Occupational Health & Safety

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Amice Elliott
5 years ago
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1 Safety in the Workplace WRH recognizes health and safety as a vital component in achieving its vision, mission and values. It is committed to providing safe and harm free care to all patients and employees. Safety is everyone's responsibility. Every staff member, physician, student and volunteer, regardless of the department in which they work, is responsible for patient safety. All are responsible for working safely, reporting hazards and unsafe conditions, and taking all reasonable measures to protect themselves in the workplace. Rights and Responsibilities The Occupational Health and Safety Act describes the rights and duties of all those in the workplace, including the employee and the employer. It was designed to provide guidelines about how to work safely in the workplace. You have a Right to: A safe work environment Participate in training to work safely Be informed of hazards Refuse unsafe work Ask questions about safety Reporting Unsafe Conditions If you identify an actual/potential hazard, consult your Supervisor Your concern will be investigated and recommendations will be made Sharps You have a Responsibility to: Be knowledgeable about safety Report any actual or potential health and safety hazards including equipment issues, breaks/breaches of the Act & any existence of a physical hazard Wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) correctly Follow the policies & procedures set in place A sharp is defined as anything capable of cutting or penetrating the skin (i.e. needles, knives, scissors) Discard a sharp IMMEDIATELY after use into the closest available sharps container Use a hemostat to remove scalpel blade(s) DO NOT use your fingers NEVER recap All sharps containers should be sealed and replaced when ¾ full (DO NOT overfill) and placed in the grey tote in the dirty utility room replace with an empty container IMMEDIATELY If you find a sharp that has been inappropriately disposed of, immediately isolate the area and get assistance. The MRP of the unit should be alerted to the improper disposal of the sharp immediately Large amounts of broken glass should be placed in a cardboard box, sealed and labeled accordingly Schulich Workplace Injury Protocol 1. Obtain medical treatment from Employee Health (Day shift) and/or Emergency Department (off-hours) 2. Inform your supervisor/mrp 3. Report the incident to the Clerkship Administrator in the Undergraduate Medical Education Office (UME) at (519) ext Required documentation to be submitted to UME within 48 hours of incident: Workplace Occurrence Report, Letter of Authorization to Represent Placement Employer and Work/Education Placement Agreement 1

Needle-Stick Injury Protocol 1. If skin is broken, let the wound bleed freely - DO NOT apply direct pressure on the site 2. Clean the wound with antiseptic or soap & water 3.

Inform the nurse that you have been involved in a workplace incident 5. With your MRP, an Incident Report will need to be filled out. 6.

2 Needle-Stick Injury Protocol 1. If skin is broken, let the wound bleed freely - DO NOT apply direct pressure on the site 2. Clean the wound with antiseptic or soap & water 3. Notify your Department Chief 4. IMMEDIATELY seek medical attention - Go to the Emergency Department at the campus you are placed with for treatment. Inform the nurse that you have been involved in a workplace incident 5. With your MRP, an Incident Report will need to be filled out. 6. A Workplace Occurrence Report will be faxed to the Undergrad Medicine Office (519) by the student 7. All workplace related injuries must be reported immediately to the Clerkship Administration in the UME office (ext ) and required documentation submitted within 48 hours. Appropriate Footwear In all patient care areas and the Lab, staff must wear footwear that is well-fitting, low-heeled, provides stability, and will not fall off during physical activity. Examples of appropriate footwear in Patient Care Areas and Labs include, but are not limited to the following: Scent-Fragrance Policy A Scent/Fragrance Policy has been implemented due to health concerns arising from exposure to scented products Please limit the use of strong perfumes, colognes, and soaps while in the workplace Workplace Violence & Harassment WRH is committed to providing a safe and secure work environment, free from violence, threats, bullying, intimidation and harassment. Threats, threatening behaviour or acts of violence will not be tolerated. Workplace Violence The attempt/actual exercise of physical force by a person against a worker, in a workplace, that causes or could cause injury to the worker. Early warning signs include: threat of harm to self/others; obsession with and/or history of violent incidents; decline in performance; major change in mood/behaviour; patterns of shouting or condescending language; substance abuse Workplace Harassment Engaging in a course of unwelcome, vexatious comment/conduct against a worker, in a workplace Workplace Bullying Conduct that purposefully undermines another individual's self-esteem/confidence, including: sudden anger outbursts; profanity; rude/abusive comments/conduct; persistent criticism/belittling in the presence of others; spreading false and malicious rumours; gossip; and purposeful exclusion/isolation of someone from workrelated interactions required to perform the job 2

