Manual tasks - assisting students with physical impairments procedure

Version number 4.1 | Version effective 15 January 2019

Audience

Department-wide

Purpose

This procedure provides responsibilities of departmental staff in identifying and managing risks related to manual tasks when assisting students with physical impairments and tools to document decision making at a workplace level.

Overview

This procedure interprets the Manual Tasks involving the Handling of People Code of Practice 2001 (People Handling Code of Practice) and addresses risks related to these manual tasks. This procedure does not address issues related to managing aggression or physical restraint.

A ‘minimum lift’ approach is to be adopted at all Department of Education (department) schools. This prohibits the manual handling of all or most of a student’s weight without assistance; for example mechanical aids, assistive devices. Alternative strategies are to be implemented if the student isn't able to support most of their own weight.

Responsibilities

Principals and Managers

Implement a risk management approach to develop and implement safe systems of work that eliminate or minimise the risk of injury to employees, students and other persons involved in manual tasks related to assisting students including:
- identification and management of risks is to be implemented for daily activities and foreseeable risks e.g. emergency planning
- provision of suitable and maintained facilities/equipment identified through the risk management process
- ensure matching hoist and sling combinations are purchased and used at the site.
Provide relevant induction, information, instruction and training for existing employees, new employees, relief staff and volunteers outlining health and safety risks, control strategies and safe work practices.
Ensure that appropriately trained staff are available in all contingencies.
Ensure safe work practices are followed by staff and others.

Supervisors (e.g. deputy principals, heads of special education services)

Support the implementation of a risk management approach.
Approve risk assessments that have a high level of risk as per the risk assessment template.
Seek specialist advice on the selection of equipment e.g. prescription of hoists and sling combinations.

All employees involved in manual tasks

Assist in identifying, assessing and managing risks associated with manual tasks related to assisting students through the completion of risk assessments.
Participate in induction and other relevant training.
Follow safe work practices for manual tasks including use of appropriate equipment.

Others

Participate in induction and other relevant training.
Follow safe work practices developed for manual tasks including use of appropriate equipment.

Physiotherapists and occupational therapists

Provide advice on the prescription of hoists and slings.
Complete thenon-matching hoist and sling checklist if this combination of equipment has been assessed as the only option to meet the needs of a specific student.

Process

Supervisors

Refer to flowchart –Flowchart – Manual tasks: Assisting students with physical impairments to identify relevant process.
Complete risk management process using relevant documents as applicable; Risk assessment template, Non-matching hoist and sling checklist.
Consult with staff, carers and other professionals when undertaking a risk management process.
Inform the student’s parents and/or carers of the school’s approach to manual tasks using template - Information for parents if required.
Maintain appropriate documentation including:

Individual plans for students including manual tasks elements; this may include initial and reassessment of student needs
Determination of control options e.g. risk assessments for complex transfers
Short and long term control plans e.g. budget plans for expensive items/facility modifications
Induction and training records
Maintenance records of equipment and furniture.

Principals/Managers

Approve risk assessments that have an extreme level of risk which includes manual tasks that involve the use of non-matching hoist and sling combinations.
Approve or delegate approval for risk assessments that have a high level of risk as per the risk assessment template.

Definitions

Term	Definition
Hazardous manual tasks	Many manual tasks related to assisting students are hazardous manual tasks. A hazardous manual task is a manual task involving any of the following: Repetitive or sustained force High or sudden force Repetitive movement Sustained or awkward posture Exposure to vibration.
Induction, information, instruction and training	Induction and/or refresher training includes: the principles of risk management for people handling tasks the workplace procedures for assisting students with physical impairments specific techniques for individual students including use of hoists and equipment what to do if a student’s status changes principles of safe handling safe use of all mechanical aids and assistive devices e.g. stair lifts, stair climbing devices or overhead hoists incident and hazard reporting systems.
Manual tasks related to assisting students	This procedure refers to any workplace activity where a student is physically moved, supported or assisted. Specifically, these manual tasks refer to workplace activities requiring the use of force by a person to hold, support, transfer (lift, lower, carry, push, pull, slide) or restrain another person. Students who may require this type of assistance range from a student who has a minor injury (e.g. a sprained ankle) to a student who has a severe physical impairment.
Principals and Managers	A person who has the authority for the management of a departmental workplace, e.g. school principals, and the responsibility for, and decision making authority at, a workplace for a range of issues, such as supervision of staff, budget expenditure, facilities management.
Others	A person other than an employee or contractor as defined as a worker under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld), including: an employee of a labour hire company who has been assigned to work in the person’s business or undertaking; or an outworker; or an apprentice or trainee; or a student gaining work experience; or a volunteer; or a visitor a parent/carer a pre-service teach a school student a person of a prescribed class.
Restrain and restraint	The Manual Tasks involving the Handling of People Code of Practice 2001 defines 'restraint' in the context of supporting or restricting movement 'needed as an adjunct to a people handling activity such as when transferring or assisting a [student]. It does not refer to handling aggression, where aggression is the major hazard'.

Legislation

Delegations/Authorisations

Other resources

Superseded versions

Previous seven years shown. Minor version updates not included.

2.0 HLS-PR-010: Manual handling of students

3.0 Manual tasks – Assisting students with physical impairments

4.0 Manual tasks – Assisting students with physical impairments

Review date

31 December 2012

Keywords

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