SafeCare BC Logo
SafeCare BC Logo
Resources & Tools

Resources and Tools

View All
Motor vehicle incidents are among the leading causes of traumatic workplace injuries and fatalities in BC. The Safe Driving for Work Checklist has been developed to help employers and their workers take proactive steps to manage driving-related risks. This checklist serves as a practical guide to reinforce safe driving practices and is designed to be used before, during, and after each trip.
Files Attached
View Checklist
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.
View Toolkit
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
Amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation (OHSR), Part 5: Chemical Agents and Biological Agents – Emergency Planning came into effect on February 3, 2025. Changes include additional requirements to minimize the risk, likelihood, and harm caused by an emergency involving hazardous substances.   Hazardous substances include biological, chemical or physical hazards that may reasonably […]
View News Story
WorkSafeBC has acknowledged an error in calculating the 2025 insurance premiums that are 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
Get PSyched! - January 2024

Protection of physical safety

Protection of physical safety in the workplace, a key factor outlined by the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) in the national standard, focuses on safeguarding employees from physical harm.

Protection of physical safety in the workplace, a key factor outlined by the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) in the national standard, focuses on safeguarding employees from physical harm. This includes measures to prevent accidents, injuries, and potential threats to physical well-being. The impact on psychological health and safety is profound. Feeling secure in their physical environment contributes to a sense of trust, reduces stress, and fosters overall well-being. Knowing and addressing potential physical safety concerns is integral to creating a psychologically healthy and safe workplace.

Importance

It is crucial to understand the significance of protecting physical safety as it forms the foundation for a safe and conducive work environment. By proactively addressing physical safety concerns, organizations not only comply with regulatory standards but also demonstrate a commitment to the holistic well-being of their employees. This knowledge empowers individuals to contribute to a culture of safety and actively participate in maintaining a secure workplace.

Leadership and Management Support

  1. Regular safety training: Provide ongoing health and safety training to ensure employees know about potential hazards and safety protocols. The importance is on consistency and can serve as a great reminder. It is also always for new staff members to be trained more regularly.
  2. Transparent communication: Foster open communication channels where employees feel comfortable reporting safety concerns without fear of reprisal. This can include multiple channels, anonymous and not anonymous. This is inclusive of being trauma-informed and creating safe spaces.
  3. Invest in safety infrastructure: Allocate resources to maintain and upgrade safety infrastructure, including well-maintained equipment and facilities. Safety audits should occur regularly and/or have a safety committee to support and advocate for this. Protection of physical safety can also include the physical environment having accessibility to tools to support an employee's physical well-being. This includes ergonomic furniture (desks, mats, keyboards, mice, chairs), PPE (non-slip footwear, goggles, ear protection), First Aid Kits and Medical Supplies (AED, first aid kits, Hydration stations), Safety and signage labels (WHMIS), wellness tools (exercise or stretch stations, relaxation rooms, adjustable lighting, fidgets for stress relief), accessible tools for employees with disabilities (assistive technology, screen readers, training with sign language, etc).
  4. Empower safety champions: Appoint safety champions within the organization to lead initiatives, conduct regular safety audits, and promote a culture of vigilance. This enables an employee to feel a sense of ownership, empowerment, advocacy and fair representation.
  5. Emergency response planning: Develop and regularly review plans, ensuring employees know various scenarios' procedures. This can be done by a health and safety committee as well.

