UHN Worker Health and Safety Awareness

Transcription

1 UHN Worker Health and Safety Awareness

2 Table of Contents Welcome... 4 Introduction... 4 Step 1: Get on Board!... 4 Safety... 4 How the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) Works... 4 Purpose of the Regulation... 5 Levels of Authority... 5 Duties and Responsibilities... 5 Duties of the Employer:... 5 Duties of the Supervisor:... 5 Duties of the Worker (You):... 6 Rights of the Worker (You)... 6 Know the Hazards... 6 Ask Questions... 6 Refuse Unsafe Work... 6 Step 2: Get In the Know... 7 Know the Hazards in Your Workplace... 7 Your Experiences... 7 Hazard Classification... 7 Common Hazards in the Health Care Sector... 7 Occupational Illness... 8 Questions You Should Know to Ask... 8 Protect Yourself from Hazards... 8 Eliminate the Hazard... 8 Engineering Controls... 8 Administrative or Work Practice Controls... 9 Use Protective Equipment... 9 Personal Protective Equipment... 9 Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) Training... 9 Other Training... 9 Step 3: Get Involved P age

3 Working Together for Safety The Employer The Supervisor The Worker (You) Participating in Health and Safety Tip # Tip # Tip # Tip # Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC) What to Look For Tip # Tip # Tip # Tip # What to Ask Be a Safe Role Model Step 4: Get More Help You Are Not Alone Who to Talk To The Right to Refuse Unsafe Work Ontario's Health and Safety System Summary P age

4 Welcome Introduction Welcome to the UHN Worker Health and Safety Awareness elearning course. This course contains four (4) sections. This course will take approximately 45 minutes to complete. Step 1: Get on Board! Safety Everyone has a role in safety. A new job is a chance for a fresh start. You are learning new skills and meeting new people. But every job has hazards, no matter how safe it looks. Studies show that new and young workers in Ontario are four times more likely to get hurt during their first month on the job than at any other time. That is because: They often are not told about or do not understand the hazards of the job. They do not know what to expect from their employer, their supervisor, and of themselves. Sometimes they are not sure what questions to ask. Sometimes they do not even know who to ask. How the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) Works OHSA is a set of laws for duties of employers, supervisors, and the rights and duties of workers. University Health Network (UHN) policy and procedures also set out the responsibilities of the employer, supervisors, workers and others and practices to be followed. Example: UHN policies explain what is needed to work safely with chemicals and other hazardous materials. For more information, visit UHN s Policy on Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) _Safety/UHN doc.pdf There are also different regulations that are attached to the OHSA ( They contain more detailed laws about how to make the workplace safe in specific situations. Example: Several regulations explain what is needed to work safely with chemicals and other hazardous materials. This includes training, warning labels on products and information sheets. There are also regulations for different types of workplaces, such as construction projects, health care facilities, industrial establishments and mines. 4 P age

5 Purpose of the Regulation The whole point of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) and Regulations and University Health Network (UHN) policy and procedures is to keep workers from getting hurt or sick on the job. There are inspectors from the Ministry of Labour who make sure the laws are followed and may issue orders or lay charges if they are not. If a person is convicted of breaking the law, there are penalties such as fines or time in prison. Failure to comply: o Individuals: $25,000 and/or 12 months jail time o Corporation: $500,000 Levels of Authority The Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) gives everyone in the workplace duties and breaks them down to three main levels of authority. The employer is in charge of everyone. The more authority a person has in the workplace, the more health and safety duties they have. Remember, it is important for your safety that you understand everyone s health and safety duties. Duties and Responsibilities Duties of the Employer: Make sure workers know about hazards and dangers in the workplace and how to work safely. Make sure every supervisor knows how to take care of health and safety on the job. Create health and safety policies and procedures for the workplace. Make sure everyone knows and follows the health and safety procedures. Make sure workers wear and use the right protective equipment. Do everything reasonable to keep workers from getting hurt or sick on the job. There are a number of other duties for the employer under section 25 and 26 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA). Duties of the Supervisor: Tell workers about hazards and dangers in the workplace and show them how to work safely. Make sure workers follow the law and the workplace health and safety policies and procedures. Make sure workers wear and use the right protective equipment. Do everything reasonable to keep workers from getting hurt or sick on the job. 5 P age

