On April 28, we observe the National Day of Mourning to honour those who have lost their lives, suffered injury, or experienced illness due to work-related incidents. This day serves as a reminder of the critical importance of workplace health and safety and offers an opportunity to renew our collective commitment to improving occupational safety standards.
Supporting the well-being of all Island Health staff is essential for maintaining both physical and psychological safety in the workplace. Ensuring a safe environment allows all teams to perform at their best, benefiting not only their health but also the quality of care provided to those they serve.
By making safe choices—whether through staying current with safety training, speaking up about unsafe conditions, or ensuring we are all vigilant in our commitment to safety—we contribute to a safer, healthier workplace for everyone. Each of us plays a vital role in preventing incidents and promoting a culture of safety.
Here’s what you can do to stay safe:
- Ensure you are up to date on violence prevention and other health and safety training.
- If you identify an unsafe situation or practice, correct it yourself (if possible), bring it to the attention of a leader so that it can be addressed, and report it through the Patient Safety Learning System.
- Report work-related injuries/illnesses and serious near-misses to your leader and the Provincial Workplace Health Contact Centre: 1-866-922-9464.
- Take care of your own health and wellness – visit Island Health’s wellness offerings.
- Visit Island Health's Safety Hub—it has a vast array of information and resources to support a safe and healthy work environment.