Medical items

Medical equipment or medication administering items may be required by people in the workplace to allow them to manage their condition and therefore carry out their work role effectively. Some medical items previously used in the home or in hospital are now available in portable and adapted versions to suit use in the workplace.  These items include:

• Asthmatic and respiratory appliances
• Barrier creams
• Diabetes appliances
• Medication administering equipment—eye
• Medication dosage equipment—adapted
• Medication dosage guides
• Oxygen units—domiciliary and portable

Workplace solutions and adjustments:

For a person to use such medical items in the workplace consideration may need to be given to:

• provision of adequate space and privacy for use of medical items or the taking of medication at work
• portability of the medical item and whether it can be transported to and from home or specifically be purchased for work, for example, oxygen bottles for respiratory conditions
• provision of training to work colleagues to understand use of medical items should they be required to assist in the event of an emergency
• adaptation of a person’s work role to allow for use of a medical item or the taking of medication within the workplace.

For information on how to assist people who take medications at work, please see the link below:

• Managing medication at work

References:

National Asthma Council Australia 2008, Written Asthma Action Plans, National Asthma Council Australia, Melbourne, viewed 25 October 2011,  http://www.nationalasthma.org.au/managing-asthma/controlling-your-asthma/written-asthma-action-plans.

Parasol EMT 1996-2006, Oxygen Administration, Parasol EMT Pty Ltd, Canberra, viewed 25 October 2011, http://www.activepublications.com.au/manual.html#/154/.

Rehabmart 1999-2011, Diabetic Supplies: Magni-Guide, Rehabmart, Georgia, viewed 25 October 2011, http://www.rehabmart.com/product/19380.htm. 

• Medical items