6 Duties of the supervisor are listed in Section 27 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA). Duties of the Worker (You): Follow the law and the University Health Network (UHN) workplace health and safety policies and procedures. Always wear or use the protective equipment that UHN requires. Work and act in a way that will not hurt yourself or any other worker. Report any hazard you find in the workplace to your supervisor. Do not remove or make ineffective any protective device required by law or UHN. Rights of the Worker (You) Know the Hazards You have the right under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) to be told about the hazards in the work you do and to be instructed on how to do your work safely. Your employer has the responsibility to make the workplace as safe as possible and to tell you about any hazards in the work you do. Your supervisor has the same duty. They also have to make sure you know how to avoid those dangers and work safely. Ask Questions If someone asks you to do work that you do not know enough about, your employer and supervisor are responsible for making sure you know how to do the work safely. That is why you have the right to speak up and ask questions, even if you are shy or unsure. People can get hurt on the job if they do not have the right information and training. You should never have to be worried that you will get in trouble for asking questions or reporting a problem. Refuse Unsafe Work It is against the law to punish you in any way for doing what the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) says or for asking your employer or supervisor to do what the OHSA expects them to do. This is called a reprisal. It is even against the law for your supervisor or employer to threaten to punish or fire you for doing these things. You also have a right to refuse to do unsafe work if you have reason to believe it puts you or a fellow worker in danger. 6 P age

7 Step 2: Get In the Know Know the Hazards in Your Workplace A hazard is anything in the workplace that could hurt you or the people you work with. You need to know about the hazards in your workplace before you start working. There is a hazard at the root of every work-related death, injury or sickness. A hazard can take many forms. Sometimes more than one hazard can combine to make an even bigger hazard. Remember, what you do not know CAN hurt you. Your Experiences We have all heard about a worker or group of workers who were killed on the job. We have heard of workers falling from heights, getting caught in equipment, or being electrocuted and burned. Events like these send a shockwave through the workplace and the community, and it is a tragic loss for the victim s family and friends. Unfortunately, this kind of event happens not once or twice but dozens of times each year in Ontario. Take a moment to consider the following: Do you know someone who has been hurt or killed at work? Consider what the hazards were and how this affects you. Hazard Classification Hazards are typically classified into six (6) main groups. 1. Chemical 2. Physical 3. Biological 4. Safety 5. Ergonomic 6. Psychological Common Hazards in the Health Care Sector Moving and lifting patients Slipping, tripping or falling Hazardous chemicals Infectious diseases Workplace violence Sharps Loud noise mainly in mechanical rooms 7 P age

8 Working near motorized vehicles (loading dock) Using or working near machinery Working at heights At University Health Network (UHN) overexertion and strain typically represent between 20 and 30% of all incidents. Occupational Illness You also need to think about less visible hazards related to your work - things like chemicals, fumes, and toxic dust or germs and viruses in labs and health care workplaces. Some of these hazards can make you very sick. Sometimes they make you sick right away; other times you do not know that you are sick until months or even years later. That is why it is important to know about these hazards now. Questions You Should Know to Ask Here are seven (7) important questions about your job that you need to know and be able to answer. If you do not know, ask your supervisor. 1. What is University Health Network (UHN)'s policy and procedures for this job? 2. What are the hazards for this job? 3. Is there any special training needed for this job? 4. Do I have the right protective equipment for this job? 5. If I have any questions about safety, who do I ask? 6. How do I report an injury? 7. What do I do in an emergency? Protect Yourself from Hazards It is important to know how you can protect yourself from hazards in your workplace. Eliminate the Hazard The best way is to get rid of or eliminate the hazard completely. A good example is replacing a toxic cleaning chemical with one that is non-toxic. Engineering Controls If the hazard cannot be eliminated, your employer can try to reduce the hazard. Example: Turn up the ventilation system or put a barrier around a dangerous piece of equipment. 8 P age

