Occupational Health & Safety
Nursing is Dangerous Work
Nursing is a demanding and hazardous profession with some of the highest rates of work related injury and illness. Health care workplaces have a lost time injury rate that is 62.5% higher than theprovincial rate.
Workers' Compensation Board (WCB) statistics show that working in health care is more dangerous than working in the mining and petroleum industries.
WCB statistics only show a part of the picture as they only provide the numbers of nurses and other health care workers who have lost work time as a result of a workplace injury or illness and have filed a WCB claim.
We know that a significant number of nurses do not file WCB claims for minor injuries and illness. Many nurses continue working while suffering the affects of workplace injury and illness due to concerns regarding staffing shortages and patient care.
Your Professional Responsibility Advocating for Safe and Health Work Environments
Unsafe staffing levels, inappropriate supplies and equipment, and inappropriate staff mix decisions are just some of the major stressors that nurses face. These situations also lead to unsafe practice situations.
As part of your professional obligations under Nursing Practice Standards (CARNA) and the Code of Ethics for Registered Nurses (Canadian Nurses Association 2008) individual nurses and as members of groups you are required to advocate for safe practice environments. The Code of Ethic also requires that nurses work to prevent and minimize all forms of violence and take action to minimize risk to protect themselves and others.
Ensuring that employers provide employees with healthy and safe workplaces and work conditions is important for nurses and their patients. An unhealthy or unsafe working environment often affects your patients and/or your ability to provide safe and competent care. A nurse who is ill or hurt cannot provide care for his or her patients.
If work hurts or if something in your work environment is making you ill, reporting your illness or injury to your employer and contacting your Local union health and safety committee is the best place to start.
Reporting Workplace Injury and Illness Your Right and Responsibility!
Reporting all work related injury and illness is a legal obligation of all employees under the Alberta Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act, Regulation and Code. Your employer must have a procedure for reporting. Most health care employers are now using computer based reporting processes. Under the OHS code you have the right to a copy of any injury/illness reporting form. Contact your local union representative if you have any questions regarding reporting.
Your employer is required to investigate every report of work related illness or injury "near miss" incidents and unsafe situations. The purpose of the investigations is prevention not to lay blame.The goal of the investigation process is to identify "root causes" and measures that can be put in place to eliminate or reduce the risk of further injuries or illness.
Several provisions of the OHS Act and Regulations protect workers from dismissal or discipline for exercising their rights under the legislation. If you suspect that you are being treated unfairly contact your Local UNA representative.
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