Safety in the Workplace

Safety Introductiondefinition: freedom from danger, risks, and

injury

health care workers are responsible for their own and their patients’ safety

need to report any unsafe practices and know how to respond if an emergency occurs

health care professionals are taught methods to avoid accidents

Preventing Accidentstraining and education must be offered to all

workers

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

equipmentAccidents related to hazardous chemicalsAccidents related to client care

Group ActivityIn your groups, think about five rules or

guidelines to prevent accidents and place them into the appropriate category:Physical environment and equipmentHazardous chemicalsClient care

Governing AgenciesCanadian 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

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

Each of the ten provinces, three territories and the federal government has its own OH&S legislation.

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

WHMISWHMIS applies in all Canadian workplaces which

are covered by OH&S legislation and where WHMIS-controlled products are used.

Health Canada serves as the national coordinator for WHMIS and is responsible for the governance and administration of this program in Canada.

WHMIS uses classifications to group chemicals with similar properties or hazards

the Controlled Products Regulations specifies the criteria used to place materials within each classification

there are 6 classes although several classes have divisions or subdivisions

Each class has a specific symbol to help people identify the hazard quickly (see handout)

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

activity in pairs: MSDS awareness assignment