Safe Work Australia has published a new model Code of Practice: Healthcare and social assistance industry.
Health care and social assistance workers have the highest number of work-related injuries of any industry in Australia, and a workers’ compensation claim rate of more than twice that of the national average. Despite this, until now there has been a lack of consolidated guidance tailored to this industry on how to manage WHS risks.
The industry is Australia’s largest, employing more than 2 million workers. It is also one of the fastest growing, driven by Australia’s ageing population and a strong demand for disability care support.
Musculoskeletal conditions, body stressing and mental stress all account for large shares of workers’ compensation claims by healthcare and social assistance workers. The model Code of Practice focuses on hospitals, aged care and disability support, and includes in home based settings.
This industry-focused code is a new approach from Safe Work Australia. It covers risk management across a range of hazards commonly experienced in healthcare and social assistance workplaces and was developed in close consultation with industry and union representatives and Safe Work Australia Members.
Next year, Safe Work Australia will release the code into interactive web content, including additional case studies.
Read the model Code of Practice in full on our website today.