COURSE OVERVIEW:

Welcome to the Manage Significant Safety Threats in Disability Support course. This comprehensive program is designed to deepen your ability to recognise, assess, and respond to serious safety risks affecting both participants and workers across a wide range of disability support settings.

This course begins by introducing the nature and categories of significant safety threats in disability support, clarifying legal and ethical responsibilities, defining roles and accountabilities in identifying and responding to threats, and mapping the risk assessment, escalation, and reporting pathways that underpin safe, defensible and participant-centred practice.

Significant safety threats to participants often arise from slips, trips and falls in everyday environments where people live, sleep and receive support. This section examines how wet and slippery floors in bathrooms, kitchens and laundries, spills from drinks, food, cleaning products and continence accidents, and loose rugs, mats, power cords and oxygen tubing on walking paths create serious fall risks. It also explores how uneven surfaces, broken paving, steps without rails, steep or narrow ramps, poor lighting in hallways, bedrooms, bathrooms and external paths at night, and inappropriate or worn footwear combine to increase the likelihood of injury, hospitalisation and loss of confidence for people with disability.

Mobility, transfers and positioning are central to daily living yet can become a major source of serious harm when not managed correctly. This section explores how falls occur when people are getting in or out of beds, chairs, wheelchairs, toilets and shower chairs, or during transfers where incorrect techniques are used or no equipment is provided. It considers the instability caused by poorly fitted or unsuitable mobility aids and walking devices, the development of pressure injuries from prolonged sitting or lying on unsuitable cushions or mattresses, and joint pain and deformity linked to incorrect seating, poor posture and lack of support, as well as the injuries and distress that result from rough, rushed or poorly planned manual handling.

The home and built environment can either support or undermine safety for people with disability, depending on how spaces are organised and maintained. This section looks at cluttered spaces and stored items that block safe movement and access, unsecured furniture such as bookcases and TV units that can tip when grabbed for balance, and doors, gates and windows that slam or pinch fingers and hands. It further addresses poorly installed or missing handrails, grab rails and non-slip surfaces, electrical hazards from damaged cords, overloaded power boards and faulty appliances, and extreme indoor heat or cold arising from inadequate heating, cooling or insulation that can seriously compromise health and wellbeing.

Clinical equipment and assistive technology are essential for independence but can introduce new safety threats if not selected, positioned, used and maintained correctly. This section investigates entrapment and crush injuries from adjustable beds, bedrails, recliners and lift chairs, as well as falls and skin injuries arising from incorrect use of hoists, slings, transfer boards and ramps. It also considers the instability or collapse of poorly maintained wheelchairs, shower chairs and commodes, the development of pressure areas from incorrectly set cushions, seating systems and positioning devices, and trip hazards created by equipment legs, cables and tubing for oxygen, suction and feeding within limited floor spaces.

Hazardous substances and materials are found in most homes and services and can pose particular risks for participants with complex health needs or cognitive impairment. This section examines how eye, skin and breathing irritation can result from cleaning chemicals and air fresheners, and how skin rashes and dermatitis may be triggered by soaps, detergents, incontinence products and laundry agents. It explores asthma triggers from aerosols, fragranced products and dust in living areas, the dangers of ingestion or mishandling of household chemicals where cognitive impairment is present, the fire and explosion risks associated with oxygen cylinders and concentrators positioned near heaters, cigarettes or open flames, and the impact of fumes from paints, solvents and pesticides used in or around the home environment.

Personal care, hygiene and infection prevention are fundamental to safeguarding participant health, yet lapses in these areas can quickly escalate into significant safety threats. This section focuses on infection risks from poor wound care, catheter care and toileting hygiene practices, together with gastrointestinal illness arising from contaminated bathrooms, surfaces and food-handling areas. It also considers the spread of respiratory infections such as colds, flu and COVID-type illnesses in shared living settings, skin infections linked to poor bathing, inadequate drying or shared personal items, and the dangers of exposure to other people’s blood and body fluids in shared or communal spaces where robust infection control is not consistently applied.

Medication and broader health management can either stabilise or destabilise a person’s condition, depending on how accurately and safely medicines are handled. This section addresses adverse effects from medication errors in medicine, dose, time or route, and the way dizziness, confusion and drowsiness from medication side effects can increase fall and injury risk. It examines the worsening of conditions such as seizures or unstable blood sugar when doses are missed, blood pressure and cardiovascular instability linked to incorrect or omitted medicines, and burns and skin irritation that may occur when topical treatments, patches and creams are misused, incorrectly positioned or left on for too long.

