Tag: Stay Safe
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Waypoint workers ‘fearing for their lives’
In an in-depth report, The Midland Mirror spells out the terrible consequences of the dangerous conditions that OPSEU members face working at the Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care. “You can’t drag somebody out of their room, fight them, jab a needle in them, and then try and provide passionate nursing care the next day,”…
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Broaden Wettlaufer inquiry: Thomas
Toronto – Warren (Smokey) Thomas, President of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU), is applauding an NDP motion passed September 14 in the Ontario legislature that calls on the government to broaden the Wettlaufer inquiry to include understaffing, underfunding, and other systemic issues in long-term care. “Over a month ago, I asked the government…
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Charges against Waypoint haven’t stopped injuries to staff: OPSEU
Penetanguishene – Ministry of Labour charges against the Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care haven’t done anything to stem the flow of injured hospital staff to the local Emergency Room, the Ontario Public Service Employees Union says. “In an eight-day span in August, we had 11 people sent to hospital with injuries received from patients who…
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Linking care with security: the Leadership Table and Waypoint
Toronto – In the wake of yet more attacks on staff by patients at Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care, the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) is urging health care leaders to act on the recommendations contained in the report of the Workplace Violence Prevention in Health Care Leadership Table. OPSEU has published a…
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OPSEU Diablogue: Another attack at Waypoint: Action needed now
On August 8, 2017, a patient at Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care came out of the shower swinging. He knocked one nurse unconscious and hit two others in the head, sending all three workers to hospital. Two nurses have black eyes and contusions around their face. The third nurse suffered a loose tooth, a…
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Workplace Safety Information Picket
Rocked by the latest round of violence against staff at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), mental health workers represented by the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) will stage an information picket today outside the Queen St. West facility. Information Picket Wednesday, November 2 1 – 2 p.m. CAMH, 1001 Queen St.…
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Waypoint must consider patients to improve worker safety: OPSEU video
Penetanguishene – The Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) has released a new video calling for improved worker safety measures at Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care, that take the environment and patients into consideration. {“fid”:”29683″,”view_mode”:”default”,”fields”:{“format”:”default”,”filename_field[en][0][value]”:”Through the shadows : Dangerous and unpredictable”},”type”:”media”,”attributes”:{“alt”:”Through the shadows : Dangerous and unpredictable”,”class”:”media-element file-default”}} The provincial forensic division at Waypoint is a…
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Caregivers at Waypoint need self-defence training now: OPSEU
Penetanguishene – The Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) is demanding that Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care provide caregivers with specialized training in self-defence. Waypoint includes a maximum-security forensic division that is home to patients who have been found not criminally responsible or unfit to stand trial by the courts. Workers say patient-on-staff attacks…
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Self-defence training could save a life at Waypoint
Caregivers at Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care work with some patients who have committed serious crimes. Workers say violent incidents are increasing in both frequency and severity. Yet, the caregivers aren’t trained in appropriate self-defence techniques. Without proper training their lives are in danger every time there’s an attack. Waypoint workers need self-defence training…
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OPSEU video links worker safety to patient safety at Waypoint
Penetanguishene – The Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) has released a new video that emphasizes the correlation between worker safety and patient safety at Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care. The video is the fourth in OPSEU’s series Through the shadows. {“fid”:”29653″,”view_mode”:”default”,”fields”:{“format”:”default”,”filename_field[en][0][value]”:”Through the shadows: Everyone needs to be safe”},”type”:”media”,”attributes”:{“alt”:”Through the shadows: Everyone needs to…
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Working alone at Waypoint: maximum insecurity
Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care includes a maximum-security forensic division for patients who have been found not criminally responsible or unfit to stand trial by the courts. Workers say patient-on-staff attacks are becoming more frequent and more severe. Yet caregivers often have to work alone, which puts them at a greater risk for violence.…
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Caregivers should not have to work alone at Waypoint: OPSEU
Penetanguishene – The Ontario Public Service Employees Union is calling on Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care to implement safer staffing levels. Workers say patient-on-staff attacks are becoming more frequent and more severe. Yet caregivers at Waypoint often have to work alone, which puts them at greater risk for violence. Waypoint includes a maximum-security forensic…
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OPSEU video reveals security equipment challenges at Waypoint
Penetanguishene – The Ontario Public Service Employees Union is releasing a new video today that highlights the multitude of problems with security equipment at Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care. {“fid”:”29631″,”view_mode”:”default”,”fields”:{“format”:”default”,”filename_field[en][0][value]”:”Through the shadows: No one is safe”},”type”:”media”,”attributes”:{“alt”:”Through the shadows: No one is safe”,”class”:”media-element file-default”}} Waypoint is home to some patients who have been found…
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Union wants walk-through metal detectors at Waypoint
Penetanguishene – Walk-through metal detectors should be installed at all program areas and wards at Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care, says the union representing its employees. The Ontario Public Service Employees Union says this measure would improve safety for workers and could save lives. “We've seen patients take apart their rooms and use building…
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Metal detectors just make sense at Waypoint
Workers at Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care provide care to some patients who have been deemed not criminally responsible or unfit to stand trial by the courts. These patients have access to items that can be used as weapons. Many of those items are found inside their own rooms. Waypoint workers need walk-through metal…
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Metal detectors could save lives at Waypoint: OPSEU
Penetanguishene – The Ontario Public Service Employees Union is calling on Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care to install walk-through metal detectors on all of its wards and program areas. The measure would improve safety for workers and could save lives. Waypoint’s provincial forensic division is home to many patients who have committed serious crimes…
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Auditor General visits Waypoint
On Monday July 11, 2016 members of the OPSEU Local 329 executive and other OPSEU representatives met with the Auditor General of Ontario, Bonnie Lysyk, after her tour of Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care. Lysyk’s mandate is to determine whether taxpayers are getting value for their money. As such, the main discussion focused on…
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OPSEU video reflects on mental health of Waypoint workers
Penetanguishene – The Ontario Public Service Employees Union is releasing a new video today that focuses on the mental health of workers at Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care. Waypoint is home to some patients who have been found not criminally responsible or unfit to stand trial by the courts. In the past few…
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Latest attack at Waypoint preventable, union suggests
Penetanguishene – There has been another attack on staff at Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Centre. And this time, it may have been preventable. Pete Sheehan, president of Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) Local 329, confirmed an unprovoked assault by a patient took place July 7. “A patient attacked two staff members,” he said.…
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Do I look like a security guard?
Workers at Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care need a safer work environment. Did you know that right now registered nurses and registered practical nurses in the provincial forensic division also perform the duties of security personnel? Waypoint needs to hire trained security professionals on the wards in order to protect all workers and their…