toxic risks in the workplace a presentation to the canadian society of safety engineering
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Toxic Risks in the Workplace
A presentation to the
Canadian Society of Safety Engineering
Today’s Talk:
• Common causes of work place poisonings
• Common behaviours that lead to poisonings in the workplace
• Critical pathway to resolving a poisoning
• Common barriers to resolving a poisoning
• The ChExSS service
The Most Common Workplace Poisons in 2005-06
Pesticides6%
Construction Products
3%
Alcholos/Glycols
5%
Cleaning Products
20%
Fumes/Gases24%
Paints/Varnishes
3%
Heavy Metals3%
Hydrocarbons19%
Chemicals17%
Poisonous Behaviours
Machismo Culture
• Lead to dangerous behaviours such as:– Storing chemicals in
drink bottles– Inadequate utilization
of PPE– Workplace resistance
to seeking care
Chemicals in Drink Bottles
• Continues to be a practice
• Has resulted in serious methanol poisonings
Inadequate PPE
• Burns from caustic up-hole drilling mud
• Nitro-glycerine overdoses in blasting crews
• Hydrofluoric Acid burns to hands and arms
Dangerous Habits
• Mixing industrial cleaners
• Working alone in high risk environments
Reluctance to seeking Adequate Care
• Workers are reluctant to look weak
• Worksite mgmt afraid of overreacting
• Toxic exposures often go untreated until symptoms escalate – (By then its too late)
Critical Pathway to Poison Treatment
Identify Substance
Initiate Treatment
Identify Toxic
Exposure
Find MSDS/Interpret
Contact Health Expert
HealthyWorker
Toxic Exposure
Barriers to treatment:
• Illusion of safety
• Inability to ID
• Language
• Literacy
• Fear
ChExSS Simplifies the Path
HealthyWorker
Toxic Exposure
ChExSSManaging the patient
throughout the circle of care
Anytime - Anywhere
Assessmentof healtheffects
TreatmentIn
Transport
TreatmentOn-site
Treatment atHealthCare
Facility
Feedback:Client and ChExSS
work togetherto mitigate
factors that led toincident
Customized Service
• ChExSS is an affordable customized service– ChExSS develops an advanced knowledge
of the client’s operation– Takes the guess work out of identifying the
root cause of toxicity in the event of an exposure
– Speeds the delivery of care– Minimizes the risk to the patient and the
organization
Access to Experts
• ChExSS provides your employees, and managers instant access to:
– Poison Specialists
– Medical Toxicologists
Anytime – Anywhere in Canada
Continuous Care
• Once activated, ChExSS becomes an integral part of the Circle of Care
• ChExSS has close relationships with health care facilities across the province
• ChExSS is able to provide continuous care to the victim while they move through the health care system
Immediate Treatment
ChExSS is Capable of initiating immediate treatment– Reduces severity of health effects– Improves patient outcomes
Better patient outcomes:– Minimize liability– Reduce the number of “Lost Time
Accidents”
Corporate Learning
• ChExSS Provides Feedback
– Keeps client informed of factors contributing to toxic exposures at their work sites
– Assists in corporate learning and process improvement
– Keeps client from being blindsided by events
ChExSS – The Simple Solution to Toxic Due Diligence
HealthyWorker
Toxic Exposure
ChExSSManaging the patient
throughout the circle of care
Anytime - Anywhere
Assessmentof healtheffects
TreatmentIn
Transport
TreatmentOn-site
Treatment atHealthCare
Facility
Feedback:Client and ChExSS
work togetherto mitigate
factors that led toincident
Thank You
A presentation to the
Canadian Society of Safety Engineering
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