Nutrition, hydration and swallowing safety are core determinants of health and can be critical safety issues for people with disability, particularly those with dysphagia or complex medical needs. This section explores choking and aspiration risks when eating or drinking, especially where swallowing difficulties are present or mealtime supports are inconsistent, as well as the dangers of food and fluid textures that do not match assessed swallowing and dysphagia needs. It considers dehydration when people are not supported to drink enough or drinks are inaccessible, malnutrition caused by inadequate assistance, poor food choices or untreated dental issues, and burns from hot foods and drinks placed within reach without appropriate temperature checks or supervision.

Behavioural and interpersonal risks can create serious threats to participant safety, particularly in shared or group living environments. This section examines the risk of being hit, pushed, bitten or otherwise harmed by other people in shared settings, alongside injuries that can occur during episodes of aggression, agitation or self-harm. It also addresses distress and escalated behaviours triggered by noise, crowding and sensory overload, highlighting the need for proactive environmental adjustments, de-escalation strategies and clear protocols to keep all participants and workers as safe as possible.

Outdoor and community access brings important benefits for participation and inclusion but also introduces new categories of safety threat. This section considers falls on uneven pavements, kerbs, ramps and steps during community outings, traffic hazards when crossing roads, using kerbs or walking through busy car parks, and the risks of heat stress and sunburn during outdoor activities without adequate shade or sun protection. It also explores injuries from insect bites and stings in gardens, parks and outdoor activity areas, reinforcing the need for pre-planning, risk assessment and appropriate equipment, clothing and supports when facilitating community access.

Worker safety threats related to manual handling and musculoskeletal injury are pervasive in disability support and can have lifelong consequences for staff. This section focuses on back, neck and shoulder injuries when lifting or repositioning people, strains and sprains from pushing heavy wheelchairs, shower chairs and equipment, and sudden injury when a person collapses, grabs or leans heavily during transfers. It also explores the effects of repetitive bending, twisting and reaching during personal care and domestic tasks, the risks associated with carrying hoists, ramps, laundry or groceries through tight spaces or up and down stairs, and the impact of working in awkward postures in small bathrooms, bedrooms, vehicles and confined areas.

Environmental conditions and layout can significantly increase worker risks of slips, trips and falls while they are providing support. This section examines slips on wet bathroom, kitchen and laundry floors and outdoor ramps during work, trips over oxygen tubing, cables, hoist legs, low furniture and general clutter, and falls linked to uneven surfaces, missing handrails and poor lighting while supporting others. It further considers slips and trips on uneven footpaths, kerbs, parks and public transport during community visits, working in unsafe housing conditions with structural damage, mould, pests and poor sanitation, trip hazards from clutter, hoarding, loose carpets and obstructed exits in homes, animal-related injuries from bites, scratches or being knocked over by pets, and temperature extremes when heating or cooling is inadequate or absent in workplaces.

Clinical, infection and chemical exposure risks can place disability support workers at significant personal danger, particularly when controls are inconsistent or absent. This section explores needle-stick injuries from insulin needles, lancets and other sharps used in care, cuts from razors, broken glass, kitchen equipment and damaged household items, and eye and skin contact with blood, vomit, faeces and other body fluids during care or cleaning. It also addresses respiratory infections from close, prolonged contact during outbreaks and illness, gastrointestinal infections when cleaning contaminated areas or assisting unwell people, skin infections from contaminated equipment, surfaces or laundry handling, skin irritation and dermatitis from frequent use of detergents, disinfectants and hand hygiene products, eye and airway irritation from cleaning sprays, bleach and strong disinfectants in confined spaces, headaches and nausea from chemical fumes in poorly ventilated bathrooms and kitchens, increased fire risk when working near oxygen equipment, fuel heaters or open flames, and exposure to pesticides, garden chemicals and strong solvents during household or community tasks.

Kitchen, food-handling, driving and transport activities are routine components of disability support yet involve multiple overlapping safety risks for workers. This section examines burns and scalds from hot oil, boiling water, oven trays and microwaved foods, cuts from knives, graters, broken crockery and glass in kitchen environments, and slips on food and liquid spills in kitchens and dining areas during support tasks. It also considers smoke, minor fires and near misses from cooking incidents in homes and service sites, road accidents and near misses while transporting people or travelling between visits, manual handling injuries when assisting people and equipment into and out of vehicles, strain from lifting or loading mobility equipment into car boots or onto vehicle hoists, and slips and falls in car parks and on roadside kerbs when assisting passengers at vehicles.

