4.1 Safety and Risk Management


Effective September 2015; Revised June 2022

Standard

A regulated member of ACSLPA practices in compliance with occupational health, safety and risk management legislation and requirements in all practice settings.

Indicators

To demonstrate this standard, the regulated member will:

a) Comply with occupational health and safety legislation and agency/employer policies/procedures related to safe work practices.

b) Participate in appropriate training related to occupational health and workplace safety.

c) Identify and manage potential risks that may impact safety in the work environment (e.g., working alone, environmental hazards).

d) Respond to adverse events and emergency situations to minimize impact and participate in processes to document and prevent future occurrences.

e) Ensure the safe handling and cleanliness of equipment/supplies and potentially infectious substances according to infection prevention and control standards.

f) Use protective equipment/supplies as appropriate (e.g., goggles, gloves).

g) Implement, document, and maintain records regarding the regular calibration, inspection and maintenance of equipment according to manufacturers’ standards.

h) Comply with reporting procedures related to incidents involving workplace safety.

Expected Outcomes

Clients can expect that the regulated member practices in compliance with occupational health, safety and risk management legislation and requirements in all practice settings.

Glossary

Adverse event refers to “an event that results in physical and/or psychological harm to the client and is related to the care and/or services provided to the client, rather than to the client’s underlying medical condition.”

Client refers to “a recipient of speech-language pathology or audiology services, and may be an individual, family, group, community or population. An individual client may also be referred to as a patient”.

Record refers to “information in any form or medium, including notes, images, audiovisual recordings, x-rays, books, documents, maps, drawings, photographs, letters, vouchers and papers and any other information that is written, photographed, recorded or stored in any manner.”

Regulated member refers to “an individual who is registered with ACSLPA in any of the regulated categories of membership prescribed by ACSLPA Bylaws, the Health Professions Act and our Regulations.”

Risk management refers to “the identification, assessment, and prioritization of risks followed by coordinated and economical application of resources to minimize, monitor, and control the probability and/or impact of unfortunate events.”