Health and Safety Management Systems Updated Fast Fact OSACH’s Health and Safety Management Systems (HSMS) is designed specifically for Ontario’s health and community care sectors. Its purpose is to help employers achieve organizational health, safety and wellness through two key steps; 1. Integrate health, safety and wellness into an organization’s core business 2. Motivate an organization to achieve employee health, safety and wellness, provide quality care and embrace public safety. Simply click here to download this fast fact for free! March 11, 2010 New OHSCO Domestic Violence Resources Domestic violence in the workplace has been identified as the fastest growing type of workplace violence in Canada.” (Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters 2008) The Occupational Health and Safety Council of Ontario in partnership with the Ontario Women’s Directorate has recently produced two pamphlets for addressing domestic violence in the workplace: Domestic Violence Doesn’t Stop When Your Worker Arrives at Work: What Employers Need to Know to Help Click HERE   Domestic Violence Doesn’t Stop When Your Worker Arrives at Work: How to get Help or Support a Colleague who may Need Help Click HERE   These pamphlets are free to download from our website, to distribute widely at your organization. To print as a pamphlet – select “Booklet Printing” from the Page Scaling option in the Print menu box. February 23, 2010 HealthForceOntario Funded Projects HealthForceOntario recently announced eighteen successful applicants who submitted proposals in September 2009 and are receiving funding through the Healthy Work Environments Innovation Fund Grant Program. OSACH is partnering in three of the projects: The development and piloting of a 3-tier Community Risk Assessment Tool, that will profile ten common hazards found in the community and provide suggested control measures at the system, service provider and the worker level. This project is being completed in partnership with the Ontario Community Support Association (OCSA) and St Clair West Services for Seniors (SCWSS). The update of the OSACH DVD titled Workplace Violence Prevention in the Health and Community Care Sector, to include information on the upcoming amendments to the OHS Act. This project is being completed in partnership with Hotel-Dieu Grace Hospital in Windsor. The development of a workplace violence risk assessment tool to assist in improved communication between emergency departments, police and EMS. The project is being completed in partnership with Lakeridge Health Corporation. For more details about the newly funded projects as well as other HWE information, please visit the HealthForceOntario website at http://www.healthforceontario.ca/WhatIsHFO/hwe.aspx February 18, 2010 Fast Fact- Workplace Violence: Complying with the Occupational Health and Safety Act As of June 15, 2010, the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act include employer responsibilities for addressing violence, harassment and domestic violence in the workplace. This Fast Facts provides organizations with guidance on complying with the changes. Click here to access this Fast Fact free to download from our Website.  Click here to purchase this Fast Fact in packages of 20 from our online store February 16, 2010 MOHLTC funds Violence and SEMS sessions! The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care has just announced that they will support the upcoming Workplace Violence Prevention and Safety Engineered Medical Sharps education sessions being offered by the HSAGS Community and Healthcare Team. This means that we can now offer these sessions at no cost! The workplace violence prevention sessions: Provide an overview of upcoming amendments to the OHS Act as they relate to workplace violence, as well as outline the elements of an effective workplace violence prevention program Provide sample tools and program elements Assist organizations in understanding how to address horizontal violence (bullying) and domestic violence in the workplace Click here to view the schedule and to register! Attend the Safety Engineered Medical Sharps (SEMS) session to learn about: Definitions of safety engineered medical sharps (SEMS) and safety engineered needles. Available statistics and research related to sharps and injuries. How to implement a sharps safety program · The Needle Safety Regulation (O.Reg 474/07) under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) Click here to view the schedule and to register! February 9, 2010 New Product! Addressing Domestic Violence in the Workplace Effective June 15, 2010, the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act will require employers who are aware, or who should reasonably be aware, that domestic violence may occur in the workplace to take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances to protect a worker at risk of physical injury. This newly revised booklet, "Addressing Domestic Violence in the Workplace: A handbook" provides information and suggestions on how to meet these requirements. This new edition replaces the former booklet "Personal Relationship Violence". Free to download, click here to access this valuable workplace resource. January 28 2010 Ministry of Labour - Focus on Falls Ontario Ministry of Labour inspectors will check for hazards involving suspended platforms at construction sites during an enforcement blitz starting in mid-January. Ministry inspectors will have zero tolerance for non-compliance. The review will be completed within 90 days. Your organization might also use suspended platforms during window cleaning. Click here to learn more about the Focus on Falls. Click here for a MOL Q&A on Falls. January 21 2010 Ministry of Labour Alert: Suspended Work Platform Click here for more information! January 7 2010 Workplace Violence Prevention becomes law June 15, 2009 Bill 168 received Royal Assent on December 15, 2009. This means that the proposed amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Act to include violence and harassment in the workplace will come into force on June 15, 2010. Be prepared. Attend an OSACH education workshop to learn about these amendments and the steps you can take to satisfy the new legislative requirements. Click here to view the schedule and to register. December 17 2009 Amendments to the Needle Safety Regulation (Phase 3) On July 1, 2010 the Needle Safety Regulation will be extended to community work environments where workers use hollow-bore needles on persons for a therapeutic, preventive, palliative, diagnostic or cosmetic purpose: Doctors’ and dentists’ offices, community health centres, family health teams and independent health facilities.   