Aggression, violence, stress and fatigue can erode both worker safety and the quality of support provided if not managed deliberately and systematically. This section explores physical assaults including hitting, kicking, biting, scratching, hair pulling and spitting, as well as being struck by thrown objects during episodes of agitation or property damage, and injuries that may occur when intervening to prevent self-harm or separate people in conflict. It further examines strain, bruising and other harm from defensive manoeuvres and any legally used restraint, fatigue from shift work, irregular hours, sleepovers and back-to-back shifts, stress and anxiety linked to repeated exposure to aggression, crises and severe distress, emotional strain from supporting people with complex disabilities and progressive conditions, and the development of headaches, muscle tension and other physical signs of ongoing stress and burnout.

By the end of this course, you will be equipped with the knowledge, structured risk-assessment skills and practical strategies required to identify significant safety threats in disability support practice, respond to them promptly and professionally, and contribute to safer environments for both participants and workers across a wide range of service contexts.

Each section is complemented with examples to illustrate the concepts and techniques discussed.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

By the end of this course, you will be able to understand the following topics:

1. Introduction to Safety Threats in Disability Support

• Nature and categories of significant safety threats
• Legal and ethical responsibilities in disability support
• Roles and accountabilities in identifying and responding to threats
• Risk assessment, escalation and reporting pathways

2. Participant Safety Threats – Slips, Trips and Falls

• Wet and slippery floors in bathrooms, kitchens and laundries
• Spills from drinks, food, cleaning products and continence accidents
• Loose rugs, mats, power cords and oxygen tubing on walking paths
• Uneven surfaces, broken paving, steps without rails and steep or narrow ramps
• Poor lighting in hallways, bedrooms, bathrooms and external paths at night
• Inappropriate or worn footwear increasing fall and injury risk

3. Participant Safety Threats – Mobility, Transfers and Positioning

• Falls when getting in or out of beds, chairs, wheelchairs, toilets and shower chairs
• Falls during transfers when incorrect techniques or no equipment are used
• Instability from poorly fitted or unsuitable mobility aids and walking devices
• Pressure injuries from prolonged sitting or lying on unsuitable cushions or mattresses
• Joint pain and deformity linked to incorrect seating, poor posture and lack of support
• Injuries and distress from rough, rushed or poorly planned manual handling

4. Participant Safety Threats – Home and Built Environment

• Cluttered spaces and stored items blocking safe movement and access
• Unsecured furniture such as bookcases and TV units that can tip when grabbed
• Doors, gates and windows that slam or pinch fingers and hands
• Poorly installed or missing handrails, grab rails and non-slip surfaces
• Electrical hazards from damaged cords, overloaded power boards and faulty appliances
• Extreme indoor heat or cold due to inadequate heating, cooling or insulation

5. Participant Safety Threats – Clinical Equipment and Assistive Technology

• Entrapment and crush injuries from adjustable beds, bedrails, recliners and lift chairs
• Falls and skin injuries from incorrect use of hoists, slings, transfer boards and ramps
• Instability or collapse of poorly maintained wheelchairs, shower chairs and commodes
• Pressure areas from incorrectly set cushions, seating systems and positioning devices
• Trip hazards created by equipment legs, cables and tubing for oxygen, suction and feeding

6. Participant Safety Threats – Hazardous Substances and Materials

• Eye, skin and breathing irritation from cleaning chemicals and air fresheners
• Skin rashes and dermatitis from soaps, detergents, incontinence products and laundry agents
• Asthma triggers from aerosols, fragranced products and dust in living areas
• Ingestion or mishandling of household chemicals where cognitive impairment is present
• Oxygen cylinders and concentrators positioned near heaters, cigarettes or open flames
• Fumes from paints, solvents and pesticides used in or around the home environment

7. Participant Safety Threats – Personal Care, Hygiene and Infection

• Infection from poor wound care, catheter care and toileting hygiene practices
• Gastrointestinal illness from contaminated bathrooms, surfaces and food-handling areas
• Respiratory infections such as colds, flu and COVID-type illnesses in shared living settings
• Skin infections arising from poor bathing, inadequate drying or shared personal items
• Exposure to other people’s blood and body fluids in shared or communal spaces

8. Participant Safety Threats – Medication and Health Management

• Adverse effects from medication errors in medicine, dose, time or route
• Dizziness, confusion and drowsiness from medication side effects increasing fall risk
• Worsening of conditions such as seizures or unstable blood sugar when doses are missed
• Blood pressure and cardiovascular instability linked to incorrect or omitted medicines
• Burns and skin irritation from misused topical treatments, patches and creams

9. Participant Safety Threats – Nutrition, Hydration and Swallowing

• Choking and aspiration when eating or drinking, especially with swallowing difficulties
• Food and fluid textures that do not match assessed swallowing and dysphagia needs
• Dehydration when people are not supported to drink enough or drinks are inaccessible
• Malnutrition caused by inadequate assistance, poor food choices or untreated dental issues
• Burns from hot foods and drinks placed within reach without temperature checks

