OHA Safety Group April 27, 2009

Transcription

1 OHA Safety Group April 27, 2009 Leon Genesove MD CCFP DIH FCBOM FRCPC Chief Physician Occupational Health and Safety Branch 1

2 Purpose To provide an update on Safe At Work Ontario results to date To discuss what has worked well and what needs improvement 2

3 Safe At Work Ontario Launched June 11, 2008 Safe At Work Ontario built on the ministry s strategy, and represents an evolution from an enforcement-based program towards a compliance-focused program. The primary goal is to reduce fatalities, critical and lost time injuries. The new vision will lead to continued reduction in LTIs and NLTIs contributing to system targets (WSIB Road to Zero), reduced burden on the health care system, cost avoidance for employers and the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board, and a level playing field for safe companies. We want to enhance our partnerships leading to a more comprehensive framework that will result in less injuries. 3

4 Safe At Work Ontario Under this new direction, the ministry identifies and engages workplaces based on a variety of factors such as: their health and safety record, history of non-compliance, the presence of health and safety hazards inherent to the activities of the business. We are into workplaces that have not had an injury. Our new vision focuses on enforcement, dealing with sector hazards and improving the health and safety culture of our workplaces. 4

5 Safe At Work Ontario Inspection Focus Inspector s focus is on assessing strength and functionality of the IRS. If the IRS is working it is an indication of a strong health and safety culture. Competence Knowledge of OHSA Training Dealing with issues JHSC with certified members, frequent meetings, minutes Commitment Leadership to make workplace safe Policies and Procedures in place and implemented Zero Tolerance Capacity Resources to address issues in workplace Have a Health and Safety program Referrals to HSAs and WSIB Results of first inspection determine the degree of intervention by MOL. 5

6 Safe At Work Ontario - Program Design Sector Strategy Components Health and Safety Record (LTIs, NLTIs) Sector Specific (Hazard Focus) Partnerships Firm Identification - Use of WSIB data to identify worst firms in sector based on LTIs, NLTIs, cost - Firms identified for proactive inspection from MOL - High hazards in sector - blitzes, zero tolerance - MOL enforcement history - Complaints received by MOL - High potential for injuries - Integrated delivery - Prevention Focus - Educational focus by SWAs - SWA referral of firms to MOL - WSIB WorkWell audits - Working with workplace parties Inspection Focus Internal Responsibility System (IRS) Increased Compliance Results Decrease in LTIs Solid functioning IRS Decrease in critical injuries/fatalities Health and Safety Leadership in the workplace Safer Workplaces 6

7 Safe At Work Ontario Sector Strategies Sector Strategies focusing on: Hazards: Development of strategies to reduce injuries related to specific hazards Proactive inspections in firms, regardless of injuries, based on the hazardous nature of the operation Use of field intelligence and compliance history Provides flexibility to address specific issues Health and Safety Record: WSIB firms ranked according to the number and frequency of LTIs and NLTIs, and claim costs 7

8 Stakeholder Engagement - What We Heard Part of the Safe At Work Ontario Strategy is continuous improvement obtained through annual stakeholder involvement Consulted with Stakeholders in spring 2008 Comments Specific to Safe At Work Ontario Need to have transparency in identification of firms Support focus on hazards, IRS, health and safety culture Need to extend criteria beyond LTIs and NLTIs Need to have strategy for high performing workplaces Need to have flexibility to address sector specific issues Should address under-reporting Need to clarify History of Non-compliance Need to see material in advance of consultation meetings 8

9 Stakeholder Engagement - What We Did Posted material on web site including sector plans Conducted blitzes on sector specific hazardous Industrial New and Young Workers (June) Falls (Sept) Electrical (Nov) Forklift (Feb) Construction Electrical (July) Demolition (Aug) Equipment and Material Handling (March) Trained inspectors on IRS and have policies and procedures for inspectors to follow that include the IRS Working on strategy to define health and safety culture Developed, for the first time, a sector strategy for health care. 9

