Training and education boost knowledge and further develops skills. Train yourself and workers on hazard recognition and how to work safely and you’ll see a shift in mindset and increased engagement. Want to motivate your staff and boost your bottom line? Create an effective safety program that includes an investment in worker education and training, then watch for an improvement in motivation and productivity. To support yourself and your staff with working safely, provide training on the hazards associated with the job and effective measures in place to prevent them. Check out WorkSafe BC for more on training.

• Safety orientation for new workers
• Specific job tasks
• Providing supervision
• Training Records
• Ongoing training

What Are the Top Three Topics to Train Yourself or New Staff On?

For new solo practitioners, safety orientation training is the first step. The benefit of training on safety right from the get-go is that it sets you and your team for safety success! Provide the best start with the following topics in your training program and back it up with appropriate supervision.

Check out the WSBC site on training and orientation for more info on these three topics that must be included in every orientation:

• Rights and Responsibilities
• Workplace Hazards
• Safe Work Procedures

Want to see a surge in safety culture at your work?

Invest in your workers with training, support the learning process, encourage worker feedback and watch your return on investment grow with higher productivity and less worker turnover. Demonstrate your commitment to worker safety, support your business values and positive culture by prioritizing health and safety that minimizes risks and supports accident, injury and illness prevention with effective control measures. 

Want to learn more about assessing and improving your workplace culture or providing customized training? visit The Safe Way – Workplace Safety.

Disclaimer: This information is provided in an attempt to heighten sensitivity, increase awareness, and enhance judgments on this topic. We encourage our audience to contact their legal advisor and regulatory body to learn more. 

Resources

General Duties of Employers. Workers Compensation Act. (n.d.). Retrieved March 30, 2022, from https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/19001_02#section21 

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By providing initial and immediate care for injured employees, the possible severity of the injury can be lowered and a workplace fatality could even be prevented.

What are the first aid needs for my Company?

In order to determine the first aid needs for your workplace, perform an assessment.

The assessment outlines the hazards in the worksite, barriers to obtaining and the type of first aid treatment that will be needed if it should arise.

Check out WorkSafe BC on the 6 steps to first aid assessment that include:

• The number of workplaces
• Workplace hazard rating
• Travel time to a hospital
• Number of workers on a shift
• Required first aid services for your worksite
• Review your assessment

The assessment’s results will outline minimum levels of first aid, appropriate supplies, equipment and first aid attendants that may be needed for your site. From there, develop your procedures that outline how nurse practitioner employees call for first aid and where to find it.

Don’t Forget the Training

For solo practitioners owners, providing employees relevant training and supervision is key with emergency planning. Check out General Duties of Employers in the Workers Compensation Act for more information.

One aspect of training that works well for employee understanding and retention of procedures is having mock drills. Drills are a great way for staff to learn how to apply their knowledge and respond to incidents more confidently. Hold a staff de-briefing or huddle afterward, ask for input on what went well, and what could be improved, and amend where needed.

Where there’s involvement in safety, employees feel more confident with their roles and content with their employer. Active participation is a success in safety and builds positive momentum and motivation. Keep the motivation going and notice higher morale and productivity results. As the employer, providing training demonstrates your commitment to worker safety and supports a positive culture where employees can participate, build skills and feel empowered.

Want to learn more about Health & Safety? visit The Safe Way – Workplace Safety.

Disclaimer: This information is provided in an attempt to heighten sensitivity, increase awareness, and enhance judgments on this topic. We encourage our audience to contact their legal advisor and regulatory body to learn more. 

Resources

First Aid Requirements. WorkSafeBC. (2021, April 22). Retrieved March 30, 2022, from https://www.worksafebc.com/en/health-safety/create-manage/first-aid-requirements 

General Duties of Employers. Workers Compensation Act. (n.d.). Retrieved March 30, 2022, from https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/19001_02#section21 

About the Author

When workplace incidents happen, they can lead to injury, illness or damage. The associated costs can be substantial for the injured worker, their families, co-workers and the business. For the employer, the outcome may include increased WorkSafe BC claims, premiums and administrative penalties.  For incidents that result in an injury or had the potential for causing a serious injury, it’s the employer’s responsibility to conduct an investigation.  Investigations help determine what happened, the cause and hazards and how to prevent similar incidents from occurring again.

