Hazard Identification

and Control

Heather Matthews, OHS Specialist

Labour and Advanced Education

 Objectives

•Review key elements that are required for a HMS

•IRS
•Responsibilities
• The Law- Regulations Relating to Hazard
Assessment
•Hazard Management System
•Challenges with Health Care
 Review – Internal Responsibility System
(IRS)

•Everyone has a direct responsibility for safety

BASED ON

•Their level of Responsibility

Accountability
Authority
 Review - IRS
BOD
OWNERS

Responsibility Exc. Dir. Accountability

Senior
Leaders

MANAGERS
SUPERVISORS

Staff
( Contractors / Volunteers)
 Review - Responsibilities
• Employees
– Protect themselves and others
– Follow Organization’s rules
– Wear the necessary PPE
– Use only equipment and materials as authorized
– Cooperate with Employer, JOHS Committee
– Report Hazards & Incidents
 Review - Responsibilities
• Employer
– Ensure Health & Safety of those at or near
– Maintain Equipment safely
– Inform Workers of Hazards
– Provide Instruction, Training, Supervision and Facilities as
necessary
– Establish Policy & Program
– Establish JOHS Committee
– Follow OHS Act & Regulations
 Review – The Law
• Hazard Assessment Law
– OHS Act 13 (1) (a) – every precaution in the circumstance to
ensure health & safety of persons at or near the workplace
– OHS Act 13 (1) (b) Provide or maintain machines, materials,
equipment with safety devices
– OHS Act 13 (1) (c) Provide such information, instruction,
supervision and facilities as are necessary to the health &
safety of the employees

You can only do this if you identify, assess and control hazards!
 Review – The Law
• OHS Act (13 (1) (d) Ensure that the employees, and
particularly the supervisors and foreman are made
familiar with any health or safety hazard met by them
at the workplace
• OHS Act (13 (1) (e) Conduct the employers
undertaking so that employees are not exposed to
health or safety hazards as a result of the undertaking
 Review – The Law
• OHS Act (28)(2)
– (a) Provision for Training
– (b) Provision for the preparation of Written Work procedures
– (e) Hazard Identification System
• (i) Evaluation of workplace for hazards
• (ii) Regular Inspections
• (iii & iv)) Hazard Reporting
– (f)Monitoring, prompt follow up & control of identified hazards
– (g) Prompt investigation of identified hazards
Hazard Management and Control
WORKPLACE SAFETY IS ALL ABOUT
MANAGING HAZARDS
Main Hazards in Health Care
• Overexertion from lifting and repositioning
• Falls from slip and falls
• Violence from aggressiveness
• Exposure to infectious disease
 Hazard Management
• Hazards need to be:
–Identified
–Assessed
–Controlled
 Identifying and Assessing
Hazard
• What are the hazard?
• How “at Risk” are the staff?
• What are my options?
• What do I have to do Immediately? &
what can I put in place overtime?
 Hazard Management
• Identify
– Employee Reporting
• Inspection /Hazard reports
• Near misses
– Supervisor Assessment
– Agency Assessments
– Org Experience
– Client Illness / Status
– Etc.
 Hazard Management
• Assessment (Calculating the Risk)
–Base on
• Probability
• Consequence
Hazard Management - Matrix
Video
 Hazard Management
• Controls
– Eliminate / Substitution
– Engineering
– Administrative
• Training / Education
• Supervision
• Safe Work Procedure (SWP) / Safe Operating
Procedure (SOP)
– Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
 Hazard Management
Hazard Pathway Hazard
Worker

Control At the Worker Control Along the Path Control At the Source
 Hazard Management
The three locations of control must ‘live’ together.

At the Worker Along the Path At the Source

PPE Barriers between worker & hazard

Eliminate
- Clothing & Footwear -Machine guarding
Do we really need this, or need to
- Hearing Protection -Use of guides/push sticks do this?
- Head Protection -Lock-out tags and procedure Substitute
- Eye Protection -Physical barriers. coverings, coatings - non-slip flooring replaces
- Skin Protection -Security protocols kitchen tile

- Respiratory Protection -Training -less harsh cleaning products for

others
-Equipment worn over clothing -SOP’s & SWP’s
(ie. harnesses, reflective vests) - improved procedure
-Supervision
-Worker specific tasks Isolate
-Workplace Inspections
- enclosed bio-safety cabinets
- storage protocols
 Hazard Management
An integral part of your Health and Safety Management System

Leadership

JOHS Hazard Incident

Committee Management Investigation

RTW & SAW

 Hazard Management in Health Care
Challenges
• Supervision
• Empathic Care Givers
• Time Management
• Environment
• Declining Health of Client
• Community
• Inconsistent Service Delivery
– Employee to employee
– Agency to Agency(homecare)
 Hazard Management in Health Care
Challenges
– Ever tightening Budgets
– Client wants and needs vs. Contract
– Clients understanding service delivery contract
– Client family interventions (+ or -)
– Increasing Levels of care
– Access to quality Employees
– 6 visits means 6 workplaces in Home Care
 Making our Workplaces Safer
Controlling the Hazards
• Better understanding of how to manage the
hazards
• Use of process with Safety Management
System (SMS)
– CSA or ISO SMS
• Build upon existing Best Practices
 Making our Workplaces Safer
Controlling the Hazards
• Build upon existing Best Practices
– By sector
– By job function
– Regional
 Making our Workplaces Safer
Controlling the Hazards
• Emphasis on Continuous Hazard Id & Control
– Adapting to Driving conditions(home care)
– Always surveying workplace conditions
• Changes within the workplace
• Understanding the contract vs. the wants/wishes of the client
– Continually surveying client conditions
• Declining Health means more care
– Understanding your community(homecare/community
Services)
– Understanding how Hazards are Controlled along the PATH
Thank You/Questions