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In this issue:
OHSAH Receives Three Grants
Occupational Health and Safety Training Schedule for the Fall
Vancouver Coastal Health Ceiling Lift Evaluation
OSHTip of the Month - Violence Prevention While Working Alone
OHSAH Receives Three Grants
OHSAH has received funding for three grant proposals through the WorkSafeBC Research at Work program
1. VIHA BBF Exposure Control Plan Post Implementation Survey
This project will be a continuation of the efforts that OHSAH has contributed to the development and implementation of blood and body fluid (BBF) Exposure Control Plan in Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA). OHSAH will conduct a post implementation survey to determine the effectiveness of the Exposure Control Plan in VIHA. 2. Development and Evaluation of a Model for a Home Care Ceiling Lift Program in B.C.
As their workplace is the client's home, community health workers (CHWs) are faced with unique workplace ergonomic challenges and are at high risk for musculoskeletal injuries (MSI) due to patient handling. Ceiling lifts in healthcare facilities have proven to reduce MSIs among healthcare workers, this project will develop and evaluate a model for the successful implementation of a ceiling lift program in homecare in BC. 3. Joint Prevention of Workplace Violence: Creating an Innovative Web-based Tool
Many managers, occupational health and safety professionals, and other healthcare staff find it difficult to assess the risk of violence in the workplace or even to find helpful information on violence control measures. OHSAH and its partners (BCPSA, BCGEU, and UBC) are in the process of designing an online tool to assist with the identification of risk factors and then, based upon these, provide a selection of best practices and knowledge base articles to assist with violence prevention initiatives. For more information about the above projects, please contact OHSAH at 778.328.8000. Top Training Schedule for the Fall
OHSAH's
Healthcare Education & Learning Program (HELP) team has scheduled
new occupational health and safety training sessions for the fall. A
variety of workshops have been developed to improve the effectiveness
of Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committees (JOHSCs) and help
build occupational health and safety capacity. The workshops, among
others, include Introduction to Occupational Health and Safety;
Violence Prevention Planning; Management of Aggressive Behaviour; and
Incident Investigation.
The training sessions will take place from September 13th through November 10th. You can find the full training schedule on the HELP section of the OHSAH website.
For more details, please contact the HELP Team at train@ohsah.bc.ca or call 778.328.8000.
Top
VCH Ceiling Lift Evaluation
Amongst
the various types of tasks commonly associated with patient handling,
manual lifting is a major risk factor for musculoskeletal injuries
(MSIs). The use of mechanical devices has been advocated as an
effective intervention to mitigate the risks of injuries.
OHSAH,
in collaboration with Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH), is embarking on a
study to evaluate an overhead ceiling lift installation program to
reduce the incidence, costs, and severity of MSIs in healthcare workers
as well as patients. The study will also investigate the perception of
injury risk reduction and satisfaction provided by these lifts from
staff and patient perspectives.
Based on the
results of the study, the feasibility and impact of implementing the
program will be used to determine the best approach to improve the use
of mechanical interventions in BC's healthcare workplaces. For more
information about this project, please call OHSAH at 778.328.8000.
Top
OSHTip of the Month
Violent and aggressive behaviour is a serious problem within the healthcare sector. 
Exposure
to patient violence while working alone in the community is especially
daunting as help may be minutes or even hours away. Aside from the
physical injury that may occur to a healthcare worker, violence can
cause mental stress, loss of job satisfaction, and job retention
issues. The OHSAH website offers a number of tips on how to minimize
the risk of patient violence for those working alone, including:
OSHTips section of the OHSAH website.
Top
This project will be a continuation of the efforts that OHSAH has contributed to the development and implementation of blood and body fluid (BBF) Exposure Control Plan in Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA). OHSAH will conduct a post implementation survey to determine the effectiveness of the Exposure Control Plan in VIHA. 2. Development and Evaluation of a Model for a Home Care Ceiling Lift Program in B.C.
As their workplace is the client's home, community health workers (CHWs) are faced with unique workplace ergonomic challenges and are at high risk for musculoskeletal injuries (MSI) due to patient handling. Ceiling lifts in healthcare facilities have proven to reduce MSIs among healthcare workers, this project will develop and evaluate a model for the successful implementation of a ceiling lift program in homecare in BC. 3. Joint Prevention of Workplace Violence: Creating an Innovative Web-based Tool
Many managers, occupational health and safety professionals, and other healthcare staff find it difficult to assess the risk of violence in the workplace or even to find helpful information on violence control measures. OHSAH and its partners (BCPSA, BCGEU, and UBC) are in the process of designing an online tool to assist with the identification of risk factors and then, based upon these, provide a selection of best practices and knowledge base articles to assist with violence prevention initiatives. For more information about the above projects, please contact OHSAH at 778.328.8000. Top Training Schedule for the Fall
OHSAH's
Healthcare Education & Learning Program (HELP) team has scheduled
new occupational health and safety training sessions for the fall. A
variety of workshops have been developed to improve the effectiveness
of Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committees (JOHSCs) and help
build occupational health and safety capacity. The workshops, among
others, include Introduction to Occupational Health and Safety;
Violence Prevention Planning; Management of Aggressive Behaviour; and
Incident Investigation.
The training sessions will take place from September 13th through November 10th. You can find the full training schedule on the Exposure
to patient violence while working alone in the community is especially
daunting as help may be minutes or even hours away. Aside from the
physical injury that may occur to a healthcare worker, violence can
cause mental stress, loss of job satisfaction, and job retention
issues. The OHSAH website offers a number of tips on how to minimize
the risk of patient violence for those working alone, including:
- Personal Safety Tips
- Guidelines for dealing with angry client
- Guidelines for dealing with anxious client
- Guidelines for dealing with depressed client in crisis