Policy 8.16 : Maintaining a Safe Living Environment

Community Enterprise Inc. is a non-profit organisation established for the purpose of supporting people with disabilities and their families living in the Shire of Hidden Valley.

The services offered by Community Enterprise include group home accommodation, in-home respite, out-of-home respite, home help and community access.

Community Enterprise is a non-profit, community organisation which is governed by a management committee elected annually by the members. Community Enterprise receives all of its operating funds from the Western Australian Government in the form of an annual grant.

The purpose of this policy is to set out specific procedures and performance standards to maximise the health and safety of the agency's clients.

This policy provides for the:

• Identification of potential risks and hazards to which clients may be exposed in homes that are owned or leased by the agency.
• Implementation of appropriate procedures and measures to minimise accidents, injuries or illness.
• Development and delivery of specific training programs to educate employees regarding proper health and safety practices.
• The policy has been framed around Standard 8 of the Disability Services Standards (1993).
• This policy applies to all facilities, including those that are owned and leased by the agency or by a carer who is providing support to clients in their own home and to all vehicles, including those that are owned and leased by the agency or a carer or volunteer who is transporting clients in their own vehicle.

The following procedures are to be implemented to ensure that all clients residing in its facilities are adequately protected so as to minimise the risk of illness, accident or injury whilst residing in agency facilities.

The agency will:

1. Provide all agency employees with appropriate information about, and training in, relevant health and safety standards and practices.
2. Take all reasonable steps to assess the safety and security of the houses where clients of the agency reside.
3. Ensure that houses in which clients reside are appropriately modified to minimise discomfort or risk of injury to clients.
4. Ensure that houses in which clients reside are appropriately furnished and equipped to minimise discomfort or risk of injury to clients.
5. Install fire and smoke detection devices in houses that are owned or leased by the agency.
6. Implement appropriate evacuation procedures and ensure that they are understood by staff and clients.
7. Ensure that the preparation, handling and storage of food is in line with current health standards.
8. Ensure that medications and other dangerous substances are appropriately stored, and locked if necessary.
9. Provide clients with a safe and reliable means of transportation between the home and other locations.

The following performance standards must be met to ensure that the procedures specified in Section 4 are implemented effectively:

1. All employees have been provided with a copy of the agency's Policy on Maintaining a Safe Living Environment and a staff copy of the policy is kept in each service outlet.
2. Houses in which clients reside have been inspected prior to occupation and assessed as being safe.
3. Houses in which clients reside have been fitted with appropriate external security to guard against theft or home invasion.
4. Houses in which clients reside have been appropriately modified to minimise discomfort or risk of injury to clients.
5. Houses in which clients reside have been appropriately furnished and equipped to minimise discomfort or risk of injury to clients.
6. Houses in which clients reside have been fitted with approved smoke detection devices and supplied with a fire extinguisher and first aid kit.
7. Agency employees have carried out the approved evacuation drills at least every three months and recorded the date and time of the drill along with clients' responses and employees' observations.
8. Foodstuffs, medications and dangerous substances are handled and stored in accordance with the prevailing health standards.
9. Where clients are transported in agency, employee, or volunteer vehicles, the vehicle has been maintained according to the manufacturer's specifications and has been fitted with a first aid kit and occupant restraints that are appropriate to the person's disability.
10. All employees and volunteers have been made aware of the contents of the Policy on Occupational Health and Safety.