10 Stakeholder Engagement - What We Did Firms selected for proactive inspections based on a number of criteria Injury rates and associated costs Compliance history of companies For example - organization that has been issued orders and/or tickets for the same serious contravention for the 3 previous consecutive years (for target year 2007/08, the consecutive years would be 2004, 2005 and 2006). Hazards inherent to the work Blitzes New Business Size of Business Specific event or incidents (e.g. critical or fatal injury) Presence of new, young or otherwise vulnerable workers Developed of posted sector strategies allowed for flexibility to address sector specific issues Material presented to stakeholders in advance of meetings 10

11 Results /09 Blitzes Industrial New and Young Workers - June Young workers Any new hire 25 years or older in job for less than six months 1047 premises visited 3371 orders issued 75 Stop Work Orders Fall Blitz Sept Focus on those sectors which working from ladders are a major concern Electrical Blitz Nov Focus on sectors where maintenance activity is prevalent to ensure electricity is turned off Forklift Blitz Feb Focus on sectors where forklifts is common Focus on maintenance of equipment and training 11

12 Results /09 Blitzes Construction Electrical Blitz July Focused on working on/near energized conductors, equipment or panels with adequate distance of approach from overhead power lines Focus on having adequate programs in place and lock out procedures set up and implemented, authorized workers carrying out duties 539 Field visits 2,026 Orders issued 241 Stop Work Orders Demolition Blitz August Focus on demolition and renovation work done in all sectors Focus on use of equipment,handling of material, exposure to electrical and chemical hazards such as asbestos 333 Field visits 809 Orders issued 62 Stop Work orders Equipment and Material Handling Blitz March Focus on hazards associated with equipment used in construction and material handling Focus on use of equipment, handling of material, exposure to fall, electrical, struck-by vehicular traffic, equipment and material hazards 12

13 09/10 Direction Continue with sector based enforcement strategies with a focus on hazards and blitzes to address hazards Continue identification of firm based on: WSIB injury record Compliance history with MOL Orders, tickets, prosecutions Critical injury or fatality Nature of work hazard based Integrated delivery each firm touched by part of system Small business strategy Each sector will contain a small business focus that recognizes the need to ensure worker training and employer health and safety policies. Cross sectoral hazard focus MSD firms with high MSD frequency rates will be visited by MOL ergonomists firms within rate groups that have a history of high MSD frequency rates will be visited and ergonomics will be integrated into some provincial blitzes 13

14 Health Care Sector Plan 2008/2009 Plan To be revised for 2009/2010 Available on the website 14

15 Health Care Sector Plan Introduction The purpose of the health care sector plan is to share with our stakeholders the manner in which the (MOL) will enhance health and safety compliance in this sector. The plan contains a sector description, statistical data, environmental trends, major hazards, key issues, and the 2008/2009 enforcement focus. To describe the sector, Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes and WSIB rate groups are provided in the website document. To improve health and safety in the health care sector, the MOL is joined by partners in Ontario s occupational health and safety system, which include the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB), and the Ontario Safety Association for Community and Healthcare. These organizations work with the MOL to develop coordinated strategies directed at problem areas. 15

16 Sector Summary - Health Care DESCRIPTION Hospitals; long-term care homes; community care access centres; group homes; health care laboratories; health professional offices and agencies SIZE Number of Registered Premises = 6,068 Number of Registered Workers = 484,816 16

17 Sector Summary - Health Care ENVIRONMENT (growth, trends, etc.) Growth Trend: jobs increased by 24,553 in health care in 2007 ( data) Health care setting is a workplace with unique health care related hazards in addition to the typical industrial hazards. New Needle Safety Regulation (O. Reg. 474/07) came into effect September 1, 2008, in hospitals. On April 1, 2009, will apply to laboratory or specimen collection centres, psychiatric facilities and nursing homes. MAJOR HAZARDS Influenza pandemic Needle stick injuries Exposure to infectious diseases in the workplace Musculoskeletal disorders Violence in the workplace Contact/struck by Injuries 17 Slips, trips and falls

18 Sector Summary - Health Care KEY ISSUES Asbestos in the workplace Exposures to chemical, biological and radiological hazards Legionella prevention and control Ventilation maintenance and monitoring Lifting devices and mobile equipment Emergency preparedness and response Motor vehicle accidents Material Safety Data Sheets and Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) training Workplace safety culture Reporting of occupational illness 18

