Care Worker Violence Prevention
Focused Inspections
A Presentation by
Occupational Health and Safety
Background Information
• What are focused inspections?
– OHS Proactive Strategic Programs identify and respond
to emerging trends, either industry or hazard specific.
• Industry:
– Sand and Gravel, Fuel and Convenience
• Hazard:
– Forklift safety, Silica exposure
– Recent workplace violence-related examples:
• Canadian Mental Health Association fatality.
• Elk Island Child and Youth Ranch assault.
• Increase in workplace violence-related complaints in
healthcare and social support industries.
Program Rationale
• Who are “Care Workers”?
– Defined as
• “Workers who are employed to support and supervise
vulnerable, infirm or disadvantaged people or those under
the care of the state.”
- Oxford Dictionary
– Can include, but are not limited to:
• Health Care Aides (HCA)
• Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN)
• Registered Nurses (RN)
• Social and community service workers
• Home support workers
Program Rationale
• What is workplace violence?
– Defined as:
• “Whether at a worksite or work related, means the
threatened, attempted or actual conduct of a person that
causes, or is likely to cause, physical injury.”
– OHS Code 2009
– Workplace violence is a leading cause of injury and
illness for care workers in Alberta.
Program Rationale
• Why does violence affect care workers so much?
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“It’s part of the job.”
Isolated group care settings
High risk neighborhoods
Working alone in private dwellings
Medical code of ethics and legislation
– Patient/Client/Resident-related factors:
• Medications
• Medical conditions
• History of violence
• Drugs and impairment
• Round-the-clock care or supervision
Focus Industries (WCB)
• 82704: Home Support Services
• 82806: Rehabilitation Services for Disabled
• 89925: Social/Community Support
– Home support workers (82704) work alone more
frequently in potentially violent situations, and help is
not as readily available.
– 82806 and 89925 are ranked 4th and 6th in the top ten
industries for reporting violence-related WCB Claims
2011-2015.
– Workplace violence is being addressed with other
healthcare industries as part of the 2016-17 Healthcare
Proactive Strategic Program.
Compliance Objectives
• Worksite Inspections:
– To address compliance with OHS legislation with regards
to workplace violence, hazard assessment and controls,
emergency response planning and worker training.
– Officers will be discussing contracts and work
agreements with the employer to determine prime
contractor, or contractor, status.
• Worker Interviews and Questionnaires:
– To determine the extent of their involvement in hazard
assessment process, the implementation of identified
controls, and participation in required training.
Educational Objectives
• OHS officers will provide education on:
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Rights and responsibilities under OHS legislation.
Reporting requirements under Section 18 of OHS Act.
Investigation of imminent danger situations.
Requirement to report unsafe conditions.
Hazard assessment and control.
Emergency response planning.
Worker training requirements.
OHS Officer Authority
• An OHS Officer has the authority to:
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Enter and inspect a work site.
Take samples and conduct tests.
Take pictures and recordings.
Interview and obtain statements.
Examine and make copies of relevant documentation.
Enforce compliance with OHS legislation.
• If an officer believes work is being conducted in an
unsafe or unhealthy manner, they can stop work, or
issue orders for corrective measures.
Approach
• Home Care:
– OHS does not have jurisdiction within private dwellings.
– OHS officers will not be entering private dwelling.
• Group Homes:
– These are not private dwellings.
– OHS has jurisdiction over these worksites.
• Inspections will consist of:
– Confidential interviews with front-line staff
– Worker and employer questionnaires
– An “audit” of health and safety systems and practices
Inspections
• OHS Officers will assess worksites for compliance
with all 41 parts of the OHS Code.
– Parts 1 through 29 are applicable to all industries.
– Parts 30 through 41 are industry-specific.
• Part 35 relates to healthcare and industries with biological
hazards.
• General compliance issues with OHS legislation will be
addressed where observed, however, the primary
focus will be on assessing violence prevention
measures.
Legislation
• Primary Focus:
– Hazard Assessment: Part 2, Section 7
– Violence: Part 27, Sections 390 to 392
– Working Alone: Part 28, Section 394
• Secondary Focus:
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Chemical Hazards: Part 4, Section 16, 21, 24, 27
Emergency Response: Part 7, Section 115 and 116
Entrances and Walkways: Part 8, Section 119 to 121
First Aid: Part 11, Section 178, 181, 183
Lifting and Handling: Part 14, Section 209.2 to 211.1
Biological Hazards: Part 35, Sections 525 to 530
Program Specifics
• Timeline:
– June 8 to September 30, 2017
• Assigned Resources:
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6 Northern OHS Officers
6 Southern OHS Officers
2 Technical Advisors
1 Manager
• Inspection Targets (estimated):
– 50 employer meetings
– 200 inspections
– 500 worker interviews
What’s Next?
• A final report will be generated in late 2017 detailing
the findings of the focused inspections. This will
include:
– A summary of compliance data.
• Meetings, presentations, inspections, interviews.
• Orders, Stop Work Orders, Stop Use Orders.
– Statistical analysis of collected data.
– Identification of trends which may support changes to, or
development of, related government policy.
• A follow-up meeting will be held with stakeholders to
share the results.
Questions?