Exam 8: A Part 1creating a Safe and Healthy Work Environment

Scenario 8.1: SaFE The Safety For Everyone (SaFE)program at Canadian Rails (CR)encourages peer-on-peer safety."SaFE observers" provide positive and constructive feedback to peers during a shift.At-risk behaviours are discussed in confidence and corrected on the spot.General observations are noted by the SaFE observer and shared with supervisors for future analysis.Several weeks ago CR experienced a train crash in which several employees were injured.Many employees are emotional and shocked that this occurred as CR has extensive health and safety policies and practices to ensure public safety of which SaFE is only one of many health and safety initiatives.There had also been a high number of injuries by employees working in the Canadian Rails shipyards. -Please refer to Scenario 8.1.The rail yard workers are exposed to many hazards when lifting,hauling and moving freight boxes.What type of hazard is falling off a ladder?

Substance abuse among employees is one of the major societal issues of today,found in all levels of an organization.Who plays a key role in identifying potential substance abuse problems through regular employee monitoring of attendance,behaviour,and performance?

What is typically NOT referred to in employer safety rules?

What best defines the workers' legal fundamental health and safety responsibilities?

Scenario 8.1: SaFE The Safety For Everyone (SaFE)program at Canadian Rails (CR)encourages peer-on-peer safety."SaFE observers" provide positive and constructive feedback to peers during a shift.At-risk behaviours are discussed in confidence and corrected on the spot.General observations are noted by the SaFE observer and shared with supervisors for future analysis.Several weeks ago CR experienced a train crash in which several employees were injured.Many employees are emotional and shocked that this occurred as CR has extensive health and safety policies and practices to ensure public safety of which SaFE is only one of many health and safety initiatives.There had also been a high number of injuries by employees working in the Canadian Rails shipyards. -Please refer to Scenario 8.1.What best defines CR rail crews' (employees')legal fundamental health and safety responsibilities?

What is the owners' responsibility under health and safety legislation?

An employee was not able to concentrate or remember details,and was moody.What type of strain was this employee experiencing?

If an employee is experiencing severe personal problems,who would be the individual most likely to refer the worker to the company-sponsored employee assistance program?

What is the problem if an organization conducts mandatory drug testing?

Scenario 8.2: Faulty Scaffolding The owner and supervisor of a small BC construction company and a scaffold platform supplier were charged with two counts of criminal negligence causing death,in addition to 12 provincial health and safety legislation charges.Two migrant workers fell 11 storeys from a high-rise building when the faulty scaffolding broke,and they were not attached to harnesses. -Please refer to Scenario 8.2.Which of the following would be an indirect cost of these two fatalities?

Scenario 8.3: Emergency Room Shutdown On Saturday,February 28,2013,Ciara Michal,the human resource manager at Strathcona Hospital,made a decision to shut down the hospital's emergency room.A second registered nurse had refused to work a 12-hour shift due to fears concerning the spread and infection of several communicable diseases.Patients had to be directed to another hospital,260 km away.Michal had spent the last several hours fielding questions and concerns from hospital staff,the public,and government representatives about the hospital emergency room closure.Several additional health and safety concerns were brought to her attention,pointing to a larger problem. Emergency room doctors and nurses working at Lochview Hospital are particularly concerned about the risk of patients contracting C.difficile virus,as the incidents of infection had increased 300% in two years.There had been two recent needle-stick injuries: one involving a rushed emergency room cleaning staff person and the other,a practicum nursing student.These incidents posed both physical and emotional threats related to the hepatitis B virus,the hepatitis C virus,and HIV.All emergency room staff,as well as paramedics and emergency social services staff,are concerned about the shortage of hospital beds and the makeshift system of creating an overflow ward in the hallways and cafeteria.Hallway beds don't have the safety equipment available,leading to mistakes and poor care.Extension cords run across the floors in order to reach electrical outlets.Patients with acute problems are seen in chairs,and some are tucked way into corners where they cannot be observed.These stressful working conditions are having an adverse impact on emergency room health-care workers.Over 10% of the emergency room staff are on extended stress-related leaves. -Please refer to Scenario 8.3.On two recent occasions,an emergency room clerk showed up for her late night 12 hour shift under the influence of alcohol and was sent home even though a staff replacement could not be found and patients were already waiting for over three hours.What legislation would guide your immediate decision on how to handle the emergency room clerk who came to work under the influence of alcohol?

What primary legal body regulates occupational health and safety for hospitals?

Which of the following is a factor that causes an occupational illness?

Scenario 8.3: Emergency Room Shutdown On Saturday,February 28,2013,Ciara Michal,the human resource manager at Strathcona Hospital,made a decision to shut down the hospital's emergency room.A second registered nurse had refused to work a 12-hour shift due to fears concerning the spread and infection of several communicable diseases.Patients had to be directed to another hospital,260 km away.Michal had spent the last several hours fielding questions and concerns from hospital staff,the public,and government representatives about the hospital emergency room closure.Several additional health and safety concerns were brought to her attention,pointing to a larger problem. Emergency room doctors and nurses working at Lochview Hospital are particularly concerned about the risk of patients contracting C.difficile virus,as the incidents of infection had increased 300% in two years.There had been two recent needle-stick injuries: one involving a rushed emergency room cleaning staff person and the other,a practicum nursing student.These incidents posed both physical and emotional threats related to the hepatitis B virus,the hepatitis C virus,and HIV.All emergency room staff,as well as paramedics and emergency social services staff,are concerned about the shortage of hospital beds and the makeshift system of creating an overflow ward in the hallways and cafeteria.Hallway beds don't have the safety equipment available,leading to mistakes and poor care.Extension cords run across the floors in order to reach electrical outlets.Patients with acute problems are seen in chairs,and some are tucked way into corners where they cannot be observed.These stressful working conditions are having an adverse impact on emergency room health-care workers.Over 10% of the emergency room staff are on extended stress-related leaves. -Please refer to Scenario 8.3.What major health hazard category would stress be classified under?

What is one of the minimum legal elements of an organization's health and safety program?

What is one of the minimum legal elements of an organization's health and safety program?

Scenario 8.1: SaFE The Safety For Everyone (SaFE)program at Canadian Rails (CR)encourages peer-on-peer safety."SaFE observers" provide positive and constructive feedback to peers during a shift.At-risk behaviours are discussed in confidence and corrected on the spot.General observations are noted by the SaFE observer and shared with supervisors for future analysis.Several weeks ago CR experienced a train crash in which several employees were injured.Many employees are emotional and shocked that this occurred as CR has extensive health and safety policies and practices to ensure public safety of which SaFE is only one of many health and safety initiatives.There had also been a high number of injuries by employees working in the Canadian Rails shipyards. -Please refer to Scenario 8.1.CR was charged with several safety offences,as they did not take all reasonable steps to avoid the train crash.What legal defense was required,which they could not prove?

What type of stress management intervention would be focused on dealing with workplace stressors?

What are the working conditions that cause stress called?

Which of the following would be an indirect cost of a workplace accident?