Frontline Workers' Self-Protection:

  1. Personal protective equipment (PPE): Utilize and maintain appropriate PPE for specific tasks to mitigate physical risks. Some extended health benefits may provide coverage for equipment (glasses, shoes)
  2. Active ergonomics: Practice proper ergonomics to prevent physical strain and injuries, especially in roles that involve repetitive motions (stretching, use of proper posture, reviewing posture, reviewing lifting strategies, encourage the 20-20-20 rule for employees who work on computers for extended periods (every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds to reduce eye strain), microbreaks)
  3. Awareness and vigilance: Stay alert, identify potential hazards, and report them promptly to the appropriate channels.
  4. Regular health checks: Prioritize regular health check-ups to promptly identify and address physical health concerns. Use extended health benefits.
  5. Self-care practices: To enhance overall well-being, engage in self-care practices, including stress management and maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
Protection of physical safety

Featured Resources

Starting at $71.98
Let’s make safety second nature. Learn how to protect yourself and others—begin the course now.
View E-Learning
Starting at $44
In this self-paced, online course you will learn how to build resilience, manage stress, and prioritize your mental well-being—at home and in the workplace.
View E-Learning
The standard is a document that outlines a systematic approach to develop and sustain a psychologically healthy and safe workplace. It focuses on mental illness prevention and mental health promotion. The Standard is intended for everyone, whether or not they have a mental illness. The National Standard of Canada
Files Attached
View Q&A
Protection of physical safety

Videos

Learn about the mental health tools and resources that are available for leaders to help support workers and themselves, as well as the actions employers can take to promote psychological safety in the workplace.
View Webinar
Protection of physical safety

Web links

Psychological Health and Safety Standard (CSA-Z1003-13) is a document that outlines a systematic approach to developing and sustaining a psychologically healthy and safe workplace. It focuses on mental illness prevention and mental health promotion.
View Web link
The Standard is a document that outlines a systematic approach to develop and sustain a psychologically healthy and safe workplace. It focuses on mental illness prevention and mental health promotion.
View Web link
Program planning resources to support worker well-being and decrease the risk of work-related psychological injury or illness.
View Web link
Created in partnership with Ottawa Public Health, with adapted content from the Mindful Employer, this series of short animated videos aims to raise awareness around the evidence-embedded 13 factors that can impact the mental health of employees in the workplace and encourage conversations on ways to promote psychologically healthy and safe.
View Web link
Filter

Protection of physical safety resources

Resource Types

Resource Post Type Filter
  • Posts (2)

Audiences

Post

The incivility epidemic: Why workplace rudeness is on the rise and what we can do about it 

Boundaries, Bullying, Burnout, Civility and respect, Emotional Intelligence, Growth and development, incivility, Mental Health, Moral distress, Organizational culture, Psychological demands, Psychological Health and Safety, Psychological injuries, Psychological self-care, Psychological social support, Resilience, Self-care, Self-talk, Stigma

It often starts small.  A co-worker cuts you off during a report. Someone ignores your “good morning.” A team member sends a blunt message with no context. It’s not as obvious as yelling or name-calling,...

Safety Topic

Self-talk

Psychological self-care, Self-care, Self-talk

Self-talk is the inner dialogue that shapes how we see ourselves, especially in moments of stress or challenge.

Post

Trauma in the workplace: Creating a psychologically safe environment 

Accessibility, Balance, Burnout, Emotional Intelligence, Grief, Mental Health, Moral distress, Psychological demands, Psychological Health and Safety, Psychological injuries, Psychological protection, Psychological self-care, Psychological social support, Resilience, Return/Recover at Work, Self-care, Stigma, Stress, Suicide, Trauma, Work-life balance

Why psychological safety matters in care work  Being a care worker means your work is more than a job. It is personal and meaningful.  You build trust with the people you care for. You support...

Webinar

Navigating feedback across cultures

Psychological Health and Safety

Join us August 6 to learn how cultural values shape feedback. Build inclusive communication skills to strengthen team connection and psychological safety.

Post

Emotional malnutrition: A new way to understand burnout 

Boundaries, Burnout, Emotional Intelligence, Growth and development, Mental Health, Moral distress, Psychological Health and Safety, Psychological self-care, Psychological social support, Resilience, Self-care, Stress, Work-life balance

You wouldn’t skip meals for days and expect to feel strong, yet we often go weeks, even months, without attending to our emotional needs.  People hear about working long hours, facing overwhelming demands, and experiencing...

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