Table of Contents

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
About the videos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
About this discussion guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Video: Ceiling lifts: Why aren’t they being used? . . 6
Video: Two-person care needs a planned
approach . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Video: Don’t bring your work home with you . . . . . 11
WorkSafeBC publications and videos . . . . . . . . . . 13
WorkSafeBC Prevention Information Line. . . . . . . 14

Discussion Guide 3
 Introduction
Each day, more than 1,275 health care and social
service workers are unable to work because of injuries
and diseases sustained in their workplaces. Patient
handling activities, slips and trips, and violence are
the three leading causes of injuries. Exposure to
infectious diseases poses another significant hazard.
Fortunately, these injuries and diseases can be
prevented if hazards are identified and appropriate
controls put in place. Creating workplaces that are
safer for care workers also benefits patients, residents,
and clients.

About the videos

These three videos deal with subject matter common
to many care settings. Ceiling lifts: Why aren’t they
being used? challenges some frequently offered
reasons why available equipment is not always used
to move and assist residents. Two-person care needs a
planned approach discusses the limitations of adding a
second care worker to a situation where a single care
worker has not been able to successfully complete a
task. Don’t bring your work home with you illustrates
the importance of handwashing to prevent the spread
of infectious diseases.

Although the videos were filmed in specific work

environments, the information presented is applicable
to all health care and social service settings.
Throughout the videos and discussion guide, different
terms, such as “patient,” “resident,” and “client,” may
be used to describe the person receiving care.

4 Safety Videos for Care Workers

These videos are appropriate for a number of
audiences, including employers, supervisors, workers,
joint occupational health and safety committee
members, and educators. They can be used for safety
meetings or incorporated into existing education and
training programs, including worker orientation.

About this discussion guide

This discussion guide contains additional information
about the various topics and suggested discussion
points for each video.

After viewing the videos, engage viewers in a

discussion using some or all of the suggested
discussion points. Some of the questions include a list
of possible answers, while others are left open-ended.
Remember that there is no one correct answer to any
of these questions; they are intended only to promote
the sharing of information.

The videos and discussion guide are meant to be

an initial step in raising awareness of hazards in
the workplace and are not intended to provide a
comprehensive look at these issues.

Discussion Guide 5
 VIDEO
Ceiling lifts: Why aren’t
they being used?

One in three injuries among care workers is caused

by moving and assisting clients. Using ceiling lifts to
transfer, reposition, and turn clients reduces worker
injuries. Sometimes, even when lifts are available,
they’re not always used. This video challenges the
seven most common reasons care workers give for not
using ceiling lifts.

y y What are the key safety messages of this video?

–– Many of the reasons for not using ceiling lifts
can be overcome
–– Ceiling lifts have significant benefits for both
residents and care workers

6 Safety Videos for Care Workers

y y When you have questions about using a ceiling lift,
what should you do?
–– Ask your supervisor
–– Talk to a co-worker
–– Consult written safe patient-handling
procedures
–– Consult training materials
–– Refer to the care plan or chart for more
information

y y How does your workplace ensure that all workers

are trained on the use of equipment?

y y What do you do if you receive conflicting

information about using a ceiling lift with a
particular resident?

y y How do you prepare families when a ceiling lift is

required to care for their family member?

y y Have you ever manually lifted a person when

lifting equipment was available? Why?

y y Are there other reasons why you don’t use a ceiling

lift?

Discussion Guide 7
 VIDEO
Two-person care needs a
planned approach

Care workers sometimes find themselves in situations

where their plans for providing care don’t achieve the
intended results. A “two is better than one” solution to
the situation won’t work if workers don’t understand
why the plan didn’t work in the first place. This video
shows how, without a planned approach, two-person
care can put both workers at risk.

y y What are the key safety messages of this video?

–– Before adding more care workers, stop and
make a plan for each person. (Remember:
The situation may be no safer with two, and a
completely different plan may be needed.)
–– Review the care plan before providing care.

8 Safety Videos for Care Workers

y y At first, what did the care worker do to keep herself
safe?
–– Left the room immediately and talked with her
supervisor
–– Reviewed the care plan
–– Discussed the situation with other care workers

y y What did the supervisor do differently in the two

scenes?
–– In the first scene, the supervisor merely added a
second care worker
–– In the second scene, the supervisor involved
members of the care team in devising a plan

y y What were the parts of the plan that allowed Sunita

and Cheryl to safely care for Mrs. Braun?
–– Both Sunita and Cheryl had specific roles:
Cheryl distracted Mrs. Braun, while Sunita
washed Mrs. Braun’s face.
–– Sunita entered the room first to ask Mrs. Braun
whether it was okay for Cheryl to join them.

y y What are some other situations where adding extra

workers may not reduce the risk of injury?
–– When the person is already feeling defensive,
scared, threatened
–– When the person has a weapon or is throwing
objects
–– When the workers are being threatened
–– When the person is threatening self-harm

Discussion Guide 9
 y y What are your organization’s policies when dealing
with challenging residents/situations?

y y What are some situations that you have

encountered where adding an extra worker made a
bad situation worse?

