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WorkSafeBC is releasing a discussion paper with proposed amendments to the Current Rehabilitation Services and Claims Manual that guide wage rate decisions related to short-term and long-term disability compensation. Recommended amendments include: These changes may affect your claims costs. Click here to view the proposed changes and offer feedback to WorkSafeBC – The deadline is 4:30 p.m. on Friday, […]
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WorkSafeBC is releasing a discussion paper with proposed amendments to the Current Rehabilitation Services and Claims Manual that guide wage rate decisions related to short-term and long-term disability compensation. Recommended amendments include: These changes may affect your claims costs. Click here to view the proposed changes and offer feedback to WorkSafeBC – The deadline is 4:30 p.m. on Friday, […]
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Healthcare and social services planned inspection initiative

February 15, 2024
WorkSafeBC’s healthcare and social services planned inspection initiative focuses on high-risk activities in the workplace that lead to serious injuries and time-loss claims.

WorkSafeBC’s healthcare and social services planned inspection initiative focuses on high-risk activities in the workplace that lead to serious injuries and time-loss claims. Did you know healthcare and social services workers comprise about 12 percent of B.C.’s workforce? Unfortunately, in 2022, the injury rate in this sector hit 17.1, significantly higher than the provincial average of 2.4. A big portion of these claims, over 33 percent, came from overexertion injuries, and an astounding 58.9 percent of all violence-related claims in B.C. were from this sector.

The most common risks for healthcare and social service professionals come from direct interactions with patients and others. These interactions can, unfortunately, lead to serious injuries, including those from acts of violence. This initiative aims to create safer work environments by focusing on areas and occupations where these interactions are most common.

Goals of the healthcare and social services planned inspection initiative:

  • Making workplaces safer by reducing the risk of violence and injuries.
  • Decreasing workers’ chances of overexertion or musculoskeletal injuries (MSIs). This includes injuries from lifting people, dealing with mobility issues, and handling equipment or materials.

For the inspections happening in 2024, WorkSafeBC prevention officers will use a risk-based strategy to ensure they are tackling the most important risks effectively, as was done in 2023. This means that workers and employers will work together to spot hazards, assess the risks, and then put the right controls for their situation. They will ensure these efforts are well communicated and monitored through key safety practices like orientations for new workers, ongoing training, supervision, incident investigations, and regular worksite inspections. WorkSafeBC will also highlight the importance of active and well-supported joint health and safety committees (JOSHC).

What you can do

Check out these resources to help you understand and tackle the health and safety issues WorkSafeBC will focus on. Need more support? Contact us at info@safecarebc.ca for support that addresses your organization’s unique needs. Together, we can make a big difference in keeping our workplaces safe and healthy!

Healthcare and social services planned inspection initiative

Featured Resources

Manual client handling and other physical tasks can cause overexertion of your muscles to cause injury. Musculoskeletal injuries are sprains and strains to the muscles and surrounding tissues, which can have life-long impacts These are the leading type of injury for home and community care workers.
View Safety Topic
Violence refers to physical force that causes injury to a worker and includes any threatening statement or that gives you reasonable cause to believe that you are in danger.
View Safety Topic
You can use the Safe Handling Program Checklist to verify the components of a safe handling program, including development, management and staff involvement, needs assessments, equipment, education and training, and evaluation.
Files Attached
View Checklist
Musculoskeletal injuries related to resident handling are the number one cause of injury in long term care. Back strains alone account for 30% of all work-related injuries reported; other strains account for 44%.
Files Attached
View Template
SafeCare BC’s violence prevention policy templates will supplement existing policies of continuing care providers across the province and guide the establishment of new ones where none currently exists.
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View Template
This book provides guidance to help employers and joint committees prevent MSI in the workplace. It discusses a seven-step prevention process: consultation, education, risk identification, risk assessment, risk control, training, and evaluation. The book also includes a table of some common risk control options and a chart that can be used to investigate MSIs.
View Book
A point of care risk assessment for transfers is a quick mini-appraisal you, the health care worker, do to make sure a person’s abilities still match what’s in their care plan. It doesn’t replace the typical risk assessment completed as part of a person’s care plan. Rather, it’s a tool you use in addition to the care plan assessments.
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View Poster
A printer-friendly poster on how to safely assist a falling resident for caregivers.
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View Poster
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View Poster
Working with clients or residents and their families is not always easy. You may not be able to control how others act, but you can control how you respond.
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View Safety Huddle
Learn how to properly use lifts to avoid musculoskeletal injury.
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View Safety Huddle
Learn to refer to the no-lift policy to reduce your risk of musculoskeletal injury.
Files Attached
View Safety Huddle
Learn to regularly use point of care assessments to identify MSI risks and make practical choices to avoid injury.
View Safety Huddle
Safety Huddle
Transfers
Learn when it is safe to transfer a person in care and know what to do if it is not safe to transfer.
Files Attached
View Safety Huddle
Learn to identify potentially violent situations, apply de-escalation techniques and report violence or near misses.
Files Attached
View Safety Huddle
Starting at $15
Learn about identifying the early signs and symptoms, recognizing risk factors and applying strategies to reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injuries in the workplace.
View E-Learning
Starting at $15
In this course, you will learn about violence in the workplace including recognizing violence, calling for help, reporting incidents of violence, conducting a Point of Care Assessment and workers' right to refuse unsafe work.
View E-Learning
Starting at $35
This introductory or ‘fundamentals’ Occupational Health and Safety course will introduce new committee members to the basic principles of workplace health and safety.
View Workshop Topic
Starting at $35
Are you a care worker that faces the risk of violence during your work day? Do you have the tools and training needed to de-escalate unpredictable and potentially dangerous situations?
View Workshop Topic
Starting at $400
Are you already familiar with violence prevention techniques, but want to share your knowledge and expertise with others at your workplace? Are you looking to train your staff in a cost-effective and efficient manner?
View Workshop Topic
Starting at $110
Are you a continuing care worker, but don’t know the safest practices when it comes to handling the persons receiving care?
View Workshop Topic
Starting at $100
Are you already familiar with Safe Handling techniques, but want to share your knowledge and expertise with others at your workplace? Are you looking to train your staff in a cost-effective and efficient manner?
View Workshop Topic

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We strive to empower those working in the continuing care sector to create safer, healthier workplaces by fostering a culture of safety through evidence-based education, leadership, and collaboration.
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