Work environment safety and ergonomics
Beware of yourself so you can care for others for many years
It may sound like a soft trade, but the body gets a hard time when you work in care. You lift, support, bend down, turn residents and are on all day. A good working environment is about taking care of yourself so you can stay in the trade for many years without wearing yourself out. Prevention is the whole key.
§Transfer and ergonomics
Transfer — helping a citizen from bed to chair, turning in bed or assisting with walking — is some of what puts the most strain on your back and shoulders if you do it wrong. That is why you learn transfer technique and use aids like lifts, slide sheets and turning plates. The rule is to let the aid and the citizen's own strength do the work, not your back.
- 01Always use aids instead of lifting with your back
- 02Activate the citizen's own resources — it's both better for you and rehabilitative for the citizen
- 03Work close by, kneel, and avoid twisting your back
- 04Set beds and aids at a height that suits you
§The psychological work environment
The physical is only one half. Care work can be emotionally demanding: citizens in grief or pain, dementia, loneliness, dying people and relatives under pressure. A healthy psychological working environment is about collegial support, supervision, being able to say no, and having space to unload. Take it seriously — it is just as important as lifting correctly.
§Solo work in home care
En stor del af arbejdet foregår alene hjemme hos borgeren. Det giver frihed, men også særlige opmærksomhedspunkter: du skal kunne vurdere en situation selv, vide hvordan du tilkalder hjælp, og kende arbejdspladsens retningslinjer for, hvad du gør, hvis noget føles utrygt. Du er aldrig så alene, som det kan føles — men du skal kende dine kanaler.
§Infection and hygiene
You come close to people with compromised immune systems and move between multiple homes in a day. Good hand hygiene is your most important protection — both for yourself and to avoid carrying infection from one citizen to the next. Learn the right routines for personal care, meals, and toilet visits, and follow the workplace's guidelines for protective equipment and cleaning.
§Prevent rather than repair
The red thread is prevention. Most injuries and wear come slowly over time, not in one big accident. When you make good habits into routines from day one — moving techniques, hygiene, breaks and speaking up — you build a working life that can last. It is an investment in yourself.