Safer sharps campaign continues
 

Health Care: OPSEU and allies want changes to new needle safety regulation

November 26, 2007 Important changes are still needed to the needle safety regulation. OPSEU, the Ontario Nurses’ Association, the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) are asking locals to use these materials to move forward the issue of Safety Engineered Medical Devices (SEMDs) in workplaces. 

• a cover memo explaining the new regulation and the initiative in detail, 

• a step-by-step process to help you implement this initiative,

• two checklists (one to be used by hospital Joint Health and Safety Committees [JHSCs] and the other to be used by non-hospital JHSCs),

• a sample written recommendation that you can tailor to your bargaining unit’s needs.

• a joint union Sharps Safety position document

•  an  explanation of Ontario Health & Safety legislation applicable to this issue  

• Ontario Regulation 474/07 on Needle Safety 

Also please access the following helpful links:

·       Ontario Safety Association for Community and Healthcare (OSACH) “Planning Guide: Implementation of Safety Engineered Medical Devices”  which can be downloaded free at:  www.osach.ca/products/SEMS/SEMS.pdf

·       Vancouver Island Health Authority “Blood and Body Fluids: Exposure Control for Victoria General Hospital” which can be downloaded free at: www.communicationsbridge.com/VIHA.pdf

Please help us protect our members from sharps injuries in all workplaces by working together , to ensure health care employers across Ontario comply with this new regulation and take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances to protect workers. Encourage your OPSEU health and safety activists to move forward with this campaign.

Thank you for your assistance. If you have any questions or concerns, contact Lisa McCaskell, Senior Health and Safety Officer, at OPSEU Head Office lmccaskell@opseu.org