9 Administrative or Work Practice Controls Reduce how long or often you come in contact with the hazard. This can be done by arranging the work differently so that you are not exposed as long. Use Protective Equipment If the hazard still exists after trying to control it through elimination, engineering controls and administrative or work practice controls, your employer may require you to use protective equipment and/or protective devices. Personal Protective Equipment Your duty as a worker is always to wear or use the protective equipment that your employer requires. You must never remove or disable any protective device that is required. Do not use any equipment or machine in a way that could hurt you or any other worker. You also cannot act or behave in a way that could hurt you or anyone else. That means no playing games, pranks or acting in other ways that could hurt someone. You may think that a hard hat, safety glasses, steel-toed boots or some other protective clothing or equipment are uncomfortable or slow you down. But if the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) or University Health Network (UHN) says you have to wear or use these things to do the work, you have to. In the Facilities shops some of the machinery may have a guard. The guard protects you from coming in contact with a moving part. If UHN or one of the OHS Regulations says that the guard has to be used, it has to be used. Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) Training Every worker who works with or in proximity to hazardous chemicals has to have information and training about chemicals or hazardous materials in the workplace. The WHMIS regulation says that you need to receive information and instruction on how to use, store and get rid of hazardous materials safely. This information is available on warning labels and material safety data sheets. Examples: University Health Network (UHN) provides WHMIS training by elearning and instructor led courses. UHN has workplace health and safety procedures in writing. These procedures are about the work you do and the equipment you use and are available through the Intranet or by asking your supervisor. UHN has to make sure that you know and understand safety policies and procedures when you start work. UHN is also responsible for making sure the procedures are followed by everyone. Other Training 9 P age

10 If your job involves using equipment, your employer and supervisor must instruct you on how to operate that equipment safely. One way to get information on the safe use of machinery is from the operator s manual. If there is no manual available for the equipment you are using, you should ask your supervisor for information on how to operate the equipment safely. Another important way that you can learn about hazards is through training. University Health Network (UHN) has various elearning and instructor led training courses found on the elearning intranet website ( In a safe and healthy workplace, everyone knows about hazards. If you see a hazard on the job or a close call, report it to your supervisor or employer right away. That way, someone who knows how to fix it can deal with it so that no one gets hurt. Prevention starts here when everyone knows about hazards. Step 3: Get Involved Working Together for Safety Understanding the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) is all about knowing the health and safety duties of employers, supervisors and the duties and rights of workers, and putting them into action. We all have to get involved! The Employer If an employer knows about a hazard and does not try to eliminate or reduce it, or make sure the workers are told about it and how to deal with it, that employer is not doing what the law requires. The Supervisor If a supervisor knows about a hazard and does not explain to the workers how to deal with it, that supervisor is not doing what the law requires. The Worker (You) If you see a hazard on the job, speak up! This includes reporting equipment that is not working right, and any other hazards that may be present as a result of not following the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) or Regulations. If an injury, incident, or close call occurs, tell your supervisor so that it can be prevented in the future. If a worker knows about a hazard and does not report it to the supervisor or the employer, that worker is not doing what the law requires. 10 P age

11 Participating in Health and Safety The Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) gives you the right to participate and get involved in keeping your workplace safe and healthy. Joint Health and Safety Committees (JHSCs) are a legislated mechanism allowing workers to participate in workplace health and safety. Tip #1 You can ask questions when you are not sure about something. Tip #2 You can volunteer to become a worker member of the Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC). Tip #3 You can help your Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC) with health and safety inspections by pointing out possible hazards in your work area. Tip #4 You can take your health and safety training seriously and put what you learn into practice in your job. Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC) Committees have to have at least two people on them; the workers or their union, if any, pick one of them and the employer picks the other. In workplaces where there are fifty (50) or more workers, the committee must have at least four (4) members and at least half of the members have to represent workers. There are currently ten (10) JHSCs at the University Health Network (UHN). What to Look For The Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) says that your employer must post the OHSA and other health and safety information in your workplace, such as an occupational health and safety poster. Tip #1 Look for the posted names of your Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC) members on bulletin boards and on the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) department website ( These are people you can talk to if you need help. Tip #2 Look for the University Health Network (UHN) Health and Safety Policy ( N doc.pdf). 11 P age

