Latest WorkSafe Penalty Issued to Northern Health Highlights Possible System-wide Failures Around Safety

December 06, 2022

Union says too many violent incidents are going overlooked, unaddressed by health authorities

With violence against health-care workers on the rise, the BC Nurses’ Union says it is deeply concerned to learn the Northern Health Authority (NHA) is the latest health employer to be issued a substantial fine for failing to adequately complete workplace investigations related to safety.

WorkSafeBC has levied a $355,249 administrative penalty to NHA for failing to conduct adequate workplace inspections following reports from nurses and other health care workers about ongoing safety issues.

BCNU President Aman Grewal has serious concerns as to whether this penalty is indicative of a systemic oversight by health employers and government on the issue of violence, health, and safety.

“While the recent announcement of new protection security officers is a step in the right direction, this shows us there is much more that needs to happen within health authorities to make worksites safer for nurses and all health care workers, says BCNU president Aman Grewal. “The fact is, all provincial health authorities use the same provincial reporting system, and we know there are issues with the system as we’ve seen with this penalty.”

This latest fine is not unique to Northern Health. Similar issues have been seen in other health authorities, including VIHA, which was ordered to engage in a compliance agreement with WorkSafe for poorly conducted safety investigations and low safety training rates.

In 2019, the Forensic Psychiatric Hospital was issued the largest WorkSafe penalty ever at that time for failing to ensure the safety of five health care workers who were injured in two separate violent attacks at the Coquitlam hospital.

BCNU is calling on the government to audit all occupational health and safety reports from the last year to ensure investigations are conducted and that corrective actions are put in place to keep health care workers safe.

To set up an interview, please contact BCNU Communications at media@bcnu.org.