires disease
What is 'legionnaires' or 'legionella'? What reps and workers you should know about it. [read more] -
Needlestick Injuries
Many workers face the daily risk of injury from needlestick injuries - read more.
[read more] -
Staphylococcus - the 'superbug'
Staphylococcus is potentially a huge issue - and hazard - for healthcare workers. Read more.
[read more] -
Office hazards: Photocopiers, printers etc
Advice for OHS Reps and an Action Plan to contol the risks of office hazards. [read more] -
Sprains and strains
Sprains and strains are the most common injuries suffered by workers across all workplaces, and in all industries. [read more]
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Health & Community Services - useful websites/materials
There is a lot of useful material on the internet for this industry. More will be added so check it out. [read more]