Workplace Safety at Aegis Aged Care, Perth

This report examines the work health and safety risk assessment of Aegis Aged Care centre located in Melbourne. It highlights the common hazards in aged care facilities, risks associated with it, and measures to prevent these hazards by Aegis Age Care.

Running head: WORKPLACE HAZARDS 1
Workplace Safety at Aegis Aged Care, Perth
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WORKPLACE HAZARDS 2
Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Aegis Aged Care Melbourne...........................................................................................................3
Work Health and Safety Risk Assessment......................................................................................5
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................9
References......................................................................................................................................10

WORKPLACE HAZARDS 3
Introduction
Human resources are the most crucial feature and assets of any given business. The
success of any business depends on the effective utilization of human resources and safeguarding
them within the workplace environment as it is directly related to organizational productivity
(Armstrong & Taylor, 2014). There are various policies and risk management procedures
implemented by businesses within their workplace to prevent any hazard and keep the employees
safe. Workplace safety is determined by identifying the potential hazards that could possibly
harm, injure or damage property and human lives. This allows organizations to implement
prevention measures that would minimise the risks associated with these hazards (Salvendy,
2012). A proper risk assessment allows organizations to evaluate health and safety at workplace
as it becomes necessary to be keep the employees safe and reduce the possible factors that could
harm anybody. Safe Work Australia helps in developing national policies that aim at improving
work health and safety and providing compensation arrangements to workers across Australia
(Australia, 2011). It is the responsibility of any organization to follow the WHS requirements
that are listed in the WorkSafe Act of Australia (Australian Government, 2018). The Act
provides a general overview of responsibilities of employees and businesses across Australia to
maintain workplace safety and health. The regulations under the Act lists out the standards that
are needed to be met to avoid hazards and risks at workplace. Regulating agencies are appointed
to inspect workplaces and provide help to business to make them understand about the health and
safety laws.
In aged care centres, there can be many hazardous incidents leading to compromising the
workplace safety. Although many standards and rules are set to maintain workplace safety and
health, there can be claims for injuries to workers. This report will examine the work health and
safety risk assessment of Aegis Aged Care centre located in Melbourne (Aegis Care Online,
2018a). The report will highlight the common hazards in aged care facilities, risks associated
with it, and measures to prevent these hazards by Aegis Age Care.
Aegis Aged Care Melbourne
Aegis Ellenvale is located in the town of Busselton in Western Australia proving
improved care, better quality of life and living environment to the residents of the town and the

WORKPLACE HAZARDS 4
people living within the workplace. This aged care aims at selecting their employees basing upon
their skills and qualifications. The respect, dedication and loyalty received from the employees
contributes to better serving the people of the town and provide a safe working environment
(Aegis Care Online, 2018b). Although, there are various measures taken to prevent in hazard that
can possibly harm the health and safety of employees as well as people living within the
workplace premises. There can possible occupational hazards at an aged acre centre for
employees related to lifting and moving patients from one place to another. The risks can be
involved with handling equipment such as wheelchairs, trolleys, beds and mattresses. There is
also a risk behind occupational violence between the employees as each might have a different
mind-set and ideology on things. Work-related stress is also an important factor compromising
workplace health and safety. There can be cases of harassment and bullying within the
workplace environment which requires immediate attention (Work Safe, 2018).
Aegis Ellenvale lists out certain responsibilities and duties which it follows in interest of
maintaining workplace health and safety of its employees. Aegis provides specialists who give
advice to the management and its employees with regards to regulatory frameworks. Specialists
also ensure that employees follow the policies laid under the Workplace Health and Safety
(WHS) and lists out the procedures complying with the regulatory framework. It is ensured that
proper measures are taken, monitored and reviewed as per the WHS policy and later develop
required strategies and formulate plan of action (Terry, Lê, Nguyen & Hoang, 2015). Aegis tries
to identify the possible hazards and investigate the incidents and accordingly report them as soon
as possible. The trends in the hazardous events are also monitored and reviewed to later mitigate
with the risks arising out of them. Aegis provides consultative mechanisms in the workplace in
order to encourage safe working practices at workplace and manage a system of risk control. The
policies are needed to be adhered by the employees of Aegis and follow the industry trends and
changes that might impact working of Aegis.
Aegis also ensures that employees feel and safe within the workplace premises and
develop positive relationship with co-workers and people coming to facility to receive services.
The employees need to have knowledge on injury management practices and claim for
compensation of any occupational hazard in workplace. Aegis deals with the best practices for its
injured workers and providing them practical assistance to mitigate such risks in advance. Aegis

WORKPLACE HAZARDS 5
follows the risk assessment process to analyse the risks and hazards in their workplace and
manage risk management control (Aegis, 2018).
Work Health and Safety Risk Assessment
Workplace health and safety refers to ensuring health and safety measures for employee,
employers, visitors and volunteers working within the premises of the workplace. It is often
referred as Occupational Health Safety which means hazards caused during working in the
workplace (Robson, et. al., 2012). Assessment of risks helps in creating a safe working
environment for the employees. It is the legal responsibility of any business owner to implement
safe practices in their workplace.
Workplace health and safety risk assessment table
TASK
AGED CARE
CENTERS
HAZARDS ASSOCISTED
RISKS
EXISTING
RISK
CONTROL
CURRENT
RISK
RATING
ADDITIONA
L CONTROL
REQUIRED
RESIDUAL
RISK
RATING
Support to
patients
Hazards from
lifting and
moving
patients.
Manually
lifting patients
can cause risk
to employees.
Manually
handling
hazardous
materials in
workplace.
The risks
associated
with the
providing
support to
patients by
manually
lifting them
can cause
strain in
shoulders and
back. The
same applies
in case of
The existing
risk control
measures are
educating the
employees on
risk
management.
Medium The employees
should be
given an
opportunity of
consulting
their health
issues to
senior
authorities.
They should
be aware of
the safety
measures
while lifting
4

