July 8, 2013

Entering the hospital parking lot, I avoid several holes before being able to park my car. In the rain, I head for the entrance zig-zagging through the parking lot to avoid the potholes. Suddenly, I am splashed by a passing car… My day is starting well!

Since it is still early, I go to the cafeteria to get a coffee. I find my colleagues discussing the famous potholes in the parking lot. In fact, a visitor could have been hurt tripping in one of those holes. Apparently, he came away unscathed.

I go up to my unit. Gee, it’s hot here! There is no air circulating. Arriving at the nurses’ desk, I see that everyone is talking about the suffocating heat. Recently, a so-called anti-suicide mechanism was set up that considerably cuts down the opening of the windows. Although there is a ventilation system, it feels like it is completely useless.  

In addition to suffering the stifling heat, I have to push the medication cart which has defective wheels making it gruelling work. I run into the patient in Room 203 who has difficulty moving around with his walker because of the loose tiles in the floor. I can also hear my manager complaining on the telephone about a lack of lighting on the unit. What’s next? I can’t take this anymore!

This morning, Martha transferred me a patient from the Emergency Department. Since she is a union representative, I asked her if she could do something to help resolve the numerous problems related to the poor conditions in our workplace. The first thing she said to me was: “Did you talk to your manager? What was her answer?” I immediately replied with “Oh, come on! Of course she is aware of the problems! Everyone is talking about it here! I have even heard her complaining.” Martha also wants to know if anyone has demanded that corrective measures be brought to resolve one or the other of these problems. “I honestly don’t know!” I responded.

Referring to the message “Had I known… Report to prevent”, conveyed by the FIQ for the 2011 OHS Week, Martha made me aware that every employee has a duty to immediately report a situation that she feels is dangerous, using the Declaration of a dangerous situation form, available in her institution, and of the local union’s support. Such an action will also document the situation in the file if a request for intervention addressed to the CSST Inspection Service is needed when the employer does not take the necessary measures to correct the situation.

Thus, stop being silent when faced with a dangerous situation!

Do you know ?

Every report of a dangerous situation must be followed up by the Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee in the institution.

According to the Association paritaire pour la santé et la sécurité du travail du secteur affaires sociales (ASSTSAS) website, the report of a dangerous situation involves a procedure of five (5) steps, the identification of the dangerous situation, reporting this situation to the chief of service, an evaluation of the situation, research and implementation of corrective measures as well as the follow-up of unresolved situations.

A report of a dangerous situation may cover  equipment, material, work spaces and the work environment, among others, as  well as the conditions for practicing the profession.

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You can find more information regarding reporting a dangerous situation on the ASSTSAS website at www.asstsas.qc.ca.

If not available from your employer, this PDF version of the form for reporting a dangerous situation can be used (from the FIQ website in the Occupational Health and Safety (Enjeux > Santé et sécurité du travail) menu.