Disability services workers have a high injury rate in the SA public sector. While most claims involved body stressing, of concern was the high number of mental stress incidents. These incidents were reported to involve psychological injury due to work pressure, bullying/harassment, and exposure to occupational violence.
 
This report summarises the findings from interviewing 61 Disability Support Workers (DSWs) and analysing survey data from 99 DSWs and historical injury claim profiles and safety incident reports made from 2010 to 2013 to identify sources of safety hazards. Includes strategic recommendations designed to improve DSWs’ physical and emotional safety and wellbeing.

This research was funded under the SafeWork SA Commissioned Research Grant (CRG) program.