Other workplaces where health-related services are provided, including home care services, ambulance services, public health programs, health support services to students in schools, and healthcare/first aid services to workers or individuals in industrial and other workplaces. Under this regulation, employers are required to provide workers with a safety-engineered needle for work that requires the use of a hollow-bore needle. Employers should conduct a risk assessment on the use of hollow-bore needles in the workplace and document the findings. To view the Needle Safety Regulation, click here. To assist clients in preparing for the upcoming changes, OSACH will be offering education sessions across the province in February and March of 2010. Click here to view the schedule! December 17 2009 Amendments to the OHSA to include workplace violence … The proposed amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Act (known as Bill 168) passed Third Reading in the Legislature on December 9, 2009. Once the Bill receives Royal Assent from the legislature, it will become law six months following. To view the proposed amendment, click here! To assist clients in preparing for the upcoming changes, OSACH will be offering education sessions across the province in February and March of 2010. Click here to view the schedule! December 15 2009 Safety Groups Registration Deadline Extended! We have extended the registration deadline to December 23, 2009. Don’t miss this opportunity to network with other organizations while reducing workplace injuries and illnesses at your workplace. Register for the 2010 Safety Group (print the application form and fax back to OSACH) December 9 2009 Effective Leadership Series hosted by OHA The Ontario Hospital Association (OHA) and the Ontario Safety Association for Community and Healthcare (OSACH) offer this very informative three day course. Participants will acquire the tools to create a culture of health and safety in their organization through effective leadership skills. Click here for more information and the registration form. December 8 2009 Safety Groups Advantage Programs Q & A The Safety Groups Advantage Program (SGAP) is a temporary program developed for firms who have successfully completed 5 years in the general Safety Group Program and want to strive towards the proposed WSIB Accreditation Program. If you have already completed five or more years in Safety Group, you may continue for an additional year – review the Safety Groups Advantage Program Q & A here or speak to your OSACH Consultant. December 3 2009 2009 OSACH Special Meeting of the Members December 3rd, 2009 Download file for more details (3.3mb) November 23 2009 OSACH Safety Group Rebate Over Half a Million Dollars! Congratulations to our 2008 Safety Group members! Their efforts in 2008 resulted in a 92% WSIB achievement score and as a result, they are sharing a WSIB rebate of $508,131.96! Even more importantly, their excellent work brought many enhancements to their health and safety programs, and a healthier and safer workplace! It’s not too late to take advantage of the many benefits of Safety Group. Sign up before December 4th for the 2010 Safety Group – chapter meetings will be held across the province, in Toronto, London, Hamilton, Eastern Ontario, and possibly Northern Ontario. Learn more about the 2010 Safety Group Register for the 2010 Safety Group (print the application form and fax back to OSACH) If you have already completed five years in Safety Group, you may continue for a sixth year – review the eligibility requirement here. November 23 2009 JOIN the 2010 OSACH Safety Group! In 2007, members of the OSACH Safety Group shared a WSIB rebate of $372,567! Although we don’t yet know the actual rebate for 2008, it will be significantly higher as the OSACH Safety Group achievement score was 92% and our rebate is based on this score. But beyond the rebate, there are so many additional benefits to joining our safety group including: networking with similar organizations presentations on timely topics guidance on health and safety program improvement and applying a system structure to components As well, in 2010 we will be offering chapter meetings in Toronto, London, Hamilton, Eastern Ontario, and possibly Northern Ontario. Register for the 2010 OSACH Safety Group before December 4th. Learn more about the 2010 Safety Group Register for the 2010 Safety Group (print the application form and fax back to OSACH) If you have already completed five years in Safety Group, you may continue for a sixth year – review the eligibility requirement here. October 8 2009 OSACH Launches Ergonomic Services Download flyer October 1 2009 Effective Leadership Series session hosted by OHA Download brochure from OHA website October 1 2009 The new HSAGS announces CEO appointment Louise Logan has been appointed as the inaugural CEO of the Health and Safety Association for Government Services (HSAGS). All three HSA boards (OSACH, ESAO & MHSA) will be holding a special meeting of their members to approve the amalgamation. The OSACH meeting will take place on December 3rd 2009. In January 2010, the HSAGS will be assuming all designated sector and governance responsibilities of the three legacy associations. Click here to read the full announcement October 1 2009