Worker Safety
A healthy and safe workplace can only be achieved when every employee makes safety their responsibility. VCH aims to foster behaviours that demonstrate a commitment to building a strong safety culture.
CASE STUDY
What are the greatest health and safety risks for Henry?
Henry is a registered nurse. He provides care for patients on airborne precautions in his ward.
3 KEY THINGS
The most important information I need to know.
Rights and
Responsibilities
Workplace Hazards
and Controls
Reporting Unsafe Work
or Conditions
Employee Rights
- The right to know about hazards in the workplace
- The right to participate in health and safety activities in the workplace
- The right to refuse unsafe work without getting punished or fired
Workers’ rights and responsiblities are protected by the Worker’s Compensation Act and WorkSafeBC’s Occupational Health and Safety Regulation.
Employee Responsibilities
- Working in a safe manner at all times
- Carrying out work in accordance with established safe work procedures
- Using or wearing personal protective equipment, devices and clothing as required
- Reporting all unsafe acts or conditions to your supervisor or manager
- Seeking first aid or medical treatment for work-related injuries
- Co-operating with Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committees, worker health and safety representatives, WorkSafeBC officers and your VCH Workplace Health team
Employer/Supervisor Responsibilities
- Establishing occupational health and safety programs to protect workers
- Training and supervising employees to safely perform their work
- Ensuring employees are made aware of all hazards and that employees have appropriate personal protective equipment, devices and clothing
- Investigating incidents or near misses to prevent future recurrence
- Ensuring first aid equipment, supplies and trained attendants are available
- Organizing Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committees or worker health and safety representatives
Physically remove the hazard (eg. mercury)
Replace the hazard (eg. chemical substition)
Isolate people from the hazard (e.g. self-sheathing needles)
Change the way people work through education (e.g. spill response training)
Protect the worker with PPE (e.g. gowns)
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ControlsSLIDE 3/3 Controls protect workers from workplace hazards by eliminating or minimizing the risk of the hazard to cause harm. Controls are implemented by following the hierarchy of controls and by weighing the decision against what is most feasible and effective. |
Reporting Unsafe Work or Conditions
Reporting incidents and near misses is critical in preventing recurrence, increasing awareness for the hazard, and may reduce the severity of similar incidents in the future.
Unsafe work, conditions, injuries and near misses should all be reported to the Provincial Workplace Health Call Centre at 1-866-922-9464.
WHAT CAN I DO?
Tips to help me take care and stay safe.
Identify hazards
Identify any hazards in the workplace. As you are knowledgeable in your work, offer suggestions for potential control measures to your supervisor.
Report injuries or near misses
Report any injuries or near misses to the Provincial Workplace Health Call Centre at 1-866-922-9464.
Promote the culture of safety
Work in a manner that is conducive to maintaining a safe and healthy workplace. Advocate for changes that may benefit you and your peers by sharing your thoughts with your team.
PRACTICE
Checking my confidence in this subject.
MY ACTION ITEMS
In preparation for your new position at VCH, think about which hazards you may encounter and how you might control them.
Click below to access and complete the required Worker Safety quiz.
