Latex
in Healthcare
Of
Interest...
In
2004, there were 134 workplace deaths in B.C. On April 28th, the WCB,
along with the B.C. Federation of Labour, and the Business Council of
British Columbia, co-hosted a public ceremony, commemorating those
workers who lost their lives to work-related accidents or occupational
diseases. For more information on ceremony program and to download the
Day of Mourning tribute, visit the
Do
you have news for the Health & Safety Update?
Email your stories, comments and suggestions to
update@ohsah.bc.ca
Provincial
Steering Committee
Preventing aggressive and violent behaviours within healthcare
HELP for Joint Committees Workshops
Learn how to increase the effectiveness of joint committees
Health
Canada Report
Trends in Workplace Injuries, Illnesses, and Policies in Healthcare
across Canada
OSHTIP
of the Month
Violent and Aggressive Behaviour in Acute Care
As of June 1st, 2005, OHSAH's phone numbers will be changing
to:Tel: 778-328-8000
Fax: 778-328-8002
NAOSH Week
This year, the North American Occupational Safety Health (NAOSH) Week is May 1-7, 2005. This annual event is designed to focus the attention of employers, employees, the general public, and all occupational health and safety partners in Canada, the US, and Mexico on the importance of preventing illness and injury in the workplace. The theme for this year's NAOSH week is "Equip. Educate. Empower." Visit The
Preventing aggressive and violent behaviours within healthcare
OHSAH, in collaboration with the Workers' Compensation Board of BC, is hosting the provincial steering committee for prevention of aggressive and violent behaviours within healthcare. The steering committee includes representatives from healthcare unions, health authorities, Healthcare Benefit Trust, and Providence Healthcare. The aim of the steering committee is to minimize workplace violence by:
1. Increasing awareness
of violence in healthcare;
2. Overcoming barriers to program implementation;
3. Identifying and recommending best practices of violence prevention
in sectors of healthcare including residential/complex care, community/home
care, community/mental health and social services, and acute care; and
4. Supporting the implementation of best practices.
Stay tuned to the
Update for more information on the steering committee. For resources on
preventing aggressive and violent behaviour in healthcare, visit the
Learn how to increase the effectiveness of joint committees
OHSAH’s
Healthcare Education and Learning
Program (HELP)is now offering full day workshops for joint occupational
health and safety committees. Each workshop will explore one of the following
topics:
- Introduction to Occupational
Health and Safety
- Advanced Occupational Health and Safety
- Inspections
- Prevention of Violence in the Workplace
- Incident Investigation
The workshops started
in mid-February and have taken place in three health authorities: Vancouver
Island Health Authority, Fraser Health and Vancouver Coastal Health. Workshops
are scheduled for Interior Health in May and Northern Health in June.
Visit the
Trends in Workplace Injuries, Illnesses, and Policies in Healthcare across Canada
OHSAH, in collaboration with the Healthcare Health and Safety Association (HCHSA), the Association paritaire pour la santé et la sécurité du secteur affaires sociales (ASSTSAS), and the Nova Scotia Association of Health Organizations (NSAHO), undertook this Health Canada funded project to identify patterns of occupational disease and illness across Canada and the impact of policy changes. The study showed that the national time-loss injury rate for healthcare decreased between 1996 and 2002, suggesting that many interventions and policy changes across Canada have been partially effective. There are substantial variations in provincial injury rates which may be because of differing prevention initiatives; however, discrepancies in tracking, reporting, and claim adjudication criteria may also be factors.
The study concluded by emphasizing the need to focus on the health of the healthcare workforce. It stresses that occupational health and safety must be part of the orientation and job description of workers, and be better aligned with the delivery of quality patient care.
You can download the
full report
Violent and Aggressive Behaviour in Acute Care
The Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) of BC reports that approximately 40% of all violence-related claims come from healthcare workers, although they make up only 10% of the BC workforce. However, even these numbers may understate the extent of violent and aggressive behaviour faced by healthcare workers. Find out more in OSHTips, where you will find a literature review on violent and aggressive behaviour in acute care with information on the problem, risk factors, and mitigation and prevention strategies.
Visit
Tel: (604) 775 - 4034 or toll free (800) 359 - 6612
Fax: (604) 775 - 4031
Web:
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