Common hazards and risks in disability services:
- lifting, supporting and transferring clients
- using equipment like wheelchairs and lifting hoists
- work-related stress
- occupational violence
- slips, trips and falls
- bullying and harassment
Lifting, supporting and moving
In disability services, injuries can often come from lifting and moving people or heavy objects, or a lot of bending, twisting or reaching. Examples of this kind of work include helping a client shower and repetitive tasks like laundry work. Tasks like these may involve hazardous manual handling, which can lead to musculoskeletal disorders like sprains and strains to the back and shoulders. See ‘hazardous manual handling’ for detailed information.