WORKPLACE HAZARDS 6
TASK
AGED CARE
CENTERS
HAZARDS ASSOCISTED
RISKS
EXISTING
RISK
CONTROL
CURRENT
RISK
RATING
ADDITIONA
L CONTROL
REQUIRED
RESIDUAL
RISK
RATING
manual
handling of
furniture and
heavy objects.
heavy objects.
Occupational
violence
Occupational
hazards can
cause serious
injuries to
body parts and
lead to
damaging any
vital part of
the body.
The risks
associated
with
occupational
violence at
workplace is
physical
injury, can
lead to
dislocation of
bones and
rupture any
vital body part.
At Aegis aged
center,
employees are
trained to
follow the
regulations
laid under the
Workplace
Health and
Safety Act.
This helps
educating
employees to
behave in a
civilized way
inside the
workplace
premises.
High As an
additional
requirement,
employees
should be
recruited
accordingly.
3
Work-related
stress
Work-related
stress can
affect the
efficiency of
employees as
Stress can
cause tension
in the minds of
the employees.
This can also
The
management
of Aegis is
concerned
about its
Medium The
management
should
implement
measures to
4

WORKPLACE HAZARDS 7
TASK
AGED CARE
CENTERS
HAZARDS ASSOCISTED
RISKS
EXISTING
RISK
CONTROL
CURRENT
RISK
RATING
ADDITIONA
L CONTROL
REQUIRED
RESIDUAL
RISK
RATING
they are in
charge of
taking acre of
the patients.
This may lead
to errors in
work.
result in health
issues of
employees.
employees and
helps them to
reduce their
stress by
giving regular
leaves and
breaks.
reduce the
stress of the
employees.
This can also
be done by
providing
recreational
programs and
scheduled
breaks for
employees in
between their
work.
Bullying and
harassment.
Bullying and
harassment is
a serious
hazard for
employees and
the patients in
the aged care
center.
Harassment
can cause
mental and
physical
damage and
hamper the
safety of
The associated
risks are
mental and
physical harm,
loss of
property,
endangering
the lives of co-
workers and
patients.
The employees
should be
monitored on
the basis of
their conduct
and behavior
with co-
workers and
patients. A risk
free and
healthy
environment is
built. Issues
related to any
notable
Low The employers
should hire
people whose
conduct in
their past
records.
4

WORKPLACE HAZARDS 8
TASK
AGED CARE
CENTERS
HAZARDS ASSOCISTED
RISKS
EXISTING
RISK
CONTROL
CURRENT
RISK
RATING
ADDITIONA
L CONTROL
REQUIRED
RESIDUAL
RISK
RATING
employees. incident is
reported.

WORKPLACE HAZARDS 9
Conclusion
In the current scenario, each workplace is distinct and different from the other. The
quality of a workplace is assessed by way it treats its employees. It success depends on the
creation of a healthy and safe working environment for employees as well as a warm setting for
the people coming to avail the services. It is the responsibility of the employer to ensure the
safety of its employees by implementing policies to ensure the same. On the other hand, it
becomes a responsibility of employees to follow these policies to be safe and healthy while
operating in the workplace. The strategies implemented should align with the objectives of the
organization and benefit the interests of the employees too. Addressing the possible hazards that
cause physical and mental damage to the employees should be assessed first and focus on
implementing required measures to avoid the risks associated with the hazards. Protecting the
interests and ensuring safety of people should be the prime focus of every organization which
will add value to the workplace, lives of the people, and in the businesses.

WORKPLACE HAZARDS 10
References
Aegis Care Online. (2018a). Aegis Aged Care. Retrieved from
https://www.agedcareonline.com.au/residential-aged-care/facilities/aegis-aged-care
Aegis Care Online. (2018b). Aegis Ellenvale. Retrieved from
https://www.agedcareonline.com.au/residential-aged-care/facilities/aegis-ellenvale
Aegis. (2018). Workplace Health and Safety Officer. Retrieved from
https://aegisagedcare.applynow.net.au/jobs/Aegis1-workplace-health-and-safety-officer
Armstrong, M., & Taylor, S. (2014). Armstrong's handbook of human resource management
practice. London: Kogan Page Publishers.
Australia, S. W. (2011). Compendium of workers' compensation statistics Australia 2008-
09. Canberra: Safe Work Australia, 24.
Australian Government. (2018). Health & Safety. Retrieved from
https://www.business.gov.au/Risk-management/Health-and-safety
Robson, L. S., Stephenson, C. M., Schulte, P. A., Amick III, B. C., Irvin, E. L., Eggerth, D. E., ...
& Peters, R. H. (2012). A systematic review of the effectiveness of occupational health
and safety training. Scandinavian journal of work, environment & health, 193-208.
Salvendy, G. (2012). Handbook of human factors and ergonomics. New Jersey: John Wiley &
Sons.
Terry, D., Lê, Q., Nguyen, U., & Hoang, H. (2015). Workplace health and safety issues among
community nurses: a study regarding the impact on providing care to rural
consumers. BMJ open, 5(8), e008306.
Work Safe. (2018). Aged care: Safety basics. Retrieved from
https://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/aged-care-safety-basics#