22 Canadian Occupational Safety www.cos-mag.com
By Stefan Dubowski
D
octors, nurses and paramedics work under
incredibly stressful conditions. The hours
are long. Night shifts wreak havoc on circa-
dian rhythms. It's impossible to predict what each
day will bring.
"If you have a crazy day every once in a while
we can handle it," says Linda Silas, president of the
Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions
(CFNU) in Ottawa. "But if it's crazy
all the time, that's more diffi cult to
deal with."
Organizations such as the Public
Services Health and Safety Association
(PSHSA) in Tillsonburg, Ont., and the
Mental Health Commission of Canada
offer resources to help health work-
ers manage risks. (See sidebar "Four
tools…") But it's important for the occu-
pational health and safety specialists who support
health practitioners to also understand these dangers.
Here are some of the problems to keep in mind.
ANGRY CLIENTS AND HEAVY LOADS
The greatest physical concerns are musculoskeletal
disorders (MSDs) — soft-tissue damage including
back pain and carpal tunnel syndrome. Nearly one-
half of the MSDs among health practitioners result
from lifting, transferring and repositioning patients,
PSHSA says.
Health professionals also face the potential of
injury from violence. A confused patient might
lash out. So might an upset loved one, or even a
Health-care practitioners
risk their mental and physical
well-being every day. New tools
enable OHS specialists to help them
deal with the risks
22 Canadian Occupational Safety www.cos-mag.com
Health-care practitioners
risk their mental and physical
well-being every day. New tools
enable OHS specialists to help them
deal with the risks
DOCTOR
The
is in
4 tools for better physical
and mental health
1 2
1. Action on Workplace Stress –
A Worker's Guide to
Addressing Workplace Causes
of Mental Distress
Developed by Occupational Health Clinics
for Ontario Workers (OHCOW), this
resource kit discusses how stress affects
workers' mental and physical health. It
provides advice for identifying stressors
and for developing an action plan that
enables employees to manage stress. The
legal section is specifi c to Ontario, but
other parts speak to health workers across
the country. Access the guide at
www.ohcow.on.ca/mit.
2. Mental Health First Aid
Created by the Mental Health Commission
of Canada, this program offers courses to
help people help others manage mental
health problems. It provides advice on rec-
ognizing the signs of mental health
diffi culties and where to fi nd professional
support. Courses are available for individu-
als who work with adults, people who
work with youth and people who want to
instruct others in mental health fi rst aid.
Learn more at
www.mentalhealthfi rstaid.ca.
PHOTO:
SHUTTERSTOCK
