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WorkSafeBC

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Injury Prevention Resources for Health Care - General Resources

Musculoskeletal Injuries (MSI) and Ergonomics | Ceiling Lift Resources | Violence | Needlestick Injuries | Infectious Diseases | Latex Allergies | Home Care | Cytotoxic Drugs | General Resources

The following links list tools, publications, and other resources to help prevent the most common injuries and illnesses in the health care industry. These resources may not meet all the requirements for health and safety in British Columbia. Please check the Workers Compensation Act, the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation, and related materials for specific WorkSafeBC requirements.

New Worker Orientation Checklist for Health Care and Social Services

This checklist provides the employer's responsibilities and the worker's rights.
Source: WorkSafeBC WorkSafeBC and OHSAH
* PDF (275 KB)
Revised October 2007

Wash Your Hands

An infection control poster.
Source: WorkSafeBC WorkSafeBC
* PDF (204 KB)

WorkSafeBC Health Care Sector Resource List image

This resource list contains information on topics specific to health care and social assistance employers and workers. For example, musculoskeletal (MSI) and ergonomics, violence, needlestick injuries, infectious diseases, etc.
Source: WorkSafeBC WorkSafeBC
* PDF (3 MB)
Revised: January 2008

How to Implement a Formal Occupational Health and Safety Program updated

This booklet offers a comprehensive program plan, valuable to both employer and employee, but especially to occupational health and safety committee members.
Source: WorkSafeBC WorkSafeBC
* PDF (415 KB)
Updated: May 2008

Residential Care in BC (Backgrounder)

Approximately 25,000 health care workers are employed in residential care; 14% of the total health care workforce. These workers provide care for some of the most vulnerable British Columbians
Source: WorkSafeBC WorkSafeBC
* PDF (63 KB)

RN Fact Sheet, February 2007

A provincial overview of nurses in health care and social assistance.
Source: WorkSafeBC WorkSafeBC
* PDF (58 KB)

LPN Fact Sheet, June 2006

A provincial BC overview of licensed practical nurses in health care and social assistance.
Source: WorkSafeBC WorkSafeBC
* PDF (63 KB)

Downtown Eastside Health Care Services Providers Information Session - June 9, 2006

This information session was held specifically for downtown eastside health care service providers. The morning session consisted of four presentations: violence, MSI, needlesticks and bedbugs. A copy of the morning's agenda, speaker bios, the four presentations and the session evaluation report are available.

Chemical Protective Clothing - Glove Selection

Describes how to choose the right material for the job. A guide to the selection of skin protection is provided, as well as diagrams showing how to test rubber or synthetic gloves for leaks.
Source: CCOHS (Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety)
* HTML

Chemical Exposure Assessment at Langley Memorial Hospital

"The purpose of the project was to quantify the nurses' exposure to formaldehyde and nitrous oxide and compare it to WorkSafeBC's exposure limits." (Dated Summer 2001)
Source: Fraser Health Authority
* PDF (2 MB)

Foot Comfort and Foot Safety at Work

"Foot troubles may be perceived as a trivial matter, especially at work. However, as the old saying goes, "When your feet hurt, you hurt all over."
Source: CCOHS (Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety)
* HTML

Kitchen Posters

A series of 6 safety posters for institutional kitchens.
Source: WorkSafeBC WorkSafeBC
* HTML
* Available in print from Publications, Videos and Forms Distribution.

Backgrounder - Slips and Trips in Health Care

"Slips and trips are the second most common cause of time-loss injuries for health care workers. The number one cause is musculoskeletal injuries (MSIs) accounting for 50% of all time-loss claims and the third most common is violence at 8%."
Source: WorkSafeBC WorkSafeBC
* PDF (63 KB)

Workplace Bulletin: Spilled mercury contaminates a medical office

This bulletin provides the reader with information on what to do if there is a mercury spill in your workplace and how to develop and implement an exposure control plan.
Source: WorkSafeBC WorkSafeBC
* HTML

Guidelines for Protecting the Safety and Health of Health Care Workers

Provides "information needed to protect the health and safety of health care workers in hospitals and other health care facilities. The document includes an overview of hospital hazards; methods for developing hospital safety and health programs; discussions of safety hazards, infection diseases, and noninfectious health hazards; methods for disposing of hazardous wastes; and a list of occupational safety and health agencies and resource organizations." (Dated September 1988)
Source: NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health)
* HTML

Lasers in Health Care

Describes the hazards resulting from the use of lasers in health care facilities, the types of protection or controls that can be used against these hazards, and the elements of a laser safety program and laser safety training program.
Source: CCOHS (Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety)
* HTML

Hospital eTool

"There are many occupational health and safety hazards throughout hospitals. This eTool* focuses on some of the hazards and controls found in the hospital setting, and describes standard requirements as well as recommended safe work practices for employee safety and health."
Source: OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)
* HTML

Occupational Hazards in Long Term Care

"Today nursing homes and personal care facilities employ approximately 1.7 million workers at 21,000 work sites. Among U.S. industries, they have the fourth highest rate of nonfatal injury or illness cases."
Source: OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)
* HTML

OSH Answers

A free information service provided by the Inquiries Service of the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety. It covers many topic areas in occupational health and safety.
Source: CCOHS (Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety)
* HTML

Additional Resources

Ontario Safety Association for Community & Healthcare Fast Facts
Fast Facts on a number of topics are available for download as PDF files. Links to related Web sites are also provided.
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Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee Workbook
Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee Workbook "looks at concepts and methods to develop and maintain an effective Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee ... at your workplace. Various sample forms, checklists and other documents are included." (Last updated: 2000)
* PDF (391 KB)

Effective Workplace Inspections
Effective Workplace Inspections, an OSH Answers document from the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, describes the purpose of inspections, how to plan and carry out an inspection, and how to complete an inspection report. A sample workplace inspection report is provided. (Last updated: 1998)
* HTML

Workplace Housekeeping - Checklist for General Inspections
Workplace Housekeeping - Checklist for General Inspections, an OSH Answers document from the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, provides a sample checklist as a general workplace guide. (Last updated: 1998)
* HTML

Hazard Reporting by Employee
Hazard Reporting by Employee, an OSH Answers document from the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, provides a sample hazard report form for employees to fill out. (Last updated: 1998)
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