416.285.3666
www.providence.on.ca
Providence Hospital
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Mission
Values
Vision
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Helping People. Healing Lives.
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Table of contents
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Occupational Health, Safety and Wellness Policy
Statement
Our Policy
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Employees, physicians, volunteers and all other
persons conducting business on the premises are
required to be aware of, and to work in compliance
with, all health and safety policy and program
requirements, and applicable legislation, standards
and guidelines. Hazardous situations must be reported
immediately for corrective action in order to prevent
illness and/or injury. Non-compliance will not be
tolerated.
All staff must read and become familiar with all
Providence Healthcare health and safety policies, and
sign the required form indicating that you have read
and understood the policies, before participating in
home visits or other off-site activities.
We thank everyone for your diligence in supporting
these initiatives and for his or her contribution to
creating a healthy and safe work environment at
Providence Healthcare and helping us become an
„employer of choice‟.
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Awareness, Assessment, Attitude, Action
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Awareness
Awareness
Recognize the value of taking steps to ensure your
health and safety.
Know Providence Healthcare‟s policy for home visit
safety.
Be aware of the environment around you, from the
weather and the neighbourhood, to the client‟s mood
and home environment.
Know when it is mandatory for visiting staff to
postpone or immediately leave a visit.
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Providence Healthcare visiting professionals are
expected to postpone or immediately terminate a visit
when you think your health and safety is at risk. For
example, this could occur when:
You are verbally or physically threatened with
violence
You are asked to leave
The client or family member demonstrates
signs of alcohol intoxication or drug influence
You perceive sexual advances
The building or location poses a risk to your
health and safety (see checklists from page 23
to 27.)
The client or others present have an airborne
transmittable disease, such as influenza
You have an airborne transmittable disease
An animal threatens your safety and the client
refuses to contain the animal in another room
while you are there
Someone is exhibiting irrational behaviours or
questionable mental health
You are exposed to visually threatening or
sexual gestures, such as a client answering the
door partially clothed, or sent written
suggestive material, such as letters or photos
You feel unsafe or threatened
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Assessment
Assessment
Evaluate risk factors before, during and immediately
after your home visit.
See easy-to-use checklists on pages 14 to 28, for your
convenience.
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Attitude
Attitude
Everyone has a different attitude about health and
safety. Are you aware of your own? If so, do you
understand how your attitude about health and safety
influences what you will notice and how you will react
to it?
Health and safety attitudes can range from not being
concerned at all to being excessively concerned about
it. If you have a high tolerance for risk or are
significantly restricting your activities from constant
fear, it is important to actively work toward having a
more balanced attitude in this area.
Home visit health and safety should be approached in
the same manner as infection control standard/routine
precautions. Take preventative measures at every
home visit, not just when you perceive a need.
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Action
Action
Be accountable for your safety. Take charge, before,
during and immediately after your home visit. Plan
ahead. If you sense a client or the client‟s environment
is unsafe, remove yourself from the situation and
inform your supervisor.
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Safety steps prior to a visit
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Car check list prior to home visit safety
Item Yes No
Copy of car ownership in glove
compartment
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Home-visit tote check list prior to visit
Item Yes No
Mini flashlight with charged batteries
Disposable procedure mask
Disposable gloves
Disposable paper booties
Whistle
Hand cleanser
Charged cellular phone1
Four quarters taped to one of your
business cards
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Sign out a cellular phone for a home visit, if you do
not have a mobile phone of your own to use.
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Home-visit tote contents
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Pre-home visit assessment, for use 24 to 48
hours prior to home visit
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….continued from previous page. Done
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Process during a visit
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Home visit safety checklist for day of visit
Item Done
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….continued from previous page. Done
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Home environment safety assessment during
home visit
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Fire Hazards Yes No
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Fire hazards, continued…
Old, frayed, worn, or plugged-in and switched-
on electrical blankets
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Security hazards Yes No
No working telephone.
