Occupational Health and Safety

Workers at long-term care facilities face numerous hazards, ranging from exposure to diseases and dangerous chemicals, musculoskeletal disorders, to workplace violence. Home’s must always consider the most effective controls first such as, controlling the ones at the source first, followed by controlling the hazards along the path, and lastly those that provide protection at the worker level. From an Occupational Health and Safety perspective this could mean closing non-essential spaces or allowing some administrative staff to work remotely. Changes to the physical environment, like upgrading ventilation or installing Plexiglas barriers and rearranging furniture and finally, employers need to ensure staff have appropriate personal protective equipment.

Employees of long-term care facilities are not the only ones at risk of injury; these environments also pose considerable safety risks for residents. Older individuals, who constitute the majority of the long-term care population, have a variety of age-related changes to contend with and are often taking multiple medications, placing them at high risk of falls, dehydration, hypothermia, hyperthermia, infection, aspiration, and pressure ulcer development. Altered absorption and elimination of drugs in the elderly heighten the likelihood of adverse reactions. In addition, inappropriate behaviors associated with psychiatric and cognitive disorders reduce the ability of residents to protect themselves against threats and increase the risk of injuries.

The major risk categories in Long Term Care Home’s related to Occupational Health and Safety are as follows:

• Physical hazards: A majority of residents are highly dependent on caregivers due to advanced age and the effects of health conditions. Caregivers frequently need to lift and provide other physical assistance to residents, placing caregivers at high risk of sustaining musculoskeletal injuries. In addition, the high prevalence of residents with psychiatric and cognitive disorders subject caregivers to aggressive behaviors that can result in injuries.

• Biological hazards: Advanced age and weakened immune systems cause residents to be at high risk for infection, and the close, regular contact caregivers have with residents exposes them to these infections.

• Chemical hazards: In the course of daily work activities, employees can be exposed to latex, hazardous drugs, and a variety of chemicals.

• Work organization: Short-staffing, shift work, and reliance on overtime are not uncommon in nursing homes. The nature of the work and resident population contributes to chronic stress and its health threats.

Occupational Health and Safety Regulation supervisors play an important role in promoting and maintaining a healthy and safe workplace. Identify hazards and take remedial action where necessary. Monitoring working conditions and staff work practices, and conducting inspections are all ways to identify hazards. Correcting unsafe conditions and work practices and ensuring hazard control measures are implemented and maintained are actions taken in response to an identified hazard. Conducting walkabouts, reviewing safe work procedures, and providing on-the-job feedback are examples of different actions you can take to fulfill these obligations. However, it is well known that the sector needs consistent standards to improve conditions in long-term care homes. Provincial and territorial governments give guidelines about long-term care homes, which means that requirements in these facilities can vary greatly across the country.

IPAC Consulting has a comprehensive Occupational Health and Safety program that is led by certified OH&S specialists. We recognize and accept our overall responsibility for occupational health and safety in the workplace and know that many care facilities struggle with this legislative requirement. We will make every reasonable effort to provide a healthy and safe work environment as indicated by acceptable industry standards and will meet or exceed all legislated requirements. All managers, supervisors and workers will be dedicated to the objective of reducing the risk of injury and illness. We will guide all employees in receiving ongoing training about their respective health and safety responsibilities and providing new and updated OH&S documents. It is in the best interest of all parties to consider health and safety in every activity. Commitment to health and safety will form an essential part of this organization and ultimately a strong team of dedicated professionals.