Download Memo re: HCHSA Protecting Health Care Workers from Infectious

To:
Local Coordinators and Bargaining Unit Presidents
From:
Diane Parker, Vice-President Region 1, Occupational Health and Safety Portfolio
Date:
December 2, 2004
RE:
HCHSA Protecting Health Care Workers From Infectious Diseases: A SelfAssessment Tool
CC:
Board of Directors, All District Service Teams, Provincial Service Team
Please ensure that this memo and attached document are distributed to your Joint Health
and Safety Committee (JHSC) member for immediate action and to the Local Executive
member responsible for occupational health and safety.
Please find attached a copy of the new Health Care Health & Safety Association (HCHSA)
Protecting Health Care Workers From Infectious Diseases: A Self-Assessment Tool. A copy of
this can be downloaded by accessing ONA’s Web site’s Member Section – Services & Benefits
- Health & Safety section of our Web site. A copy can also be obtained directly from HCHSA’s
website at www.hchsa.on.ca.
After SARS it became clear that many employers did not have adequate occupational healthrelated infection control policies and procedures in place to protect worker health and safety.
Many employers still have not updated these policies and procedures to even reflect the latest
Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) directives and standards.
The HCHSA has developed a useful self-assessment tool that can assist JHSCs review their
employer’s compliance regarding infection control policies, program, measures and procedures
that are required under the OHSA and Health Care and Residential Facilities Regulation.
Section 9 (3) of the Health Care Regulation states that “At least once a year the measures and
procedures for the health and safety of workers shall be reviewed and revised in the light of
current knowledge and practice.”
Therefore we recommend that the ONA member of the JHSC ensure that this assessment
tool is added to the agenda of the next JHSC meeting, and that the JHSC use this tool to
measure what occupational health-related infection control policies and procedures
Local Coordinators and Bargaining Unit Presidents
HCHSA Infectious Diseases-Assessment Tool
Page 2
already exist and what others need to be developed to ensure that the employer is fully
complying with the OHSA and its regulations.
Once the assessment is complete, the JHSC should establish written recommendations to the
employer (senior management) for the development or revision of those infection control
policies and procedures that have been identified as a gap by this assessment tool.
If the employer members of the JHSC refuse to collectively submit the written recommendations
to senior management, then there is an unresolved health and safety issue. The JHSC ONA
member should contact the Ministry of Labour (MOL). If the MOL refuses to investigate,
immediately advise your Labour Relations Officer who will then be in touch with ONA’s Health
and Safety Specialist.
Remember, where the JHSC is in agreement to submit written recommendations, the employer
only has 21 days to respond in writing back to the JHSC. If the employer does not respond or
does not provide a satisfactory response with a timetable for implementation, call in the
MOL to address this “unresolved health and safety concern.”
LHS/dp/eb/cb:
Encl.