Health and Social Services Sectors

Safety level

Nova Scotia's largest industry group, health and social services, play a vital role in the health and well-being of Nova Scotians. The industry includes hospitals and health centres, long-term care, home care, social services, primary care providers, and mental health and addiction services. 

Health and community service sectors account for almost 30 per cent of time-loss claims meaning that three out of ten time-loss claims originate in these sectors.

Workers in this industry face numerous workplace safety issues and are more likely to be injured on the job than any other worker.

The following workplace hazards are common in the health and social services industry:

  • Musculoskeletal injuries (sprains/strains)
  • Infectious diseases
  • Workplace Violence
  • Chemical hazard
  • Psychological hazards
  • Electrical hazards


Use the OH&S Risk Mapping Tool for injury prevention to identify and mitigate these risks.

AWARE-NS is committed to building a workplace safety culture in the healthcare and community services sectors.

AWARE-NS and WCB Nova Scotia have developed and are delivering the Lifting and Moving Safely (LAMS) Program in Long Term Care (LTC), Home Care (HC), and Disability Support Programs (DSP) organizations. The program includes tools and resources to support workplaces in preventing musculoskeletal injuries associated with non-care tasks. 

The Safe Handling and Mobility Program was also developed in partnership with AWARE-NS to protect both workers and residents during the lifting, transferring and repositioning of residents, patients, and clients. 

Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety

Working to Well - Return to Work website

Point of Care Assessment Tools:

  • PACE Yourself - A health care worker's guide for assistance
  • PACE Yourself Pictogram - A poster for workplaces
  • P- Physical - Slings - Sling selection and integrity checklist
  • P- Physical - Transfers - An assessment based on mobility
  • P- Physical - Repositioning - A guide for bed repositioning
  • A - Agitation - Safe handling guide for agitated or aggressive behaviour
  • C - Communication - Safe handling guide for better communication
  • E - Environment - Conduct an environmental scan to identify hazards and evaluate risk 
  • PACE Form - Sample safe resident handling assessment form
  • PACE Logos - For download and printing

 

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PACE Videos


Home care workers are injured on the job at a higher rate than any other sector. This video series shows tools that help make day-to-day tasks safer.

This is the first of five instructional videos in the PACE educational series, which introduces the concept, and gives an overview of how you would apply PACE.

 

This video gives an overview of how you would apply the E in PACE, and is the second of five instructional videos in the educational series.


This video gives an overview of how you would apply the C in PACE, and is the third of five instructional videos in the educational series.

 
This video gives an overview of how you would apply the A in PACE, and is the fourth of five instructional videos in the educational series. 



This video gives an overview of how you would apply the P in PACE, and is the final of five instructional videos in the educational series.