10 Safety Videos for Care Workers

 VIDEO
Don’t bring your work
home with you

Each year WorkSafeBC accepts close to 500 time-loss

claims from care workers due to infectious diseases.
This video illustrates that what happens at work
doesn’t always stay at work.

y y What are the key safety messages of this video?

–– Washing your hands is the best way to prevent
the spread of infectious diseases

y y Where do you go when you have questions about

infectious diseases?
–– Ask your supervisor
–– Talk to a co-worker
–– Consult written infectious disease procedures
–– Consult training materials

Discussion Guide 11
 y y How could your workplace improve the level of
handwashing?

y y What are the most common infectious diseases you

are likely to contract?

y y Besides handwashing, what else can you do to

prevent the spread of infectious diseases?
–– Get vaccinated
–– Wear personal protective equipment
–– Change into and out of your work clothes at work
–– Activate safety features on sharps after use
–– Dispose of sharps immediately after use

y y The video depicts viruses moving between

surfaces. How long does a virus remain active
outside the human host?
–– Most viruses live for very short amounts of time
outside the human host, anywhere from a few
minutes to several hours.
–– The length of time a virus remains active
depends on the surface on which it lands, the
amount of virus deposited, and the temperature
and humidity of the environment.

y y This video uses a significant amount of creative

license when depicting the spread of infectious
diseases. Give some examples of depictions that
wouldn’t happen in reality.
–– Droplets are typically not spread directly from a
person sneezing to another person’s hands.
–– Viruses and bacteria don’t freely move up
clothing or electronic devices.

12 Safety Videos for Care Workers

WorkSafeBC publications and
videos
Many publications and videos are available for download
on the WorkSafeBC web site. The Occupational Health
and Safety Regulation and associated policies and
guidelines, as well as excerpts and summaries of the
Workers Compensation Act, are also available on the web
site: WorkSafeBC.com.

Some publications and videos are also available for

purchase in print:

Phone: 604 232-9704

Toll-free phone: 1 866 319-9704
Fax: 604 232-9703
Toll-free fax: 1 888 232-9714
Online ordering: worksafebcstore.com

WorkSafeBC Safety Videos App

This app allows you to search and browse
WorkSafeBC safety videos.
www2.worksafebc.com/publications/multimedia/
miscellaneous.asp?reportID=37057

ebooks
Interactive ebooks can be downloaded to your iPad
and viewed anywhere. Ebooks are available at:
www2.worksafebc.com/publications/multimedia/
ebooks.asp#download

Discussion Guide 13
 WorkSafeBC Prevention
Information Line
The WorkSafeBC Prevention Information Line
can answer your questions about workplace
health and safety as well as worker and employer
responsibilities, and can help you report a workplace
accident/incident. The Prevention Information Line
accepts anonymous calls.

Phone 604 276-3100 in the Lower Mainland, or call

1 888 621-7233 (621-SAFE) toll-free in British
Columbia.

To report after-hours and weekend safety and health

emergencies, call 1 866 922-4357 (WCB-HELP)
toll-free in British Columbia.

14 Safety Videos for Care Workers

Resources
WorkSafeBC.com – Health Care Industry
This site provides information and resources on
topics specific to health care and social services for
employers and workers. Resources include books,
bulletins, posters, and videos, as well as statistics and
events listings (such as conferences and workshops).
www2.worksafebc.com/Portals/HealthCare/Home.asp

E-news updates
The health care and social service enews is sent out
10-12 times a year and focuses on injury prevention,
pointing to resources on patient handling, violence,
dementia, infectious diseases, general health and
safety, and much more. Other information in the
enews includes notifications of changes to the
Occupational Health and Safety Regulation and
guidelines.
www2.worksafebc.com/Portals/HealthCare/
HealthcareUpdates.asp?ReportID=37047

Contact Us
Email us at: indlabsr@worksafebc.com

To view or download videos, go to:

WorkSafeBC.com/HealthCareVideos

06/13 Printed in Canada BK136