1. Safety in the Workplace

2. Safety Introduction
Definition: freedom from danger, risks, and injury

3. Safety Concerns in Health Care
List areas of Safety Concern that would be associated with a career in Health Care.

4. Safety Concerns in Health Care
Ergonomics Hazards (Heavy Lifting and repetitive tasks) – musculoskeletal disorders
WHMIS – chemicals, hazardous medications (chemotherapy drugs)
Infection Control (exposure to Biological Hazards – blood, vomit, urine, etc.)
Violence in the Workplace
Fire and Safety Training
Slips, Trips and Falls
Latex Allergy
Needle stick Injuries
Respiratory Hazards
Radioactive material and X-ray hazards

5. Group Activity
In your groups, think about five rules or guidelines to prevent accidents and place them into the appropriate category:
Physical environment and equipment
Hazardous chemicals
Client care

6. Physical Environment & Equipment
Instructions for the equipment available; knowing how to properly use the equipment
Well functioning and clean, sterile, operable equipment; report items that are broken or unsafe
Security doors
Keep floor dry and clutter free (minimize clutter)
Identified fire exits; keep safety equipment accessible
Preparedness plan (codes)
Hand sanitizers strategically placed; proper sterilization of equipment
Keeping proper spacing of equipment
Minimize horseplay
Report suspicious activity

7. Hazardous Chemicals Proper disposal of needles Proper storage
Security over chemicals
Wear PPE (personal protective equipment – gloves,etc.)
Proper labelling
Proper ventilation
Proper disposal
Sterile clean surfaces
Be knowledgeable about the chemicals you are working with

8. Client Care Buzzers Proper attire First aid
Updated client charts and records (identify the underlying factors affecting the patient)
Minimizing exposure to allergens
Patient confidentiality; be polite and empathetic
Give proper care and attention
Don’t rush
Get help if needed
Patients are priority

9. Responsibilities of the Employer
Training and Education must be offered to all workers
Safe working environment
each accident needs to be documented and reviewed to help prevent others
Accidents can be divided into three categories:
Accidents related to the physical environment and equipment
Accidents related to hazardous chemicals
Accidents related to client care

10. Responsibilities of the Health Care Employee
health care workers are responsible for their own and their patients’ safety
Use equipment properly
need to report any unsafe practices
need to know how to respond if an emergency occurs
health care professionals are taught methods to avoid accidents (proactive approach)

11. Governing Agencies
Canadian Center for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHC) – Federal
promotes a safe and healthy working environment by providing information and advice about occupational health and safety
Ministry of Labour – Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) – Provincial
responsible for setting, communicating and enforcing OHS laws that are designed to reduce or eliminate workplace injury or illness
Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) – Provincial
oversees Ontario's workplace safety education and training system, provides disability benefits, monitors the quality of health care, and assists in early and safe return to work

12. Occupational Health and Safety Legislation
Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) legislation in Canada outlines the general rights and responsibilities of the employer, the supervisor and the worker
There is special "right-to-know" legislation that applies to hazardous products
it comprises several pieces of legislation collectively called WHMIS - the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System

13. WHMIS
WHMIS applies in all Canadian workplaces where WHMIS- controlled products are used.
WHMIS uses classifications to group chemicals with similar properties or hazards
Highlighted by:
Effective labelling of chemicals
Employee training
Specific symbols to help people identify the hazard
Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) – highlights key information for all chemicals that an employee may come in contact with

14. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
in Canada, every material that is controlled by WHMIS must have an accompanying MSDS
an MSDS is a document that contains information on the potential hazards (health, fire, reactivity and environmental) and how to work safely with the chemical product