Health and Safety Program
All workplaces, including medical clinics, are required to have an occupational health and safety program to prevent work-related injuries, illnesses, and diseases. An occupational health and safety program helps physician-employers protect their staff, minimize risks, and maintain a healthy and safe clinic environment.
Program Requirements
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Review Requirements
The first step in starting an occupational health and safety program is to assess the total number of workers in the clinic, including all clinical, administrative, and support staff, as well as physicians and nurses, to determine the appropriate type of program required. Everyone who works regularly in the clinic should be considered.
WorkSafeBC classifies all community physician and specialist clinics as low-risk workplaces for occupational injuries.
- If your clinic has fewer than 50 workers, a less formal health and safety program is required. This program focuses on regular monthly meetings with staff to discuss health and safety matters.
- If your clinic has 50 or more workers, the program must also include management meetings to review safety activities, incidents, and statistics.
An occupational health and safety program helps employers keep workplaces safe by managing risks, sharing clear safety rules with staff, and setting goals to improve safety. It also assigns roles and responsibilities to ensure tasks are done right, reducing injuries and costs from missed work or disabilities.
Program Policy
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Complete Health and Safety Policy
An occupational health and safety program should have a written health and safety policy outlining the employer’s aims and the responsibilities of the employer, supervisors, and workers.
The policy should be dated, signed by the employer and reviewed annually. Be sure to share the policy with staff. It’s a good idea to post it in a visible location at the workplace where all staff can easily see it.