Do you Know the Four Stages of Conducting an Investigation?

Employers’ responsibilities include conducting investigations and reporting incidents to WorkSafe BC. Depending on the type of incident and it’s severity, the employer may also need to immediately report it to WorkSafe BC.  Check out WorkSafe BC’s site for their Employer Incident Investigation Report (EIIR) and its associated Guide for Completing the EIIR to help you through the process. The EIIR captures relevant incident information and is divided into four stages of an investigation:

1. preliminary
2. interim corrective actions
3. full investigation
4. full corrective action

What are the Benefits of an Investigation?

Investigating incidents is a consultative process between employer and worker representatives. Participating in investigations lands within joint health and safety committee duties. Those who perform an investigation should be knowledgeable with workplace processes, policies and practices and OH&S legislation among other key sources of information. The process involves breaking down what happened and the “why’s” of an incident. Relevant information is gathered and analyzed and the root cause and contributing factors are determined. From this, the employer can implement a corrective action plan with accident prevention.  Other benefits from conducting an investigation are:

• Prevents recurrences
• Identifies gaps in safety procedures
• Identifies safety trends
• Improves safety awareness

Let’s Talk About Safety at Work!

When the employer investigates incidents, it showcases their commitment to the process, meeting legal requirements and supports due diligence. For nurse practitioners, whether you’re an employee or employer, take part in brief, regular and frequent proactive safety talks. Check out SafeCare BC’s Safety Huddles page for ways to engage staff on conversations about workplace health and safety. This increases hazard recognition and reporting, employee understanding of work procedures and safety culture.

Want to learn more on Incident Investigations? Contact Margo Wipf with The Safe Way – Workplace Safety for accident investigation training.

Disclaimer: This information is provided in an attempt to heighten sensitivity, increase awareness, and enhance judgments on this topic. We encourage our audience to contact their legal advisor and regulatory body to learn more. 

Resources

Conducting an Employer Investigation. WorkSafeBC. (2021, February 22). Retrieved February 13, 2022, from https://www.worksafebc.com/en/health-safety/create-manage/incident-investigations/conducting-employer-investigation

Reporting incidents to WorkSafe BC. WorkSafeBC. (2021, April 22). Retrieved February 13, 2022, from https://www.worksafebc.com/en/health-safety/create-manage/incident-investigations/reporting-incidents-worksafebc

Employer Incident Investigation Form. WORKSAFEBC. (2021, April 22). Retrieved February 13, 2022, from https://www.worksafebc.com/en/resources/health-safety/forms/incident-investigation-report-form-52e40?lang=en

Guide for Completing the EIIR. WORKSAFEBC. (2021, April 22). Retrieved February 13, 2022, from https://www.worksafebc.com/en/resources/health-safety/forms/incident-investigation-report-form-guide-52e40?lang=en

Safety Huddles. Safecare BC. (2019, December 11). Retrieved February 13, 2022, from https://www.safecarebc.ca/safetyhuddles/

About the Author

This written plan of action captures the practice commitment to identifying hazards and preventing injuries. Whether your company needs a formal or informal plan depends on staffing numbers and the risk involved with the work performed. In today’s workforce, especially within health care, COVID-19 adds additional risk and challenges.

Following Public Health Officer’s orders and updating your COVID-19 safety plan, is always a good idea. Check out the following Health Care related COVID-19 resources:

• SafeCare BC COVID-19 Safety Plans 

• WorkSafe BC COVID-19 Prevention

• WorkSafe BC Health Care based COVID-19 resources

• BC Centre for Disease Control for Community -Based Health Care Providers 

What are the Benefits?

Now more than ever, maintaining a safe and healthy work environment is a daily challenge. For solo practitioners, implementing a safety program can counter these challenges by addressing the hazards with appropriate control measures. When measures are in place, you would feel better supported and safer while performing your job. Other perks include:

• Supports good business practices

• Improves worker motivation 

• Lowers injury rates 

• Reduces risk

• Promotes safety culture

WorkSafe BC has useful resources available on safety documentation, including developing a health and safety program and implementing a formal health and safety program.  Ensure you complete WorkSafe BC’s Due Diligence Checklist and confirm your documentation.

