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Resources & Tools

Resources and Tools

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The Home Care and Community Health Support Pocketbook was created to bring awareness to several health and safety issues faced in home and community care.
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In long-term care it is increasingly apparent that who is on shift is just as important as how many staff are on shift. Quality care is difficult to achieve when we do not routinely engage with one another in a positive, or civil, manner.
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Programs & Services

Programs and Services

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Leading from the Inside Out
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Leading from the Inside Out provides a safe space for leaders in continuing care to share their challenges and learn self-care practices.
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The Provincial Violence Prevention Curriculum is recognized as best-practice in violence prevention training for health care workers.
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Guidelines & Regulations

Guidelines and Regulations

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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.
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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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Prepare for wildfire season with these resources

Hot summer weather brings increased potential for wildfires, resulting in poor air quality. Poor air quality impacts all British Columbians but can be particularly difficult for seniors, those that need to work in smoky conditions, and those with underlying health conditions - including respiratory illness.

Good preparation is all the more critical in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Finding cleaner air is the best way to protect your health from wildfire smoke. However, this may not always be possible, so care operators must prepare for wildfire season by reviewing their emergency safety plans and procedures.

Heat and smoke may also increase the likelihood that personal protective equipment, particularly masks and respirators, becomes damp or soiled. If you must wear a mask at work, follow guidelines and change your cover if needed. Learn more about the limitations and risks of mask use and wildfire smoke. WorkSafeBC also provides wildfire FAQs.

Emergencies such as wildfires or floods may also require the temporary evacuation of staff and residents. Evacuations can be stressful and often happen quickly when a threat is incoming. It is essential to prepare everyone for these situations to follow safe work practices such as safe handling and infection prevention and control during these particularly challenging circumstances.

Proactive safety considerations for managers may include:

  • Assess your written safety plans and procedures, including evacuation requirements for workers, residents/clients, visitors, and other compounding safety protocols (infection prevention and control and safe handling). Check out WorkSafeBC’s emergency planning checklist for more information on evacuations.
  • Monitor provincial dashboards for active wildfires and air quality in your area.
  • Review the maintenance of your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems to ensure they are in good working order. Our website offers resources on ventilation for respiratory protection.
  • Temporarily use portable air cleaners with HEPA filtration that are the appropriate size for the space.
  • Increased monitoring for heat-related illness and the ill effects of smoke inhalation. Hydration and cooling-off strategies are recommended. Check out our hot weather safety poster.
  • Increased availability and monitoring of personal protective equipment stockpiles, particularly masks and respirators that may require more frequent changing.

If you would like support with emergency preparedness planning, please reach out to our health and safety consultant, Jennifer: jderksen@safecarebc.ca

Prepare for wildfire season with these resources

Additional Resources

One in three Canadian adults has experienced a major weather-related disaster or emergency. The Government of Canada reports that we live “in a period of rapid climate change,” and high-risk weather is becoming severe, longer, and more frequent across Canada.  
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Wildfire season is a time of heightened risk, particularly for those living and working in areas prone to these natural disasters. As employers, it's crucial to take proactive steps to ensure the safety and well-being of your workforce during these challenging times. Here's a comprehensive guide to help you navigate the complexities of wildfire season […]
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More Assorted Resources

Use this listening exercise as practice when you're speaking with an employee (or employees) about change.
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View Reference Guide
Although the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is the most visible control used to prevent the spread of infection, it is only one of the infection, prevention, and control measures available and should not be relied on as a primary prevention strategy.
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Scenario Exercises
COVID-19 Scenario Exercises
SafeCare BC has developed four COVID-19 scenario packages for use in the continuing care sector. They are intended to engage staff in evaluating their preparedness for a COVID-19 outbreak.
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Resources Related to 

Wildfire season is a time of heightened risk, particularly for those living and working in areas prone to these natural disasters. As employers, it's crucial to take proactive steps to ensure the safety and well-being of your workforce during these challenging times. Here's a comprehensive guide to help you navigate the complexities of wildfire season […]
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This orientation checklist helps ensure temporarily displaced workers receive the health and safety information they need to be well-equipped to handle their temporary working environment.
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Weather in BC can be highly variable, often unpredictable, occasionally sudden, and sometimes life-threatening. As droughts continue to impact BC and Alberta, and scientists warn that we can expect more severe storms, longer heatwaves, and increased wildfires (par. 1, 2024), prioritizing emergency preparedness for the summer months cannot be overstated.   These weather predictions emphasize why […]
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The challenges that B.C. faces are growing. Climate change is already affecting our communities, economy, infrastructure, and ecosystems.
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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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