BC Tourism Occupational Health and Safety Initiative Educators’ Working Group

1. BC Tourism Occupational Health and Safety InitiativeEducators’ Working Group Planning Workshop VCC Aug 31st, Sept 1st, 2000

2. At This Session • Learn about the BC Tourism OHS project • Identify how OHS is currently offered in curriculum (at all levels) • Determine gaps and instructional needs • Suggest what needs to be developed for most effective tourism OHS delivery

3. Agenda Evening Session - August 31st • Introductions • Overview of Tourism OHS Initiative • The OHS Industry Advisory Committee – thoughts for educators • Planning session objectives September 1st 8:00 am - 9:00 am Breakfast 9:00 am - 2:30pm Planning Session Continues • Overview of OHS resources • Overview of the BC Tourism Learning System • Identification and discussion of current OHS content and learning outcomes (all levels) • Discussion -- What is needed? • Approaches for including OHS in the curriculum • Identification of resources and tools • Strategies for working together (short and long term) • Discussion - Next steps / initial recommendations / workplan

4. Agenda for this evening • Introductions • Background - BC Tourism OHS Initiative • Overview of WCB Industry Services • Overview of the BC Tourism OHS Initiative • Current initiatives • Long term goals • Proposed OHS Association for Tourism • Opportunities for Tourism Educators • Thoughts from the Industry Advisory Committee • Session Objectives

5. WCB Prevention Division • Three major areas at the WCB • Compensation, Assessments, Prevention • Within Prevention • Regional Services - Inspections • Industry Services - New Department • 3 years old • Focus Industries • Tourism / Hospitality - 1.5 years old

6. Industry ServicesPrevention Division • New emphasis on prevention • Leveraging through partnerships • More cooperative and collaborative approach PARTNERSHIPS … The Future

7. Industry ServicesMission Statement “ Lead in creating prevention strategies and focussing initiatives that mobilize industry towards self-sufficiency in the prevention of workplace injury and disease.”

8. Industry ServicesFunding for OHS • WCB commitment to this new approach • Panel of Administrators (PoA) Resolution • December 17th 1999 • Funding available for OHS initiatives • Divert some of the assessments that industry pays • Provide funds from WCB operating budget

9. PoA Resolution “ It is recognized that an effective method for promoting the reduction of workplace injuries and disease and/or safe return to work for disabled workers is to encourage and support external groups to undertake activities to further those aims.” “ It is sometimes desirable to provide a stable source of financing...”

10. PoA Funding • Funding must promote • Prevention of occupational injuries and disease and/or safe return to work of disabled workers • Types of activities funded • Education • Training • Promoting awareness

11. Why focus on Tourism? • Tourism position in the economy • Large segment of the working population • Young worker demographic • Number of injuries / Claims costs • Opportunity to influence OHS culture of entire B.C. workforce • Well organized B.C. Tourism Learning System

12. Industry ServicesNeeds and Approach • Desire to understand the industry • Processes • Framework • Associations • Education network • Open and flexible • How best to advance OHS within the industry? • What works best for your industry?

13. BC Tourism OHS Initiative Major Projects Started • Integration of OHS into the FoodSafe Level I course • Joint project • WCB funding of $275,000 • Identified as key food handlers course • Beginning of OHS integration into Tourism and Hospitality education and training courses

14. Major Projects Started PRIT / WCB Partnership • WCB gold sponsor of PRIT • Partners in People program • WCB funding of $50,000 (annually) • Identified as key coordinating agency • Human resource development focus • Focal point to begin: • Industry collaboration • Tourism Educators collaboration

15. PRIT / WCB Partnership Three Initial Objectives 1. Create Industry Advisory Committee • Assist in understanding industry • Identify OHS needs of industry • Identify opportunities for OHS initiatives 2. Create Educators Working Group • Facilitate integration of OHS into the tourism education system 3. Create OHS information network • Create a Tourism OHS website

16. Industry Advisory Committee • Cross section of industry • Industry leaders, Associations, Labour, Tourism Educators • Investigating Tourism OHS Association • Positioned under COTA • Industry managed • WCB funded • Importance of Tourism Education Network recognized

17. A Tourism OHS Association • Focal point for OHS within Tourism • Collaborative forum including WCB • OHS leadership for industry • Strategic planning • Funding conduit • Industry liaison with the WCB

18. Tourism OHS Information Network • Tourism industry OHS web page • OHS prevention information available online • Best practices (BC and worldwide) • Electronic course delivery • Suppliers online • One stop shopping for information and products

19. BC Tourism OHS Initiative Long Term Goals • Increased knowledge of OHS at all levels within the industry • Increased awareness of OHS issues and available solutions • Greater industry ownership of OHS issues • More widespread OHS activity in the Tourism sector Fewer accidents and injuries

20. Title: B.C. Tourism OHS Initiative Goal:A long-term awareness and education effort designed to improve health and safety in the Tourism Industry. Current Tourism WorkforceManagers / Owners / SupervisorsFront line employees Future Tourism WorkforceApprentices / Students Education Network Aimed At: Facilitated By PRIT and WCB Later - OHS Association Initiated By: Industry Advisory CommitteeInd. Leaders, Labour Reps, Educators Components: • OHS Promotion • Awareness of current tools and resources • Create sector specific tools and resources • OHS Education • Current Workforce • Future Workforce Implications: Time / Resources / $$$ , Coordinating Body Project Management, Project Secretariat