19 Enforcement Focus All hospital networks and/or hospitals will be inspected. Enforcement of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) and the Regulation for Health Care and Residential Facilities (O. Reg. 67/93). It is recommended that Inspectors pay particular attention to the following enforcement focus topics and issues. This is not intended to be an exclusive list. Infection Prevention and Control: Frontline and support health care staff are continually at risk from exposure to pathogens in the workplace both on an ongoing basis and in the event of an influenza pandemic. Workplaces are required to have in place written measures and procedures to protect workers from exposure to infectious diseases. Consultation with the Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC), or Health and Safety Representative, and worker training are required. Needle Safety: As of September 1, 2008, the Needle Safety Regulation (O. Reg. 474/07) will come into effect in hospitals. Workplaces need to be in compliance when the regulation comes into effect. 19

20 Enforcement Focus Workplace Violence Prevention: Health care workers experience a large number of injuries in the workplace. Violence prevention measures and procedures and worker training are required. Workplace Safety Culture and the Internal Responsibility System (IRS): Safety in the workplace is a partnership between the employer and workers. Workplaces are required to have a JHSC or Health and Safety Representative in place, which must conduct meetings and inspections in accordance with the Act. Supervisors are required to be competent persons as defined under the Act. Verification to ensure at least one worker member and at least one employer member are certified as JHSC members (core/basic and workplace specific) is required. Musculoskeletal Disorders: Result in the greatest number of LTIs, followed by slips, trips, falls and contact with equipment. 20

21 Enforcement Focus Reporting Occupational Illnesses: Health care associated infections in health care workers, acquired as a result of workplace exposures, are occupational illnesses that must be reported to the in accordance with OHSA s.52(2) and the Regulation for Health Care and Residential Facilities s.5(5). Exposures to Chemical, Biological and Radiological Hazards: There are injuries associated with exposure to chemical, biological and radiological substances present in the workplace. Emergency Preparedness and Response: Workers in health care facilities should be prepared and trained for emergencies such as, fires, blackouts, terrorist events, adverse weather, etc. 21

22 Enforcement Focus Asbestos: Older health care facilities may contain asbestos; if they do, inspecting the asbestos-containing material is required. Ventilation maintenance and monitoring: Ventilation is required to be inspected every six months, and the report presented to the JHSC or Health and Safety Representative. Lifting Devices and Mobile Equipment: Lifting equipment must be thoroughly examined by a competent person. Workers must be trained in their use before operating. 22

23 Enforcement Focus Transportation: Home care health care workers are a growing segment of the health care population, spending an increasing amount of time in vehicles. Injuries and some fatalities have been recorded. MSDSs and WHMIS: The health care sector employs a wide variety of chemicals in liquid, solid, and gaseous states. Because health care workers are at risk of exposure to chemicals in the workplace, they are required to have access to current MSDSs and training in WHMIS. 23

24 MSD Blitz April 2009 Ontario is continuing its efforts to reduce workplace injuries by focusing on hazards involving musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) during a workplace safety blitz in April. The blitz will target workplaces in the construction, healthcare, industrial and mining sectors. Inspectors will concentrate on tasks that require workers to exert force in lifting, pushing or carrying items and tasks that put workers in awkward postures or are repetitive. 24

25 MSD Blitz: Health Care Sector Inspectors will focus their field visits on retirement and nursing homes, paying particular attention to the tasks of lifting, transferring and repositioning of residents. They will check written policies and procedures, training and supervision involving these tasks. They will also check whether assistive devices such as equipment for patient lifting, transferring and repositioning are properly maintained. 25

26 Operations Occupational Health & Safety Employment Standards Our Goal: One culture of safety for all! Safety for workers, patients, clients, and the public Protect the health and safety of Ontario s healthcare workers so they may deliver safe and quality patient care to the people of Ontario! 26

27 Operations Occupational Health & Safety Employment Standards Thank you for inviting me! Any questions? 27