Transcript MOL Enforcement Approach for Health Care Sector

INDUSTRIAL HEALTH AND SAFETY PROGRAM
Enforcement Approach for the Health Care Sector
March 23, 2004
Today’s Presentation:
• Occupational health and safety system
• MOL general enforcement approach in the
health care sector
Occupational Health &Safety System
• Workplace Safety and Insurance Board
• Health and Safety Associations
– e.g. Health Care Health and Safety Association
• Ministry of Labour
OHS System - Role of the MOL
• Committed to the prevention of workplace
deaths, injuries & disease by:
• Setting standards
• Communicating standards
• Enforcing standards
Enforcing Standards
Investigations:
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workplace injuries and fatalities
workplace complaints
work refusals
occurrences with no injuries
Inspections:
– priority workplaces, priority hazards
How to enforce standards in
priority workplaces..
4.5 million industrial workers total …
• Concentrate enforcement on:
– Poor performers
– Vulnerable workers
– Self-reliance not evident
• Encourage self reliance in other
workplaces
Priority Workplaces by Sector
• Group workplaces into sectors
– 29 industrial sectors
• Identify priority sectors
– Annual risk assessment to allocate field visits
by sector
• Develop sector specific enforcement
strategies
Health Care Sector
Includes:
• Acute care facilities
• Long-term care facilities
• Home care services
• Group homes
• Health laboratories
• Doctor’s offices, clinics
• Social service organizations
Workplace Regulation - Health Care Facilities
• O. Reg. 67/93 Regulation for Health Care and
Residential Facilities
– Section 2(1) application to specific types of facilities
• Comprehensive workplace regulation
• Written measures and procedures
– in consultation with JHSC or H & S representative
– to be reviewed annually
Health Care Regulation - Coverage
Notice of injuries/illnesses
Compressed gas cylinders
Written measures and procedures Material handling equipment
Personal protective equipment
Ladders
Premises
Scaffolds
Ventilation
Explosion hazards
Heating
Anaesthetic gases
Lighting
Antineoplastic drugs
Hygiene facilities
Flammable liquids
Work Surfaces
Material handling
Restricted/Confined spaces
Housekeeping and waste
Equipment
Electrical equipment
Written Measures and Procedures
Work practices
Working conditions
Hygiene practices, facilities
Infection control
Immunization and inoculation
Antiseptics, disinfectants, decontaminants
Biological, chemical and physical agents
Effects of biological, chemical and physical agents to
reproductive, capacity, pregnancy or nursing
Equipment use, maintenance and operation
Reporting of unsafe equipment, work surfaces
Purchasing of equipment
Use and limitations of personal protective equipment
Handling, cleaning and disposal of sharps and waste
Other Regulations That May Apply
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WHMIS Regulation (O. Reg. 860)
X-Ray Regulation (O. Reg. 861 )
Biological and Chemical Agents(O. Reg. 833 )
Designated Substance Regulations
Asbestos on Construction (O. Reg. 838)
Window Cleaning Regulation (O. Reg. 859)
Extended Coverage Workplaces
• Some workplaces do not fall under a
specific workplace regulation such as the
Health Care Regulation
– e.g. home care services, clinics
Key Hazards – Health Care
Based on WSIB and MOL data:
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Sprains and strains due to overexertion
Slips,trips, falls
Communicable diseases
Hazardous substances
Struck by objects
Patient violence
Enforcement Strategy – Health Care
• Multi-disciplinary approach
• Risk based criteria to identify individual
workplaces to be inspected
• Internal Responsibility System reinforced
with orders
Future Directions- Health Care
• Minister’s Action Group announced
– Employers, unions, health and safety system partners,
other experts
• Identify gaps in existing prevention strategies
• Identify best practices, programs, policies and
standards to reduce injuries and illnesses
Monitoring Impact
• Field visits - health care
– number of inspections/investigations
– priority firms
– priority hazards
• Appropriate orders, prosecutions, fines
• Requests for training through HSAs
• OHS system collects data on the following:
– Fatalities, critical injuries, lost-time and no lost-time
injuries, occupational illnesses