It takes Buy-in to Be Successful

It takes involvement and consultation from all levels, and most importantly, input from colleagues and your own experience for the development and implementation of a successful program. Ask for their opinion and concerns and draw upon their shared experiences to help mold your own program. 

Other ways to be successful:

• Have constant and consistent communication  

• Be transparent

• Promptly address concerns 

• Educate yourself and staff constantly

• Incentivize hazard reporting

Once a safety plan is developed and implemented, be sure to regularly review to close any control gaps. Provide yourself and any staff training on the risks and control measures involved with the work you all perform and confirm their understanding.

Need assistance with developing and implementing a safety program in your workplace? Margo Wipf with The Safe Way – Workplace Safety can assist you and your team with creating a plan that meets your business needs and regulatory compliance.

Disclaimer: This information is provided in an attempt to heighten sensitivity, increase awareness, and enhance judgments on this topic. We encourage our audience to contact their legal advisor and regulatory body to learn more. 

Resources

Covid-19 safety plans: What you need to know. Safecare BC. (2022, January 12). Retrieved January 17, 2022, from https://www.safecarebc.ca/2022/01/12/covid-19-safety-plans-what-you-need-to-know/ 

Health Care. WorkSafeBC. (2022, January 9). Retrieved January 17, 2022, from https://www.worksafebc.com/en/covid-19/industry-specific-information/health-care 

Community-based health care. BC Centre for Disease Control. (n.d.). Retrieved January 17, 2022, from http://www.bccdc.ca/health-professionals/clinical-resources/covid-19-care/clinical-care/community-based-health-care 

COVID-19 Prevention. WorkSafeBC. (2022, January 7). Retrieved January 17, 2022, from https://www.worksafebc.com/en/covid-19/covid-19-prevention 

Health & Safety Programs. WorkSafeBC. (2021, April 22). Retrieved December 30, 2021, from https://www.worksafebc.com/en/health-safety/create-manage/health-safety-programs 

Due Diligence Checklist. WORKSAFEBC. (2021, April 22). Retrieved December 30, 2021, from https://www.worksafebc.com/en/resources/health-safety/checklist/due-diligence-checklist?lang=en 

How to Implement a Formal Occupational Health and Safety Program. WORKSAFEBC. (2021, April 22). Retrieved December 31, 2021, from https://www.worksafebc.com/en/resources/health-safety/books-guides/how-to-implement-a-formal-occupational-health-and-safety-program?lang=en

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But did you know that whether you’re an employer or employee, you also have occupational health and safety rights and responsibilities?

Health and Safety Duties for Nurse Practitioners

Familiarize yourself with health and safety in the workplace, as all roles have specific and different levels of responsibility that must be followed. Check WorkSafe BC’s website for their Roles, rights & responsibilities.

As the employer, provide training, education, and instruction on all the hazards associated with:

• the job duties
• your workplace
• proper supervision to confirm safe behaviour.

Implement control measures required to mitigate the risk and regularly review and amend your measures to ensure they’re meeting the anticipated expectation that protects your staff from injury, illness or disease.
As the employee, the basic framework for a nurse practitioner’s responsibilities starts with working and acting safely. Follow all safety rules and safe work procedures. Be aware of hazards and control measures, including the use of personal protective equipment.
Do you Know the 3 Rights of Workers?
Everyone has the right to work in a safe and healthy environment. As a worker, you have three key rights in occupational health and safety:
The right to know the hazards and potential hazards associated with the job
The right to refuse unsafe work without penalty by the employer
The right to participate in safety discussions and activities at the workplace
Promoting Safety Culture
As a nurse practitioner, take the time to familiarize yourself with occupational health and safety rights and responsibilities. It’s an important aspect of your role in keeping your workplace safe.
What are some ways you can help promote safety at your work? Start with connecting with your health and safety committee on how to boost safety culture in your workplace. Work collaboratively as an organization with the purpose of preventing workplace accidents, injuries and illnesses. The ultimate goal of all nurse practitioners is to go home safely after every shift.
Want to learn more on ways to develop safety culture in your workplace? Contact The Safe Way – Workplace Safety and Human Resources Corporation for assistance [email protected].

Resources

Getting started (the Basics). WorkSafeBC. (2016, June 8). Retrieved October 26, 2021

Self-employment. British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives. (n.d.). Retrieved November 3, 2021

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