Care for yourself and others
Key safety tips
- Pay attention to the wellbeing and workplace health and safety messages in your deployment briefings.
- Follow all health and safety instructions that are given.
- Use any personal protective equipment you are issued with.
- Seek appropriate first aid or medical treatment where necessary.
Breaks
You will become tired very quickly if you don’t take time out to rest and recharge.
If you work more than 5 hours in any day you must take a minimum 30 minute unpaid meal break between the third and sixth hours of duty.
Ten hour continuous break
A 10 hour continuous break must be taken between finishing work and starting again the next day. This break should be recorded on your Community Recovery timesheet.
- If based on your rostered finish/start work times, you will not have a minimum 10 hour continuous break between when you finish work and when you are scheduled to start the next day, you should alert your Team Leader who will arrange for your work hours to be modified.
- You will not lose pay for ordinary working time during this absence.
Insect bites
Mosquitoes, midges, sand flies and black flies typically breed in the days following floods. Mosquitoes in particular may carry Ross River, Dengue and Barmah Forest viruses, which can cause illness characterised by fever, rash and joint pain. Insect bites may also result in irritation and sores that can become infected.
To protect against these risks:
- always wear appropriate clothing when you are in the disaster area and apply an insect repellent that contains DEET—during the day and the evening
- take steps to ensure your sleeping area is mosquito-free, e.g. use insecticide spray or other available measures like screens and mosquito nets
- seek first aid assistance and advice for insect bites or if you become unwell.
Read more about mosquito borne illnesses.
Hazard reporting
- Stay aware of your surroundings and any potential environmental hazards.
- Report any hazards/potential hazards to your Team Leader/Manager immediately and ask them for a Hazard Report Form.
- Complete the Hazard Report Form and return it to your Team Leader as soon as possible.
Incident and injury reporting
If you are involved in an incident and/or suffer an injury or illness during your deployment:
- tell your Team Leader immediately
- ask them for a Safety Health and Environment report
- return the completed form to your Team Leader.
Employee Assistance Service (EAS)
Confidential counselling is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
During deployment
For all Community Recovery staff, confidential counselling is available through our Employee Assistance Service. Contact details will be displayed in all Community Recovery locations.
Counsellors are available to provide face-to-face or video support for staff working as part of the Community Recovery operation.
Tell your Team Leader or Manager if you need help accessing EAS support while you are on deployment.
After deployment
Confidential counselling is also available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by contacting your agency’s employee assistance provider.
Once you have returned from deployment, you can contact your agency's Employee Assistance Service if you need more support. Your agency key contact or HR department can give you the contact details of your agency’s EAS provider.
Workforce Support for Community Recovery workers
Workforce support and assistance is available for all Community Recovery workers, including Managers, Team Leaders, Ready Reserves, and temporary staff.
Should you require assistance or support you should speak to your supervisor in the first instance.
They will be able to help and guide you in the right direction to get the most appropriate advice.
If your supervisor is unable to assist, you can email HRcommunities@chde.qld.gov.au, where your email will be allocated to a human resource business partner who will assist you with support and guidance.
The Human Resource team can help and assist you with workplace related issues including but not limited to:
- workplace health and safety
- supporting management and leadership of teams
- conduct and behaviour
- workplace conflict
- EAS.
Resources
- Employee support for Community Recovery workers
- Looking after yourself and others
- Home and site visits
- Safe driving
- Community Recovery during summer floods
- How to clean your hands
- Foot care and management of abrasions and simple cuts
- How to disinfect your mobile phone
- Mould advice
- Living with crocodiles