ODA’s Annual Spring Meeting 2014 (May 8 – 10)

May 11, 2014

Lauren McFarlane, BA, CHSC
Founder, Dental Practice Safety Club

HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR EXPERIENCES AT THE ASM Series – Part 2

Finding Answers in all the Right Places

There are many sources of information regarding occupational health and safety and it is important that you seek answers to your questions from reliable sources.  This was apparent during the recent Ontario Dental Association (ODA) Annual Spring Meeting (ASM).  Some of the questions and comments we heard included:

How often do you have to do WHMIS training?
Is there a different between WHMIS and Dental WHMIS?
When do I need a health and safety representative?
What about a Joint Health and Safety committee?
Who can be the health and safety representative?
If I have only 5 workers, do I need a health and safety program?
I have filled up the MSDS binder, now what?

It is important that you seek the answer to your questions from a qualified and competent source.  In occupational health and safety you should be seeking advice from professionals in the business, the Ontario Ministry of Labour, and other resources.  Consultants and trainers should be a member in good standing with the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering (CHSC designation) and/or the Board of Canadian Registered Safety Professionals (CRSP designation), or be overseen by one, and carry the designations after their name.  Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) professionals active in their community indicate their commitment to continuing education in the industry and typically have a lengthy work experience adding to their fulfilment of the competency requirement as indicated within the OHSA. Currently, all OHS professionals are required to be university graduates and complete some formal institutional OHS education in addition to demonstrated practical experience in the field.

It is exceptionally important to work with competent OHS professionals who can support you in the implementation of your OHS system and who will be able to grow with it and provide the necessary support in the future.  Right now, it is buyer beware. When choosing your OHS consultant or trainer ask about their background to make sure they meet the needs of your industry and have the credentials solidly planted in OHS.

Seek out the occupational health and safety professional who understands your business so that your time and your money is not wasted. More importantly in the long-run you will not be ‘turned-off’ health and safety because of a few missteps along the way.

Thanks for visiting our booth at the ASM, 2014!

 

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Contact Dental Practice Safety at 416.283.7233 or contact us for further information.