Citation

Camus S. J. Occup. Environ. Med. 2019; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

Certcomm, Simon Fraser University, Susann Camus, 1677 Scarborough Road, Greenville, NC 27858.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/JOM.0000000000001722

PMID

31568104

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This paper describes why the Occupational Health & Safety Agency for Healthcare (OHSAH) in British Columbia (BC) was created in 1998, factors contributing to its closure in 2010, and its contributions to healthcare occupational health and safety (OHS).

METHODS: This study applies an inductive approach consisting of 16 in-depth, confidential, semi-structured interviews with key informants, supplemented by a quantitative analysis of WorkSafeBC reports on injury and claim rates before, during, and following OHSAH's closure.

RESULTS: Injuries and claims declined during OHSAH's early years and increased by 59 percent following OHSAH's closure. Multiple factors contributed to the closure.

CONCLUSION: There is value to reconstituting a new healthcare OHS agency.

Language: en