HSA is offering a 2-day OH&S steward workshop this fall:

Date: November 8 & 9, 2010

Location: HSA Office, 300 ... 5118 Joyce Street, Vancouver

Occupational health and safety issues are very important to HSA members, and OH&S stewards play a vital role in promoting a safe work environment and helping to prevent injuries. These workshops are participatory and discussion oriented. We encourage you to bring examples from your workplace for discussion. Please refer to the attached pre-registration form for further details.

October 25 and 26, 2010
Hilton Vancouver Airport Hotel

Spaces are filling up for this conference, designed for experienced safety stewards and advocates, to increase awareness on key issues related to safe working conditions for all members. 

Learn more about topics such as:

• An update on violence prevention initiatives.
• The relationship between worker and patient/client safety.
• Information technology to support OHS programs and initiatives.
• HSA projects and Initiatives.
• Stress in the workplace.

Over the past few days, VIHA has been working with health care unions to provide information and address concerns in preparation for receiving refugees requiring emergency medical care.

Canadian officials confirmed today that 490 refugees are aboard a vessel approaching the BC coast.

The old emergency department at Victoria General Hospital has been temporarily reopened to provide screening, triage, assessment, and diagnostic care. VIHA has also re-opened 7 North to treat refugees requiring hospital admission.

October 25 and 26, 2010, Hilton Vancouver Airport Hotel

This conference is designed for experienced safety stewards and advocates increase awareness on key issues related to safe working conditions for all members. 

Learn more about topics such as:

• An update on violence prevention initiatives.
• The relationship between worker and patient/client safety.
• Information technology to support OHS programs and initiatives.
• HSA projects and Initiatives.
• Stress in the workplace.

On April 28 ... the National Day of Mourning for workers killed and injured on the job ...  HSA President Reid Johnson and the unions Board of Directors will place a wreath at a ceremony in downtown Vancouver.

All workers and their families are invited to pay tribute to workers who have been injured or killed on the job, or stricken with occupational disease.

May 2 - 8, 2010 is National Occupational Health and Safety Week. The attached information from Worksafe BC provides a listing of resource materials to assist in any promotions you may consider, in support of this week.

More information can be found at the WorkSafe BC website.

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On June 4, 2010 WorkSafeBC's Health Care Services is hosting the 6th Annual Health Care Professional Conference at the West building of the new Vancouver Convention Centre — one of the citys most breathtaking venues.

The conference, geared towards clinical and physical rehabilitation providers, as well as other health care professionals, promises a full day of top-notch presentations by field experts.

OHSAH to Publish Research on Nurses Working Overtime

A new OHSAH study, led by the Statistics and Evaluations team's Occupational Hygienist Sharla Drebit, shows that full time Registered Nurses are working an increasing amount of overtime hours each year. The highest number of these hours are in the Emergency, Intensive Care and General Medical departments which are therefore contributing the highest proportion of overtime costs. One recommendation from the study is to focus efforts to lighten the burden of overtime at the departmental level.

May 4th at the Italian Cultural Centre, Vancouver

Shoppers Home Health Care and WorkSafeBC are hosting this half-day hands-on workshop for directors of care, floor supervisors and trainers, care aides and other front line staff who provide direct patient care. Attendees will receive instruction from professional trainers on the use of ceiling and floor lifts and other transfer assist devices, and will be required to practice transfers and repositioning tasks using the equipment.    

Five years ago, in 2005, David Bland, a vocational rehabilitation counsellor and HSA member from Richmond Mental Health, was murdered at his workplace by a former client.  His tragic death served as a sombre reminder that more needs to be done to prevent incidents of violence in the workplace and to protect health care ands social services workers on the job.