Article from the OH&S Canada magazine (January 2017)
Nova Scotia has agreed to implement all 12 recommendations on reducing violence in hospital emergency departments following the publication of a report that evaluates safety threats in the province’s healthcare sector.
Improving Workplace Safety in Nova Scotia’s Community Emergency Departments (Eds), published on January 20, 2017, was compiled by a working committee of healthcare stakeholders formed by Premier Stephen McNeil late in 2016.
Among the recommendations in the report are the following: enhancing teamwork between Nova Scotia Health Authority and unions on reducing ED violence; conducting risk assessments tailored to every ED; having a provincial workplace-violence-prevention program in place; installing emergency communication devices and alert systems for ED staff; establishing a system to track all incident and injury reports; putting in place better emergency-planning policies; and having a protocol to notify unions of major incidents.
“The safety of nurses, physicians, staff, patients and families at emergency departments across the province is very important to us,” McNeil says.
Janet Hazelton, president of Nova Scotia Nurses’ Union, says the committee is proud to offer “a positive strategy” to reduce injuries from workplace violence in Eds. “Regardless of the situation, no one should feel threatened or unsafe in their workplace. Much remains to be done, but this is an important step in the right direction.”
My opinion
This report may be over seven years old, but the need to protect healthcare workers is ongoing, even today.
I have read a few reports from some of our sister provinces and am glad to note that the need to better protect our ED staff is there.
It would be interesting to find out how well the protection really is.
HRS Group Inc. has a great team that can help you with all your health and safety needs. Contact Deborah toll free at 1-877-907-7744 or locally at 705-749-1259.
Ensure your workplace is a safe place.
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‘Work’ and ‘Play’ safe.
Daniel L. Beal
CHSEP – Advanced Level
CEO & Senior Trainer
HRS Group Inc.