3 Reporting an Emergency Situation WRH Reporting Process for Issues of Workplace Violence 1. Call Be sure to provide your specific location. Security will provide prompt assistance 2. Report the incident to your immediate supervisor 3. Seek medical attention, if necessary 4. Notify Law Enforcement, if necessary 5. Your supervisor will complete a incident report in RL6 as soon as possible Reporting a Non-Emergency Situation 1. Call Security (Switchboard can direct your call) 2. Report the incident to your immediate supervisor 3. Your supervisor will complete a incident report in RL6 as soon as possible. To ensure early identification, intervention and resolution, report any issues of workplace harassment or bullying, in writing, to your immediate supervisor. If the issue involves your immediate supervisor, report, in writing, to the Office of Mediation/Labour Relations. Domestic Violence Domestic Violence doesn't happen only at home and can cross over into the workplace. Signs include: missing work/calling in sick regularly; sadness, loneliness or fear; difficulty concentrating; upsetting calls throughout the day; and unexplained injuries WRH has a Domestic Violence Program that can assist with protection of the person at work and home. Call x52234 for more information Notify Security of any protective or restraining orders immediately Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) WHMIS is a nationally based system for easy hazard recognition that provides accurate, consistent information for deciding how materials should be stored, handled, and used. Employee Responsibilities under WHMIS Participate in WHMIS training programs Ensure labels are not removed, altered, or defaced Use personal protective equipment as required by the employer Use information from training to protect own health/safety and that of their co-workers Recognize WHMIS symbols and follow proper handling procedures If you don t know a product well enough to work with it safely, talk to your supervisor 3

Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) The 3 components which makeup a successful WHMIS program are: 1. Education & Training 2. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) 3. Labels 1.

MSDS Supplied by the manufacturer of the product Explains the safe handling, use and storage of hazardous materials in the work area.

4 Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) The 3 components which makeup a successful WHMIS program are: 1. Education & Training 2. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) 3. Labels 1. Education & Training Education and Training is required: For all new employees Yearly as an annual review When a new product is introduced into the workplace When changes to legislation are made 2. MSDS Supplied by the manufacturer of the product Explains the safe handling, use and storage of hazardous materials in the work area. Contains information on product use, hazardous ingredients, physical data, preventable measures, first aid and toxicological/reactivity/fire data Must be updated every 3 years 2 Types of MSDS Inventories: Master Inventory This is the most up to date inventory found on the Intranet (All products within the hospital) under MSDS Departmental Inventory Located in Departmental Binders (Only products found in the department) Accessible only to those departments without computer access (i.e., F&N) 1. Supplier Label Comes on the original product from the manufacturer; bilingual Has distinctive hatched (dashed) border Displays at least 1 hazard symbol 2. Workplace Label Affixed to the product by staff Attached when a label can no longer be read or if the product is being decanted (transferred to another container) 3 Pieces of information MUST be included on a Workplace label: 1. Name of product 2. MSDS Statement 3. Safe handling instructions 3

Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) Note: The Health and Safety Office MUST be

All unlabeled, IDENTIFIABLE products MUST either be relabeled or disposed of according to directions on

Class F Biohazardous and Infectious (Division 1) Compressed Gas (Division 2) Oxidizing Refrigerated

Causing Other Toxic Effects Due to risk of contamination from hazardous products, food should NOT be

5 Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) Note: The Health and Safety Office MUST be contacted for disposal of ALL unlabeled, unidentifiable products. All unlabeled, IDENTIFIABLE products MUST either be relabeled or disposed of according to directions on MSDS Hazard Symbols Class B Class E (Division 3) Class A Flammable or Combustible Class C Corrosive Class F Biohazardous and Infectious (Division 1) Compressed Gas (Division 2) Oxidizing Refrigerated Food/Beverages Dangerously Reactive Materials Causing Immediate and Serious Toxic Effects Materials Causing Other Toxic Effects Due to risk of contamination from hazardous products, food should NOT be placed in any Pharmacy/Specimen fridge Magnets/Stickers placed on refrigerators serve to alert staff as to what belongs in that fridge Refrigerated Food 4

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH & SAFETY

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH & SAFETY Safety in the Workplace WRH recognizes health and safety as a vital component in achieving its vision, mission and values. It is committed to providing safe and harm free care