1. Toxic Risks in the Workplace A presentation to the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering

2. Today’s Talk: Common causes of work place poisonings Common behaviours that lead to poisonings in the workplace Critical pathway to resolving a poisoning Common barriers to resolving a poisoning The ChExSS service

3. The Most Common Workplace Poisons in 2005-06

4. Poisonous Behaviours Machismo Culture Lead to dangerous behaviours such as: –Storing chemicals in drink bottles –Inadequate utilization of PPE –Workplace resistance to seeking care

5. Chemicals in Drink Bottles Continues to be a practice Has resulted in serious methanol poisonings

6. Inadequate PPE Burns from caustic up-hole drilling mud Nitro-glycerine overdoses in blasting crews Hydrofluoric Acid burns to hands and arms

7. Dangerous Habits Mixing industrial cleaners Working alone in high risk environments

8. Reluctance to seeking Adequate Care Workers are reluctant to look weak Worksite mgmt afraid of overreacting Toxic exposures often go untreated until symptoms escalate –(By then its too late)

9. Critical Pathway to Poison Treatment Identify Substance Find MSDS/ Interpret Contact Health Expert Initiate Treatment Identify Toxic Exposure Healthy Worker Toxic Exposure Barriers to treatment: Illusion of safety Inability to ID Language Literacy Fear

10. ChExSS Simplifies the Path Healthy Worker Toxic Exposure ChExSS Managing the patient throughout the circle of care Anytime - Anywhere Assessment of health effects Treatment In Transport Treatment On-site Treatment at Health Care Facility Feedback: Client and ChExSS work together to mitigate factors that led to incident

11. Customized Service ChExSS is an affordable customized service –ChExSS develops an advanced knowledge of the client’s operation –Takes the guess work out of identifying the root cause of toxicity in the event of an exposure –Speeds the delivery of care –Minimizes the risk to the patient and the organization

12. Access to Experts ChExSS provides your employees, and managers instant access to: –Poison Specialists –Medical Toxicologists Anytime – Anywhere in Canada

13. Continuous Care Once activated, ChExSS becomes an integral part of the Circle of Care ChExSS has close relationships with health care facilities across the province ChExSS is able to provide continuous care to the victim while they move through the health care system

14. Immediate Treatment ChExSS is Capable of initiating immediate treatment –Reduces severity of health effects –Improves patient outcomes Better patient outcomes: –Minimize liability –Reduce the number of “Lost Time Accidents”

15. Corporate Learning ChExSS Provides Feedback –Keeps client informed of factors contributing to toxic exposures at their work sites –Assists in corporate learning and process improvement –Keeps client from being blindsided by events

16. ChExSS – The Simple Solution to Toxic Due Diligence Healthy Worker Toxic Exposure ChExSS Managing the patient throughout the circle of care Anytime - Anywhere Assessment of health effects Treatment In Transport Treatment On-site Treatment at Health Care Facility Feedback: Client and ChExSS work together to mitigate factors that led to incident

17. Thank You A presentation to the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering