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Programs & Services

Programs and Services

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We are dedicated to providing comprehensive occupational health and safety (OHS) consulting services tailored to your needs.
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Psychological health and safety, often called workplace mental health, encompasses principles and practices to foster a supportive, respectful, and psychologically safe work environment.
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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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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 […]
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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).
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fEATURED tOPIC

Respiratory Protection

Respirators—such as N95s—are an important layer of protection against infection. Respiratory hazards can include airborne contaminants, such as biological contaminants, dusts, mists, fumes, and gases.

N95 respirators are recommended by Health Canada for use by healthcare workers in contact with patients with infections that are transmitted from inhaling airborne droplets. It is important to understand the benefits and limitations of each type of respirator.
 
Respirators must be fitted to the face appropriately for a good seal to be effective. Fit testing staff is a leading practice, and supported by occupational health and safety requirements, as it allows staff to use respirators when hazards or outbreaks occur. All staff who provide care to residents should be fit tested in case a risk assessment determines that a fit tester is needed. For example, if there is an infectious disease outbreak, or a toxic spill. You may consider adding fit testing to your regular orientation process to help ensure that our organization is prepared, in the case that it is needed.

Respiratory Protection

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Surgical masks and respirators are different types of personal protective equipment. Healthcare workers wear surgical masks as part of their personal protective equipment; however, these are not respirators and are not certified as such. The decision to wear a mask versus a respirator should be based on a risk assessment of the specific work environment.
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If your organization uses N95 respirators, staff will need to be fit-tested to use them safely. This means making sure the respirators have been tested to ensure a full seal before they are used so that the staff using them are properly protected.
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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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