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The community sector can be an unpredictable place to work. Moving from one client's home to another, your workplace is always changing.
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It is important to be able to:
- recognize hazards that might cause a workplace injury
- decide what to do to control the hazard, and
- know when and what to tell your supervisor.
Common workplace risks when providing clients care in the community include:
- Musculoskeletal Disorders
- Slips, Trips and Falls
- Driving
- Workplace Violence
- Infectious Diseases
- Fire and Emergencies
- Chemicals
- Kitchen Hazards
This tool outlines hazards associated with each of these common risks, and gives suggestions to control the hazards. It also suggests training that should be provided to workers and information that the worker should tell the supervisor. For each common risk there are also suggestion for the employer and/or CCAC to control workplace risks at the employer and/or system level.
How to effectively use this tool:
- Use the tool and webinar training during orientation of community care workers, to point out the many hazards and control options.
- Use the tool to identify whether the control is best put in place at the system level, at the employer level or at the worker level.
- The tear-off checklist at the back of the tool can be used by workers to identify and report hazards to their supervisor; the supervisor can then record any corrective action taken, or whether the hazard was passed along to the system level.
Sharing information and working together is most effective in an organization with a positive safety culture, where staff members:
- Are asked for their input and are involved in decision-making,
- Are comfortable sharing their suggestions and concerns, and
- Are recognized and rewarded for their positive contributions.
By working together, at all levels, we can reduce workplace injury to community care workers.
Please review this 10 minute webinar, prepared for community care workers, that explains how the tool should be used, then download the tool and hazard report form.
This tool was developed by the Public Services Health & Safety Association, St. Clair West Services for Seniors and the Ontario Community Support Association with funding provided by the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care.
This tool is copyrighted by the Public Services Health & Safety Association (PSHSA), St. Clair West Services for Seniors (SCWSS) and the Ontario Community Support Association (OCSA).
The information contained in this tool is correct at the time of publication. We encourage reproduction and use of the tool in its entirety provided appropriate credit is given to PSHSA, SCWSS and OCSA. The tool should not be used in a modified form without prior written consent from PSHSA, SCWSS and/or OCSA.