10. Participant Safety Threats – Behavioural and Interpersonal Risks

• Being hit, pushed, bitten or otherwise harmed by other people in shared settings
• Injuries during episodes of aggression, agitation or self-harm in group environments
• Distress and escalated behaviours triggered by noise, crowding and sensory overload

11. Participant Safety Threats – Outdoor and Community Access

• Falls on uneven pavements, kerbs, ramps and steps during community outings
• Traffic hazards when crossing roads, using kerbs or walking through busy car parks
• Heat stress and sunburn during outdoor activities without shade or sun protection
• Insect bites and stings in gardens, parks and outdoor activity areas

12. Worker Safety Threats – Manual Handling and Musculoskeletal Injury

• Back, neck and shoulder injuries when lifting or repositioning people
• Strains and sprains from pushing heavy wheelchairs, shower chairs and equipment
• Sudden injury when a person collapses, grabs or leans heavily during transfers
• Repetitive bending, twisting and reaching during personal care and domestic tasks
• Carrying hoists, ramps, laundry or groceries through tight spaces or up and down stairs
• Working in awkward postures in small bathrooms, bedrooms, vehicles and confined areas

13. Worker Safety Threats – Slips, Trips, Falls and Environmental Conditions

• Slips on wet bathroom, kitchen and laundry floors and outdoor ramps during work
• Trips over oxygen tubing, cables, hoist legs, low furniture and general clutter
• Falls linked to uneven surfaces, missing handrails and poor lighting while supporting others
• Slips and trips on uneven footpaths, kerbs, parks and public transport during community visits
• Working in unsafe housing conditions with structural damage, mould, pests and poor sanitation
• Trip hazards from clutter, hoarding, loose carpets and obstructed exits in homes
• Animal-related injuries from bites, scratches or being knocked over by pets
• Temperature extremes when heating or cooling is inadequate or absent in workplaces

14. Worker Safety Threats – Clinical, Infection and Chemical Exposure

• Needle-stick injuries from insulin needles, lancets and other sharps used in care
• Cuts from razors, broken glass, kitchen equipment and damaged household items
• Eye and skin contact with blood, vomit, faeces and other body fluids during care or cleaning
• Respiratory infections from close, prolonged contact during outbreaks and illness
• Gastrointestinal infections when cleaning contaminated areas or assisting unwell people
• Skin infections from contaminated equipment, surfaces or laundry handling
• Skin irritation and dermatitis from frequent use of detergents, disinfectants and hand hygiene products
• Eye and airway irritation from cleaning sprays, bleach and strong disinfectants in confined spaces
• Headaches and nausea from chemical fumes in poorly ventilated bathrooms and kitchens
• Increased fire risk when working near oxygen equipment, fuel heaters or open flames
• Exposure to pesticides, garden chemicals and strong solvents during household or community tasks

15. Worker Safety Threats – Kitchen, Food-Handling, Driving and Transport

• Burns and scalds from hot oil, boiling water, oven trays and microwaved foods
• Cuts from knives, graters, broken crockery and glass in kitchen environments
• Slips on food and liquid spills in kitchens and dining areas during support tasks
• Smoke, minor fires and near misses from cooking incidents in homes and service sites
• Road accidents and near misses while transporting people or travelling between visits
• Manual handling injuries when assisting people and equipment into and out of vehicles
• Strain from lifting or loading mobility equipment into car boots or onto vehicle hoists
• Slips and falls in car parks and on roadside kerbs when assisting passengers at vehicles

16. Worker Safety Threats – Aggression, Violence, Stress and Fatigue

• Physical assaults including hitting, kicking, biting, scratching, hair pulling and spitting
• Being struck by thrown objects during episodes of agitation or property damage
• Injuries when intervening to prevent self-harm or separate people in conflict
• Strain, bruising and other harm from defensive manoeuvres and any legally used restraint
• Fatigue from shift work, irregular hours, sleepovers and back-to-back shifts
• Stress and anxiety linked to repeated exposure to aggression, crises and severe distress
• Emotional strain from supporting people with complex disabilities and progressive conditions
• Headaches, muscle tension and other physical signs of ongoing stress and burnout

COURSE DURATION:

The typical duration of this course is approximately 3-4 hours to complete. Your enrolment is Valid for 12 Months. Start anytime and study at your own pace.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

You must have access to a computer or any mobile device with Adobe Acrobat Reader (free PDF Viewer) installed, to complete this course.

COURSE DELIVERY:

Purchase and download course content.

ASSESSMENT:

A simple 10-question true or false quiz with Unlimited Submission Attempts.

CERTIFICATION:

Upon course completion, you will receive a customised digital “Certificate of Completion”.