Hospital Fined $10,000 After Workers Became Ill
December 16, 2009 4:05 PMBurlington, Ont. - Joseph Brant Memorial Hospital Corporation, Burlington, was fined $10,000 on December 8, 2009, for a violation under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) after workers became ill.
On April 30, 2008, Joseph Brant Memorial was informed that a patient who had just been admitted to the hospital had been in contact with scabies, a highly contagious skin rash caused by microscopic mites. The next day, the hospital's infection control manager implemented a scabies surveillance protocol at the hospital. Hospital workers reported skin rashes from late May to late July 2008. During July, two workers were diagnosed with
scabies and lost time from work.
On July 22, 2008, the Ministry of Labour learned about the scabies outbreak from local media and investigated...read full article
Workers Health & Safety Centre Hazard Assessment Guide for Tourism & hospitality sector workplaces
Workplace Hazard Assessment
Before doing the physical inspection of the workplace, review all background information and the following workplace documents/reports.
Check off as you review the information. You can list pertinent information and make notes as needed . Print a copy of the form on Page 11 of this assessment to determine significant hazards and training needs. Extra copies may need to be printed before beginning. List applicable information on the form...download guide
Occupational Health and Safety Conference 2010- Action Plan
Major issues :(not in order of priority)
Musculoskeletal injuries
Hospital acquired infections
JOHSC training
Working alone
Personal safety
Harrassment in the workplace
Failure to report injuries
Employer limiting time to do inspections
Management interference in inspections
WHMIS training
JOHSC has no seat on pandemic planning committee
Workloads: isolations, no sick replacement, additional beds without staff
Slips, trips and falls
Workplace violence – patient actions
Education and training, including for older employees on new policies, procedures, methods
Availability of personal protective equipment
Handling of sharps- knives
Hazard reporting
Lack of training for new employees
Communication between departments
Attendance management programs
PT employees not paid for sick leave
Return to work, modified work, work hardening programs
Protective footwear
Training requested:
Health and safety 101
More education on workers’ rights
Running an effective committee
Conducting proper workplace inspections
Right to know
Right to refuse
Right to participate
Hazard reporting
Define the role of the occupational health and safety committee members
Resources requested:
Provide an inventory on the website and links to available resources on occupational health and safety
Posters, pamphlets made available for display at hospital
Establish a health and safety list serve
Establish a superbug list serve
OCHU to provide a standardized physician return to work letter
Campaigns requested:
For all members to have access to personal protective equipment
Convene a meeting of Ontario Health Coalition, unions, seniors and other interested groups to talk about hospital acquired infections
Respond to the PIDAC best practices document
Workplace violence and harassment
Membership education on basic health and safety rights through posters, newsletters, formal classes and internet
Against management intimidation against workers for speaking out
Union participation in pandemic planning
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What is Central Bargaining?
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