Safe Work Instructions (SWI)

Safe work instructions (SWIs) help you to perform a variety of care activities safely and competently.

Clinical experts in disability developed these SWIs to help people with disability, carers and families, and government and non-government staff avoid injury in the home and workplace. Please read the disclaimer before using any of the safe work instructions.

Assisting a Person from the Floor with Aid of Chairs

Supporting a person who is on the floor to rise and sit in a chair.

Note: If the person is injured, do not move them, but apply first aid and seek medical advice. This process is only suitable for people who can use their hands for support, kneel, and push with their legs. Two chairs are needed for this procedure.

1 worker task

Updated: February 2020

Assisting a Person into a Vehicle

Safely transfer an ambulant person into a vehicle. If the person needs support to walk, refer to Assisting a person to walk.

Note: Where possible, people who need support should be seated on the left-hand side of the vehicle.

1 worker task

See also: Assisting a Person to Walk

Updated: February 2020

Assisting a Person to Shower Using Mobile Shower Chair

If the person showering is not ambulant, see either 'Use of a ceiling hoist to lift a person from bed to chair' or 'Use of a portable hoist to lift a person from bed to wheelchair or chair'.

Note: 1 or 2 workers required, depending on the person's support plan

2 worker task

See also: Use of a Ceiling Hoist to Lift a Person from Bed to Chair

See also: Use of a Portable Hoist to Lift a Person from the Floor

Updated: February 2020

Assisting a person to transit in a vehicle

Describes procedures for safely transporting a person with disability in a vehicle, including what to do if the person becomes agitated or distressed.

Note: Where the vehicle is fitted with a wheelchair lifter and wheelchair securing points, staff must be trained in their use.

1 worker task

Updated: February 2021

Assisting a Person to Walk

Safely guide and support a person walking on level ground.

Note: Attempting to stop a falling person can increase the risk of injury to both the person and the worker. Resist any attempt to stop a person falling over by grabbing or catching them.

1 worker task

See also: Use of a Stand Lifter

See also: Performing a Stand Transfer with a Person requiring Minimal Support

See also: Performing a Stand Transfer with a Person Using a Moderate Assist

Updated: February 2020

Lie-to-Sit Transfer

Supports a person lying in bed to move into sitting on the edge of the bed.

Note: Only to be used when the person can independently maintain a seated position.

1 worker task

Updated: February 2020

Performing a Stand Transfer with a Person requiring Minimal Support

Helping a person stand from a chair or wheelchair and transfer to another chair or wheelchair with minimal support.

Note: 1 or 2 workers required, depending on the person's support plan

2 worker task

See also: Performing a Stand Transfer with a Person Using a Moderate Assist

See also: Assisting a Person to Walk

Updated: November 2020

Performing a Stand Transfer with a Person Using a Moderate Assist

Helping a person stand from a chair or wheelchair and move to another chair or wheelchair with moderate support.

Note: 1 or 2 workers required, depending on the person's support plan

2 worker task

See also: Performing a Stand Transfer with a Person requiring Minimal Support

See also: Assisting a Person to Walk

Updated: November 2020

Repositioning a Person in a Wheelchair requiring Minimal Support

Helping a person sitting in a wheelchair to adjust their sitting position with minimal support.

Note: 1 or 2 workers required, depending on the person's support plan

2 worker task

See also: Repositioning a Person in a Wheelchair Using a Moderate Assist

Updated: November 2020

Repositioning a Person in a Wheelchair Using a Moderate Assist

Helping a person sitting in a wheelchair to adjust their sitting position with moderate assistance.

Note: 1 or 2 workers required, depending on the person's support plan

2 worker task

See also: Repositioning a Person in a Wheelchair requiring Minimal Support

Updated: November 2020

Rolling and Repositioning a Person

Safely moving a person in bed from their back to their side.

2 worker task

See also: Use of a Slide Sheet-Moving a Person Side-to-Side

Updated: August 2020

Use of a Ceiling Hoist to Lift a Person from Bed to Chair

Process begins with the procedure outlined in Rolling and repositioning a person. Describes safely moving a person from lying in bed to sitting in a chair, wheelchair or commode.

2 worker task

See also: Rolling and Repositioning a Person

Updated: February 2020

Use of a Patient Slide Board

Process begins with the procedure outlined in Rolling and repositioning a person. Describes safely moving a person lying in bed to transfer, with the aid of a slide sheet and a slide board, to a shower trolley.

2 worker task

See also: Rolling and Repositioning a Person

Updated: February 2020

Use of a Portable Hoist to Lift a Person from Bed to Wheelchair or Chair

Process begins with the procedure outlined in Rolling and repositioning a person. Describes safely moving a person from lying in bed to sitting in a chair, wheelchair or commode.

2 worker task

See also: Rolling and Repositioning a Person

Updated: February 2020

Use of a Portable Hoist to Lift a Person from the Floor

This process covers supporting a person who is on the floor to move to a chair, wheelchair or bed.

Note: If the person is injured, do not move them, but apply first aid and seek medical advice.

2 worker task

Updated: February 2020

Use of a Slide Sheet-Moving a Person Side-to-Side

This process begins with the procedure outlined in Rolling and repositioning a person, and includes the introduction of a slide sheet to move a person in bed from lying on one side to lying on their other side.

2 worker task

See also: Rolling and Repositioning a Person

Updated: February 2020

Use of a Slide Sheet-Moving a Person up a Bed

Process begins with the procedure outlined in Rolling and repositioning a person, and includes the introduction of a slide sheet to move a person in bed from lying part-way down the bed to lying closer to the head of the bed.

2 worker task

See also: Rolling and Repositioning a Person

Updated: February 2020

Use of a Stand Lifter

This process covers safely moving the person from sitting on a bed or in a chair, to sitting on a different bed, chair or commode. If the person can independently maintain a seated position, refer to the process for Lie-to-sit transfer.

Note: This process is only for people who can weight bear.

1 worker task

See also: Lie-to-Sit Transfer

Updated: February 2020

Use of a Wheelchair

This process covers how workers can safely push a manual wheelchair over flat ground, inclines and slight obstacles whilst keeping the person using the wheelchair safe. If the person moving to the wheelchair is non-ambulant, refer to relevant sections from 'Rolling and repositioning a person', 'Use of a ceiling hoist to lift a person from bed/wheelchair/chair', or 'Use of a portable hoist to lift a person from bed/wheelchair/chair'. If the person moving to the wheelchair is ambulant, refer to 'Performing a stand transfer with a person requiring minimal support'.

1 worker task

See also: Rolling and Repositioning a Person

See also: Use of a Ceiling Hoist to Lift a Person from Bed to Chair

See also: Use of a Portable Hoist to Lift a Person from the Floor

See also: Performing a Stand Transfer with a Person requiring Minimal Support

Updated: February 2020

Disclaimer

This information is a guide only for use by non-government organisations and service providers as a training tool (supplementary to training) and is not intended as medical or professional advice. Users must seek appropriate medical or professional service. The State Government of South Australia accepts no responsibility for the suitability or completeness of the information and expressly disclaims all liability for any loss or damage arising from reliance upon any of the information.

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Attribution: Department of Human Services, the Government of South Australia, "Safe Work Instructions (SWI)", Sourced on 26th Mar 2023, (https://dhs.sa.gov.au/services/disability/safe-work-instructions)'