Hot Water Safety: A Practical Guide for NDIS Providers

Scalding burns from hot water remain one of the most common—and preventable—injuries in disability care settings. For NDIS providers, managing this risk isn’t just good practice—it’s a legal and ethical obligation under the NDIS Code of Conduct and NDIS Practice Standards.

This blog explains why hot water safety matters, who’s at risk, your obligations as a provider, and how to implement practical measures to keep participants safe.

Why Hot Water Is a Hidden Hazard

Hot water doesn’t just need to boil at 100 °C to cause serious harm.

• At just 50°C, it takes five minutes to cause third-degree burns.
• At 60°C, it takes only one second.

More than 90% of scalding injuries occur in the bathroom, often from showers or baths with uncontrolled temperatures. These injuries can lead to infections, hospitalisation, lifelong scarring, and even death. This risk is exemplified for people with disabilities, as they are particularly vulnerable due to:

• Reduced mobility or delayed reaction times
• Cognitive impairment (e.g., dementia, acquired brain injury)
• Sensory disorders that limit the ability to detect heat
• Conditions like epilepsy increase the likelihood of unexpected contact with hot water.

However, global research confirms that this is entirely preventable, and countries with robust hot water controls have decreased burn incidents, severity, and hospital stays.

So What Are Your Obligations?

As an NDIS Provider, you must comply with the NDIS Code of Conduct and, if registered, the NDIS Practice Standards. You must also provide safe and competent support with care and skill, and identify, plan for, and respond to risks that may impact participant safety.

Hot water risks are highly dependent on each participant and their unique needs. As a provider, you must perform individual risk assessments before developing a participant’s support plan. Some key considerations include:

• What is the participant’s overall degree of dependency on your services?
• Are they generally independent, or do they require constant supervision?
• Do they live alone or with their family? 
• Are they able to adjust water taps independently?
• Do they have the ability to detect or respond to hot temperatures?
• Do they have delayed reaction times?
• Does their mobility or specific aids restrict movement away from hot surfaces?

Once you've identified the participant’s risks and degree of dependency, adjust the support plan accordingly. If you've concluded that the participant is generally independent, no special emergency plan is needed, and staff can follow the standard emergency drill and call 000. Whereas if the participant is rated highly dependent, you must develop a Person-Centred Emergency & Disaster Plan within the support plan.

Begin by describing the services you provide to the participant (e.g bathing), and include their associated risks/safety considerations (e.g. requires constant supervision during bathing) and the agreed-upon actions, such as:

1. Run cold water first, then hot water

1. Always test bath temperatures using the thermometer
2. Don’t leave a participant alone while filling or running a bath
3. Report and isolate any faulty water equipment or temperature spikes to management immediately

In an emergency, the NDIS recommends that if a burn happens, you should:

• Apply cool running water for 20 minutes

• Do not use ice, creams, or ointments
• Call an ambulance if:
• The burn is deep, blistered, or larger than a 20-cent coin
• The area affected includes the face, hands, genitals, or airways
• There are signs of infection, pus, or fever

All incidents must be logged in your Incident/event/hazard register, reviewed, and used to improve safety protocols.

After completing the participant’s support plan, communicate this with the staff supporting the participant and have them sign a staff acknowledgement confirming that they've understood their responsibilities.

A strong risk assessment system goes beyond the basics.

If you are providing support at a participant’s home, are a SIL or SDA provider, you must perform home safety checklists to help identify, monitor, and reduce hazards before they cause harm.

Consider the checklist below:

According to Australian Standards (AS3500.4 1.11):

• The maximum safe water temperature at personal hygiene outlets is 45°c.
• Hot water storage systems must exceed 60°C to prevent Legionella growth, making outlet control essential.
• Hot water systems should utilise thermostatic mixing valves (TMVS) or tempering valves to regulate water temperature at the tap.

Consider engaging a licensed plumber to test and maintain valves annually or upgrade outdated systems to meet new standards as required. Ensure that you keep service records to demonstrate compliance and proactive management.

Final Thoughts

Hot water safety is vital for safeguarding participants and maintaining the trust in the standards of care that NDIS providers deliver. By conducting regular property inspections, maintaining up-to-date risk assessments, training staff, and utilising the right technology, you can prevent scalding injuries and ensure every participant has a safe and dignified experience.

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