How the province is tackling workplace injuries
Five new health and safety satellite training centres have opened in British Columbia for the province’s healthcare workers. They are meant to support continuing and long-term care workers who have experienced some of the highest incidents of workplace violence and injury rates due to staff shortages, fatigue, and burnout.
The training centres in Kelowna, Williams Lake, Burnaby, Lumby, and Salmon Arm are part of a partnership between SafeCare BC and AgeCare.
Khairun Jivani is the vice president operations BC at AgeCare and is quoted in a local news outlet as saying the parentship “provides access to training and education in our AgeCare facilities, ensuring we are equipping all with the best possible tools to keep staff and residents safe and well.”
SafeCare BC has also partnered with organizations in Abbotsford, Parksville, Penticton, Nanaimo, and Sidney.
“We are thrilled to partner with our members to provide more opportunities for health and safety training to continuing care workers across the province,” said Saleema Dhalla, CEO SafeCare BC in a November press release first announcing the new training facilities.
Dhalla believes it’s important for workers to receive training in-person. “Although we have expanded our virtual and online learning in the last couple of years, we know that in-person training provides exceptional hands-on experience and greater interaction between participants and their peers, as well as with facilitators.”
Workplace violence is one of the leading causes of injuries among healthcare workers in British Columbia and a province-wide training initiative was launched last year.
