WorkSafe@Dal

What is WorkSAFE@Dal?

WorkSAFE@Dal is a collaborative project created by the School of Occupational Therapy and Facilities Management that aims to reduce injury rates and promote safe working practices amongst employees.

The project began in the winter term of 2014 with 60 students in their first year of the Occupational Therapy Master’s Program and more than 30 custodians. The initial stage of the project required students to spend a day shadowing a custodian to observe and document their daily activities and duties.

The project continued with occupational therapy students working with the Dalhousie custodians for 8 weeks as full-time field work placements. During this placement, students built relationships with custodians, analyzed and documented the demands of their jobs, and worked to understand their experiences working within the Dalhousie community. Custodians participated in “tool box” sessions developed by the OT students. The sessions provided custodians with information on common injuries and how to apply safe work practices to reduce the risk of these injuries.  Topics in the tool box sessions include: repetitive strain injuries, proper body mechanics and occupation-related stress. Together, the occupational therapy students and custodians identify strategies to address the challenges and find ways to stay safe at work.

How and why did WorkSAFE@Dal come to be?

WorkSAFE began when Custodial Services Manager, Mike Campbell proposed a partnership to School of Occupational Therapy Director, Tanya Packer, aimed at reducing the high injury rates amongst his custodial staff. Dr. Packer and the School of Occupational Therapy worked collaboratively with Dalhousie’s Custodial Services to develop a plan of action with the goal to have custodians return home in the same condition as when they arrived to work.

What is the goal of WorkSAFE@Dal and how is it being achieved?

The program goal is to work collaboratively to learn, educate, and increase safety at Dalhousie. To achieve this goal, occupational therapy students apply their developing skills to create safe work environments, cultures and practices.

Supervisors are seeing positive results very early in the program. Changing work practices can mean changing habits, adopting new attitudes and creating safe environments.  Mike Campbell and Tanya Packer are keeping their eye on the statistics and are hoping to see reduced injury rates of Dalhousie’s custodial staff. In the Occupational Therapy School, students are benefitting from the opportunity to apply their skills in a way that benefits others.

What is next for WorkSAFE@Dal?

Throughout the winter and spring 2015 semesters, 4 more OT students will work with Custodial Services to improve injury rates and promote safe work practices. The physical and cognitive demands of the many different tasks expected of Dalhousie’s custodial staff will be documented.  Finding ways to contribute to a safe work place for custodians, and maybe even others at Dalhousie, will continue to be the focus.

For more information, contact Tanya Packer, Professor & Director, School of Occupational Therapy at Tanya.packer@dal.ca or Mike Campbell, Manager of Custodian Services, Facilities Management atMichael.campbell@dal.ca

Custodians keep Dal clean and safe for us – Let’s make Dal a safe workplace for them.