Heightened awareness the biggest success of home's safety group: MacPherson

Increased awareness leads to more safety-based questions, resulting in mitigation of preventable workplace injuries

February 8, 2010 -- Deron Hamel

Heightened awareness of maintaining a safe working environment has been the No. 1 success stemming from the occupational health and safety committee at Village Green during the past two years, says committee member Brian MacPherson.

The measure of success has been the fact that team members at the Greater Napanee long-term care home are increasingly asking questions pertaining to staying safe and following proper protocol, adds MacPherson, the home's maintenance manager.

"There is a lot more heightened awareness (about health and safety issues) and we're seeing that by the questions that are being asked," he says.

For example, while team members have always asked about how to properly use personal protective equipment (PPE) - gloves, face masks, safety goggles, etc. - there has been more staff engagement in recent times about how to follow protocol and how to effectively use this equipment in the safest possible manner, says MacPherson.

"The one question a lot of people have been asking now of us (is how to properly) use personal protective equipment," says MacPherson.

"That's the one that has stuck out in the minds of (team members) I've asked. If you're doing something that requires PPEs, do we have them, and how do we use them effectively."

Adding to this, MacPherson says the committee is seeing processes central to infection prevention and control practices merging with occupational health and safety committee issues, which is enhancing safety at the home.

Through heightened awareness about the importance of workplace health and safety, brought forth from home committees, MacPherson says the best possible result is clear-cut.

"Not that we have a lot, but (the best result would be) a reduction in preventable workplace injuries . . . and having people aware that they're all a part of (enhancing safety)," he says.

What have been recent developments garnered from the occupational health and safety committee in your home? If you have a story you would like to share with the OMNIway, please contact the newsroom at 800-294-0051, ext. 23, or e-mail deron(at)axiomnews.ca.

If you have feedback on this story, please call the newsroom at 800-294-0051, ext. 23, or e-mail deron(at)axiomnews.ca.

Back to News