Amelia Berry (back row, second left) with colleagues. Photo: supplied
After completing her graduate year at Portland District Health in 2018, clinical nurse specialist Amelia Berry has been working in the service’s emergency department ever since.
‘Although we’re referred to by some as an Urgent Care Centre for funding purposes, we are an emergency department, open 24 hours and handling over 10,000 presentations annually,’ she explains.
Having done her certificate in emergency nursing a few years ago, Amelia is currently working as an ANUM in the centre. She’s also a Health and Safety Representative (HSR) for the UCC.
Amelia was nominated as an HSR in 2022. ‘Having completed the No Lift Train the Trainer course, which covered the basics of occupational health & safety (OH&S) legislation, I recognised the need for someone to help our department secure new equipment,’ she says.
‘After discussing these issues with a colleague, it was suggested that I would be a good fit for the role and I was subsequently nominated.’
She was most certainly a good fit. ‘I love my role as HSR,’ she says.
‘My regular duties remain the same, but I make time during quieter moments – especially on night shifts – to handle my HSR tasks.’
These tasks that Amelia chooses to undertake as an HSR are not onerous, she explains, and include:
- sending emails
- submitting BEIMS (building and engineering information management system) requests
- reviewing RiskMans to assist the NUM in addressing hazards or issues within the department.
‘Each month, HSRs at Portland District Health are allotted an office day to focus on these tasks, and to attend the Occupational Violence and Aggression (OVA) and OH&S committee meetings,’ Amelia notes.
Such entitlements help make the HSR role attractive, but for Amelia one of the most rewarding aspects of being an HSR is the empowerment that comes with understanding the legislation.
‘Being able to leverage this knowledge in emails and incident reports adds weight to our concerns,’ she explains, ‘making it easier to push for safety improvements. I really enjoy making our workplace safer, and now that I’ve had time to understand the logistics – such as trialling and purchasing equipment – it’s become even more fulfilling.’
The most fulfilling thing about being an HSR, however, is achieving health and safety wins for herself and her colleagues to make their working lives safer. One of Amelia’s biggest achievements was securing contracted security personnel onsite between 6pm and 6am on weekdays and 24 hours over the weekend.
‘This was achieved by advocating through the OVA committee, especially after several unfortunate incidents,’ Amelia explains.
‘I provided staff with education and templates to help them complete Riskman reports effectively, suggesting security as a solution. With strong staff engagement and the support of the ANMF at the OVA committee meetings, we were able to secure contracted security.
Our current goal is to have Portland District Health employ its own security staff, ensuring they receive healthcare-specific training and giving us more control over their role.’
Another win Amelia and her fellow HSRs have achieved was ‘obtaining nine new x-ray capable electronic trolleys to replace older models, which reduced manual handling hazards. This involved developing a business case, organising equipment trials, and finally securing the purchase through the OH&S committee. We are also working towards installing ceiling hoists within our department including a designated bariatric room to reduce hazardous manual handling.’
Making her workplace safer helps Amelia and her colleagues enjoy the work they do even more. ‘I love working in emergency,’ she says.
‘We have an amazing team and it’s vital to look after their health and safety at work.’