12 Tip #3 If you cannot find any of this information in your workplace, talk to your supervisor or call the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) department ( Tip #4 Always be on the lookout for hazards to yourself or others, even before you start your work day. What to Ask Before you start your work day, ask yourself questions like: Is any of the machinery broken? Are there warning labels or signs? Is there any moving equipment I could get caught in? Is there something I could slip or trip on? Do I need protective equipment? Do I know how to do this job safely? Is there another worker nearby who could get hurt by what I am doing? Is this task more than I can physically handle? Can you think of any other questions to ask? Try to list a few more! Be a Safe Role Model Be a safe role model for good health and safety practices. How you work, and the way you think and talk about the work, can affect the safety of the people you work with. The message you want others to get from you is: Prevention starts here. Step 4: Get More Help You Are Not Alone It is a sad fact that in some workplaces, nobody pays much attention to safety. In those workplaces, it is all about doing the work as quickly as possible. If someone questions the way things are being done, they may get a dirty look, but nothing is done to make things safer. People in workplaces like that are often afraid to do anything about it because they do not want to get fired. So they keep quiet. Maybe you have felt that way on a past job. That is why it is important to know that you are not alone. Help is always available from outside the workplace. 12 P age

13 Who to Talk To If you see something unsafe that could hurt someone, you need to report it to your supervisor. It is also a good idea to tell your committee. They have a responsibility and are obligated to address health and safety concerns. The Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) department should also be contacted. Visit the OHS website for the contact at your site ( If the Internal Responsibly System is unable to resolve the issue the Ministry of Labour is available for assistance. The Ministry of Labour's job is to help prevent workplace injuries and illnesses through enforcing the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA). If a health and safety problem is not resolved, they can be contacted at o Ministry of Labour: If you think the employer has taken action against you for raising a health and safety concern and it is not resolved internally to your satisfaction, you can contact your union, the Ontario Labour Relations Board or the Office of the Worker Adviser if non-unionized at o Labour Relations Board: o Office of the Worker Adviser: The Right to Refuse Unsafe Work Workers have the right to refuse work if they have reason to believe one of the following conditions applies: Condition Anything the worker is to use is likely to endanger The physical condition of the workplace is likely to endanger Workplace violence is likely to endanger... Anything the worker is to use or the physical condition of the workplace is in contravention of the Act and is likely to endanger Person/People at Risk Him/Herself or another worker Him/Herself Him/Herself Him/Herself or another worker If you refuse to do work because you believe it is unsafe, you must: 1. Tell your employer or supervisor and your Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC) worker members that you think you are in danger and you are not going to do the work. 2. Explain why you believe the work is unsafe. 13 P age

14 Most of the time, your supervisor or employer and your safety representative or committee member will be able to solve the problem. If the problem is not fixed or you still have reason to believe the work is unsafe, you can continue to refuse the work. An inspector from the Ministry of Labour will be called in to investigate. Refusal by a health care worker may be limited if the refusal to work directly endangers the life, health, or safety of another person. Talk to your Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC) members, supervisor, employer (Occupational Health and Safety department) or union, if you think your right to refuse work may be limited by the work you do. Review the following University Health Network (UHN) policies. Refusal to Work Policy: _Safety/UHN doc.pdf Bilateral Work Stoppage Policy: _Safety/ pdf A work stoppage can only be initiated by a certified member of the JHSC. Ontario's Health and Safety System Organization Ministry of Labour Health & Safety Ontario, e.g., Public Services Health & Safety Association Workplace Safety and Insurance Board Worker's Health and Safety Centre Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers Purpose Enforces the Ontario Health and Safety Act (OHSA) Occupational health and safety consulting, training, products and services Insurance benefits for injured or sick workers Health and Safety Training Medical clinics for injured or sick workers 14 P age

15 Summary Congratulations! You have now completed the UHN Worker Health and Safety Awareness elearning course. For contact information and further resources, visit UHN`s Occupational Health and Safety department website ( 15 P age