Home-support workers suffer injuries at twice provincial average
SafeCare B.C. expanding training program to cover growing sector
When you think of a home-support worker, the image that comes to mind is someone making tea and helping a senior or someone with a disability around the house — an obviously safe place to work.
It turns out home-support workers have one of the most dangerous jobs in B.C.
In 2015, the injury rate for homesupport workers was double the provincial average, according to SafeCare B.C. The injury rate per 100 home-support workers was 4.4 compared with an average of 2.2 for all other workers.
SafeCare B.C. was established in 2013 by WorkSafe B.C. and the long-term care sector to bring down the increasing injury rate for workers in the health-support services sector. SafeCare B.C. will be expanding its training program for not only the 37,000 long-term care workers (nurses aides and orderlies working in hospitals and nursing homes, for instance), but starting in January for the approximate 22,350 full- and parttime home-support workers in B.C. as well.
“Home-support workers care for B.C.’s most vulnerable citizens, but they, too, are vulnerable,” SafeCare B.C. executive director David Hurford said.
“The injury rate for the sector is twice the provincial average and data in virtually all categories is going in the wrong direction.”
Between 2011 and 2015, WorkSafe B.C. statistics show 43 per cent of injury claims were for overexertion, 16 per cent were for falls, and nearly five per cent from an act of violence (210 incidents reported during that period).
The most injured body part for a homecare worker was the back, with 31.3 per cent of injury claims, followed by shoulders at 11.1 per cent and hands and wrists, with 8.5 per cent. Of all injured workers, 64 per cent were 45 years and older and nearly 94 per cent were women.
Employment in the homesupport sector has increased 34 per cent since 2012 and has now reached $1 billion in annual payroll, compared with a payroll of $743 million in 2012.
Hurford said SafeCare B.C. recently completed a needs-assessment report and had more than 1,000 front-line workers providing feedback on what is necessary to improve safety in the workplace.
“People felt they were under tremendous pressure in the sector. Many felt there were real gaps in training for safe resident handling, for instance,” Hurford said.
“This feedback really informs us what is needed.”
Hurford said as SafeCare B.C. rolls out a training program for home-support workers, this would also be a benefit to families and friends, who are also caring for loved ones at home.
He said education and training for families and friends could be made available through community groups such as the Alzheimer Society of B.C.
“If we have professionals being hurt, think how useful this would be for family who are caring for their mom and dad at home,” he said.
Home-support workers care for B.C.’s most vulnerable citizens, but they, too, are vulnerable. DAVID HURFORD, Safe Care B.C.