SafeCare BC Logo
SafeCare BC Logo
Programs & Services

Programs and Services

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

Guidelines and Regulations

View All
WorkSafeBC has acknowledged an error in calculating the 2025 SafeCare BC levy, which is included in the premiums paid by our two member employer groups–those providing community health support services (classification unit 766006) and those in long-term care (classification unit 766011).
View News Story
The Province has introduced a new masking policy for all healthcare workers who provide direct care effective immediately. Staff Requirements Visitor Guidance With an increase in viral respiratory illnesses (VRI) across the province, the Ministry of Health has introduced new masking measures to help control the spread of these illnesses. It's important to remember that […]
View News Story
Safety Huddle

Impairment

Learn to recognize the signs of impairment and properly report impairment.

Instructions

  • Before calling this huddle, review the substance use and workplace impairment toolbox meeting guide and your organization’s impairment policy.
  • For the huddle, read the introduction out loud and use the guiding questions to facilitate a group discussion.

After this huddle Staff should be able to:

  • Recognize the signs of impairment.
  • Properly report impairment.

Notes to the huddle leader

  • Impairment is not always caused by substance use. Other causes include fatigue (from shift work, long work periods, working multiple jobs), dealing with a personal or family crisis, feelings of shock or grief, experiences of bullying or harassment, and so on.
  • Some signs of impairment: restlessness, slurred speech, mood fluctuations, irritability, memory lapses, errors in judgement, excessive mistakes, isolation from colleagues, lack of focus, inappropriate responses or behaviours.
  • Make sure to review your organization’s policy on impairment and reporting procedures.

Guiding questions

  • What are some causes of impairment?
  • What are some other signs of impairment?
  • What steps must be taken if you find that you or someone you are working with is impaired?

Impairment

Workplace impairment means being unable or unfit to perform work safely. Signs of impairment may include consistent lateness or absenteeism, reduced quality of work, working in an unsafe manner, personality changes, or erratic behaviour.

All staff are responsible for the safety of themselves, their co-workers, those they supervise, and those they provide care for. If you cannot perform your work safely because you are impaired, or if you recognize signs of impairment in a co-worker, inform your supervisor immediately.

Downloads
Safety Huddle - Impariment
Download
118.8KB
Impairment

Additional Resources

With the legalization of cannabis in Canada, helping to ensure your workplace is prepared to maintain the safety of your workers and residents/clients is important.
View News Story

More Safety Huddles

A strong organizational culture fosters employee engagement, collaboration, and productivity, while a weak or toxic culture can lead to dissatisfaction and high turnover.
Files Attached
View Safety Huddle
Safety huddles are important because they focus on improving staff safety by creating solutions and opportunities to communicate, helping build a culture of safety, encouraging positive change within the workplace, and providing staff with a chance to share important information.
Files Attached
View Safety Huddle
Learn to recognize feeling unsettled, use effective self-settling strategies in situations self-setting may be helpful.
Files Attached
View Safety Huddle
Learn about what bullying and harassment is and when to report it.
Files Attached
View Safety Huddle
People living with dementia can experience changes in how they understand and process language, which can affect how they communicate.
Files Attached
View Safety Huddle
Learn to follow proper hand washing procedures.
Files Attached
View Safety Huddle
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.
Files Attached
View Safety Huddle
Browse by Resource Type

Resources Related to 

Read the scenario out loud and use the guiding questions to facilitate a discussion about intoxication in client homes.
Files Attached
View Safety Huddle
With the legalization of cannabis in Canada, helping to ensure your workplace is prepared to maintain the safety of your workers and residents/clients is important.
View News Story
SafeCare BC Logo
©2025 SafeCare BC | All rights reserved.
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.
cross