21. OHS Promotion OHS Education • Current Workforce • Workshops • Study Guides • Trainers Guides • OHS Skill Certificates FutureWorkforce Instructor Guides Student Resources • Awareness of current tools / resources • Create sector specific tools / resources • Could Include: • Posters / Signs / Brochures • Fact Sheets • Adapting existing WorkSafe material • Promoting existing international material • Use of Association Newsletters • Tourism Journals • Conferences WCB - FoodSafe Initiative Serving It Right - planned PRIT partnership Web site Components: WCB - Hospitality Focus Report Ergonomic BrochuresDisability Management Program Implications Time / Resources / $$$ - Coordinating Body Information Distribution Network Involvement of Tourism Educators

22. Tourism Educators Opportunities • Importance of OHS education recognized • By Industry Advisory Committee • By WCB • For current and future Tourism workforce • Opportunity to integrate OHS into Tourism Education Network • Funding available • OHS Association operating budget • By application to WCB • Facilitated by the association

23. Planning Session Objectives(Challenges) • Understand key Tourism OHS issues • Identify some useful existing OHS resources • Understand how OHS is currently incorporated in the Tourism curriculums • Identify gaps and instructional needs • Suggest what needs to be developed for most effective tourism OHS delivery • Short term and long term

24. Agenda September 1st 9:00am - 2:30pm • Overview of OHS educational resources • Overview of the BC Tourism Learning System • Identification and discussion of current OHS content and learning outcomes (all levels) • Discussion -- What is needed? • Approaches for including OHS in the curriculums • Identification of resources and tools needed • Strategies for working together (short and long term) • Discussion - Next steps / initial recommendations / workplan

25. OHS and Tourism WCB Prevention Division • Focussing on important industry sectors • 7 key focus sectors • Construction • Forestry • Logging and Wood Products Manufacturing • Heavy Manufacturing • Health Care • Arts performance and entertainment • Tourism and Hospitality Industries

26. Industries Ranked byNo. of Claims

27. Hospitality SectorWorker Health and Safety • Hotel / Restaurant sector • THIRD highest WCB claims in BC • 120,000+ worker days lost annually • Direct employer cost : $16 million annually • Including indirect costs : Estimated Minimum : $75+ million annually Education and training can play a key role

28. Restaurant IndustryClaims by type of Accident - 1992 - 1996

29. Tourism SectorWorker Health and Safety • Ranked #1 industry for total no. of WCB claims annually • Direct cost $33 million annually • Including indirect costs increases to: • $165 million annually(minimum estimate) • $660 million annually(high end estimate) • Equivalent to: • 5 - 20% of annual tourism payroll

30. Tourism OHS Focus Areas

31. OHS Challenges • Young workforce • Invincibility • First job - afraid to ask questions • Rights and responsibilities • Young supervisors • Seasonal workforce • Turnover of workforce • Customer focussed

32. Tourism SectorWorker Health and Safety Some Key Facts • Young and inexperienced workers at higher risk • 45% of Tourism/Hospitality workforce under 25 Education and training can play a key role

33. Tourism OHS Issues • Emotional impact - invincibility • Hazard Recognition - increase awareness • Organizing for OHS • Safety orientation • Safety inspections • Accident investigations • Safe work procedures • Strains and Sprains - Ergonomics

34. Tourism OHS Issues • Real costs of OHS to operation • Role of OHS in organization • Link to productivity • Importance of H/S Committee • Roles and responsibilities • HR issues • Discipline, morale, labour relations

35. Student WorkSafe Good starting point for collaboration

36. Small Business Supervisor Safety Committee WorkSafe Courses Investigating Strains & Sprains Preventing Workplace Violence Hazard Recognition WorkSafe Courses • Generally 8 hours in length • WorkSafe certificate • 0.5 unit credit (BCIT OHS Certificate)

37. Usefulness of Course Excellent Poor InstructionQuality Excellent Poor Course Ratings • 164 Courses - 1999 • 14000 Student hours, 50 college locations in B.C.

38. WorkSafeEducational Material • General principle courses • For all industries • Some Tourism and Hospitality specific • Case Studies • Hazard Recognition photos • Class exercises • Assignments Good starting point for collaboration

39. Some Current WCB Efforts • FoodSafe Level I Partnership • General Hazard Recognition material for Food service environment • Hospitality - Disability Management Program • Getting a handle on claims and return to work • Ergonomics Material • BCRI - funded by WCB • Educational brochures and workbook

40. Other WCB Resources • Education section • WCB Publications and fact sheets • Statistical information • WCB posters / videos • WCB Library Much Material • Not organized for Tourism specifically • Provides starting point for collaboration

41. Other Tourism Specific Resources Many and varied • CCOHS • NIDMAR • HSE • OSSA • Australia • Websites • On line safety certificates

42. Summary • Huge amounts of OHS material available • WCB and Worldwide • Online Is it being utilized effectively? What material, tools, resources are most valuable? What is missing? What can be utilized, modified, adapted?

43. The BC Tourism Learning System How it can help to expedite this OHS effort.

44. Programs Represented • Bachelor Tourism Management • Hospitality Management • Tourism Management • Tourism Career Preparation • Adventure Tourism • Culinary Art

45. Current OHS content and learning outcomes (all levels) Discussion Session #1 How well are we doingwith OHS instruction?

46. Identification oftools and resources Discussion Session #2 What types of tools and resources are being used, and what type of tools and resources need to be created?

47. Approaches for including OHS in the curriculum Discussion Session #3 What is the best wayto incorporate OHS in the curriculum?

48. What is needed now Discussion Session #4 What are the best strategiesfor working together in the short and long term?

49. Next steps,initial recommendations,and workplanDiscussion Session #5