Keeping Carers Healthy & Safe

Common Health and Safety Risks for Carers:

• Manual Handling: Carers frequently assist with moving patients and equipment, which can put strain on their bodies. From helping individuals move safely to carrying heavy items, manual handling is a leading cause of injury.
• Slips and Trips: Wet or slippery floors, obstructive medical equipment, and trailing wires are just some of the hazards that make slips and trips common for carers.
• Violence and Aggression: Unfortunately, carers can sometimes face aggression from patients, their relatives, or friends, placing them at risk of physical harm.
• Equipment Usage: Carers often use specialised equipment such as hoists and electric beds. If this equipment is not properly installed or maintained, it can lead to serious injuries.
• Transit: Domiciliary carers are travelling between numerous client sites throughout every day and week. Many hours are spent on the road, often in the dark, driving while fatigued, or in poor weather conditions. This leads to a great risk of RTA’s.

How Can We Keep Carers Safe?

• Training: Carers need ongoing training to manage the risks they face in their daily tasks. This includes mental health awareness training, safe manual handling techniques and how to de-escalate aggressive situations.
• Equipment Maintenance: Any equipment carers use should be serviced and maintained regularly according to the manufacturer’s guidelines to ensure it remains in safe working order.
• Risk Assessment: With the proper training, carers should be able to assess their working environment for potential risks, such as wet floors, obstacles, or malfunctioning equipment.
• Lone Worker Alarms: Many carers work alone, which means they may struggle to get help in the event of an accident or when facing a violent situation. Carrying an SOS alarm ensures they can quickly access help, no matter where they are.

By taking these steps, we can help protect carers, ensuring their safety and promoting a more secure work environment for those who care for others.

Recent Cases of Non-Compliance

• Manchester Care Provider – In 2021, a Manchester-based care agency was fined €150,000 after a lone worker suffered serious injuries during a home visit. The case exposed a lack of risk assessments and poor safety measures for employees working alone.
• Yorkshire Domiciliary Care – Another care agency in Yorkshire was hit with an €80,000 fine when a lone worker was assaulted while on duty, revealing serious gaps in lone-worker safety protocols.
• Midlands Health Emergency – A Midlands care provider faced a €50,000 penalty after a lone worker suffered a medical emergency without any support on hand, underscoring the urgent need for proper emergency response plans for lone workers.
• Edinburgh Community Care – An Edinburgh-based care provider came under fire after an HSE investigation found insufficient risk assessment for female lone workers visiting patients’ homes alone, putting employees at greater risk.