The health and safety of members at work is an important issue for the ANF. Hazards vary depending on the kind of workplace and time. Some, like manual handling injuries are evident in all settings. Other issues that we are dealing with at present include: Asbestos in health care facilities. Violence and patient/client aggression or resistive behaviour Workplace Bullying. Work hazard reporting If you believe that you or your colleagues are placed at risk at work you can: Report the issue to your supervisor; and/or Report the issue to your OHS representative; and/or Speak with your ANF Worksite Representative/Organiser. OHS rep’s have specific powers under the legislation and can make sure that the issue is raised with management either directly or through the OHS Committee at your workplace.   No lift, No injury Manual handling remains the single biggest threat to nurses health and safety. To address this problem the ANF has adopted a ‘Safer Manual Handling’ Policy. The policy seeks to eliminate manual handling of people in all but exceptional or life threatening situations. Manual assistance may only continue if it does not involve lifting most, or all, of a client’s weight. To implement the policy we have developed ‘No lift, No injury’ which is a training program to enable the implementation of the policy in the workplace. Why implement No lift, No injury? Elimination of manual handling has been successfully implemented in a wide range of health care services both in Australia and overseas. For nurses this has led to a significant reduction in the number and severity of back and other related injuries. Employers have seen other benefits such as significantly reduced numbers of compensation claims and reduced costs. Some examples include: Canberra Hospital which implemented a ‘no lift’ policy in 1995/6 had achieved a reduction in lost time from 250 weeks/year to 30 weeks/year by 1997/8. Cost of injuries had reduced from $25,000 to $5,000. James Martin Nursing Home which implemented a No lifting policy in 1996. Both staff and residents have experienced positive outcomes with nurses less fatigued by work and residents maintaining independence and strength for longer periods and suffering fewer falls. Mt Olivet Hospital implemented no lifting in 1996. After only 18 months they found workers compensation for patient handling claims fell by 95%. The average cost of these claims fell by 84% and number of claims fell by 70%. Days lost were reduced by 81%. Researchers also identified improved quality of care, reduced patient injuries and improved productivity. Workcover grant to implement No lift, No injury aged care. Workcover Corporation is currently funding an Australian Nursing Federation project to implement No lift, No injury in the residential aged care sector in South Australia. We are offering free training for up to two workplace coordinators in aged care facilities in the non government sector to provide them with the skills and support to implement No lift, No injury in their workplaces. A large number of aged care facilities have agreed to participate in the project. Click here to view participants. If you wish to implement No lift, No injury and your workplace is not listed please discuss the issue with your organiser. No lift, No injury Training The training program is for three days (or less with Recognition of Prior Learning) and covers three main areas: No lift, No injury theory and practical. Training small groups in No lift, No injury. Assessing in No lift, No injury. The Australian Nursing Federation has developed the program based on nationally accredited units at Certificate 4 level and is currently seeking accreditation as a Registered Training Organisation so that we can provide a formal qualification for students. The staff at workplaces trained and assessed through the program will also receive a formal qualification on completion. Training for workplaces not part of the Workcover funded project is offered on a fee for service basis. Costs per participant are $398 for the three days course, assessment and course materials. Enrol now! No lift, No injury Coordinator network We have established a No lift, No injury Coordinators network to allow graduates of the training program to meet, share ideas and solutions and provide support to each other. The group meets monthly at the ANF offices and you can join in by tele-conference. If you want to implement No Lift, No Injury at your worksite email your expression of interest including worksite name, contact person and phone number. Where else can I get useful information about No lift, No injury or OHS training? Links Workcover Corporation Aged Care site www.workcover.com/safer/aged_links.asp Workcover www.workcover.com Industrial Training Services SA www.itssa.com.au Email If you are interested in becoming an OH&S Rep and need some information or want to register an expression of interest.