Health and Safety

CORONAVIRUS COVID-19 A Q&A Guide for CUPE Health Care Workers in Ontario Coronavirus – COVID-2019 The following guide is based on the most recent information related to the coronavirus (COVID-19) that emerged from Wuhan, China in late December 2019. Information about the virus is gathered every day. Knowledge about how the virus is transmitted has yet to be fully understood. For this reason, CUPE is recommending that health care settings adopt the precautionary principle towards infection prevention and control of COVID-19.

Calling Napanee PSWs: Napanee PSW Appreciation Day is June 25 at Westdale Park. The event runs from 10am-4pm. RSVP on Facebook

Join us for our first monthly Lunch & Learn. All home care workers welcome. Hot topic: health & safety and the right to refuse unsafe work Drop in any time between 10am and 1pm. Free lunch & coffee *Tuesday June 18 10am-1pm (drop in anytime) 680 Innovation Drive (off Highway 15) * Hosted by Homecareworkers.ca

The prevalence of violence in healthcare is reported to be greater than in other occupational settings. Research has found, for example, that nurses are subjected to more acts of violence than police officers or prison guards. To examine the prevalence of violence in Ontario Long-Term Care sector, CUPE/OCHU conducted a poll of over 1200 workers in the sector. This poll was conducted in January 2019, by Public Polling to investigate the prevalence of violence against staff and related stress in Ontario’s long-term care facilities.

Fill in the survey The prevalence of violence in healthcare is reported to be greater than in other occupational settings. Research has found, for example, that nurses are subjected to more acts of violence than police officers or prison guards. The International Council of Nurses reported that “Nurses are the healthcare workers most at risk, with female nurses considered the most vulnerable.” According to a recent U.S. study published in the New England Journal of Medicine:

KINGSTON VIOLENCE IN HEALTHCARE CONFERENCE Click here to add to your calendar Saturday, March 2nd 9am to 4pm Kingston City Hall, 216 Ontario Street Click Here to Register Agenda issues Join specialists in healthcare violence. Discuss polls of staff about violence at work. Talk about your experiences. Learn about CUPE’s campaigns against violence in the workplace. Help us push for workplaces without violence. There is no admission charge for this conference and a light lunch is provided.

Workplace violence is a serious hazard that many CUPE members face every day. The purpose of this kit is to provide members with resources to help protect them against violence and harassment in the workplace. Far too often, employers develop policies and procedures that only react to violence and harassment. This approach is not good enough. CUPE’s new kit focuses primarily on preventing violence and harassment in the workplace before it happens.