Windows or doors routinely unlocked
Presence of alcohol or drug use
Isolated area, out of voice-range from other
people
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Health, chemical and environmental Yes No
hazards
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Process after a visit
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Safety advice
Visiting in pairs
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Safety advice
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Do not act fearful, as this promotes the victim
syndrome. State your position concisely and in a
matter-of-fact way.
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The Criminal Code gives you the right to use the
degree of force that is reasonably necessary in the
circumstances to disengage yourself and/or others
form the situation. Excessive force – significantly more
than the attacker is using or threatening to use or than
is necessary to extricate yourself from the situation -
is not allowed.
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Process when there is an incident
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Steps to take after an automobile collision
At the scene
One: If it is safe, remove vehicles from the roadway.
As soon as possible
One: Notify your supervisor or delegate.
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Note: Please refer to your employment letter of offer
for details regarding mileage reimbursement and
insurance coverage for your car.
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Steps to take following a car break-in or theft
At the scene
One: Call the police to report incident immediately.
As soon as possible
One: Fill out a Health Service Incident Form
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Steps to take when your automobile breaks
down
At the scene
One: Raise the hood, get back in the car, and lock the
doors.
As soon as possible
One: Fill out a Health Service Incident Form.
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More tools
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Safety awareness at a glance quiz
List three correct safety measures in each of the
following five images and three things that threaten
safety. Answers on page 44.
Scene one
A visiting professional leaving her car upon arriving at
a client‟s residence.
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Safety awareness at a glance quiz
List three correct safety measures in these images and
three things that threaten safety. Answers on page 44.
Scene two
A visiting professional in an elevator at a client‟s
building.
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Safety awareness at a glance quiz
List three correct safety measures in these images and
three things that threaten safety. Answers on page 44.
Scene three
A visiting professional at a home visit.
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Safety awareness at a glance quiz
List three correct safety measures in these images and
three things that threaten safety. Answers on page 44.
Scene four
A visiting professional in a basement apartment.
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Safety awareness at a glance quiz
List three missing home-visit tote items. Answers on
page 44.
Scene five
Incomplete home-visit tote contents.
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Answers to safety awareness at a glance quiz
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Emergency info
Emergency………………………………………… 911
Police (non-emergency)..………………… 416-808-2222
Fire (non-emergency)……………………… 416-338-9050
Providence Healthcare
Supervisor/designate‟s pager………
Switchboard………………………………… 416-285-3666,
(press „0‟)
Security………………………………………… call switchboard
Alzheimer Day Program emerg.line.416-285-4023
Ambulance………………………………………… 416-392-2000
Crown taxi (if using a taxi chit)…….…. 416-750-4800
(if not using a chit)………… 416-750-7878
Towing company…………………………………
Next-of-kin (work telephone #)………
Next-of-kin (home telephone #)………
Your car‟s service garage..………………
Traffic report station…………………………… 680AM
Weather info……………..………………………… 680AM
Roadside assistance…………………………..
Your family physician.………………………..
Your allergies………………………………………
Other medical issues, such as diabetes:
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Resources
Training resources
www.ccohs.ca
www.crisisprevention.com
www.georgebrown.ca
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Ontario Safety Association for Community and
Healthcare
This non-profit corporation established under the
Ontario Business Corporations Act offers training
programs and products, including downloadable „fast
facts‟, posters, report forms and videos. Formerly
called the Health Care Health & Safety Association of
Ontario (HCHSA).
www.osach.ca
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Community information resources
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Government resources
WorkSmartOntario
The official website of the Ontario Ministry of Labour,
with information to help young or new workers be safe
at work.
www.worksmartontario.gov.on.ca
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Acknowledgements
References
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Providence Healthcare’s
Occupational Health and Safety Policy,
policy number X-10
Purpose
Policy
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3. Every supervisor is responsible for ensuring that safe
and healthy working conditions are maintained, and
that workers comply with all applicable health and
safety legislation.
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Appendix A
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Employee Incident/Injury Reporting and
Investigation (Human Resources Policies,
X-60)
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Notes
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3276 St. Clair Avenue East
Toronto, Ontario
M1L 1W1
416.285.3666
www.providence.on.ca
Providence Hospital
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