Occupational Health and Safety

Our Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) team mission is to support a best-in-class safe and healthy work environment for Mount Sinai's staff, physicians, students and volunteers. By taking good care of our people, we can in turn deliver the best care and the best patient experience possible.

Within your first few weeks, our focus is to ensure you are healthy and safe to perform your duties.

Step 1: Pre-Hire Phase

Pre-Hire Immunization and Surveillance Form

The Mount Sinai Hospital Prospective Staff Immunization and Surveillance Policy, is based upon the OMA/OHA Communicable Disease Surveillance Protocols for Ontario Hospitals. The purpose of the policy is to minimize risk of exposure and possible transmission of vaccine-preventable diseases to staff and patients.

As a pre-condition to employment, you must submit the completed Staff Immunization and Surveillance Policy Information Sheet to the MSH Occupational Health and Safety department no later than noon (12:00pm) two (2) business days prior to your potential start date at Mount Sinai. Our office is located at 60 Murray Street, L1-028. You will not be allowed to start work or attend hospital orientation without OHS confirming that this condition has been met. Mount Sinai Hospital is not responsible for any costs associated with securing documents required to satisfy this policy.

Please click on the link to download and print this form: Staff Immunization and Surveillance Policy Information Sheet.

You are required to:

Demonstrate proof of immunity against measles, mumps, rubella, chickenpox (varicella).
Provide documentation of a 2-step tuberculosis screening test completed. Individuals who have a documented positive TB skin test must provide the results of a chest x-ray that has been completed within one (1) year of their start date.
Provide Hepatitis B, Tetanus/Diptheria/Pertussis (dTAP), and annual Influenza vaccination status.

MSH recognizes that prospective staff may have legitimate reasons related to the Human Rights Code for not having the required vaccinations. If this is the case, you must notify OHS of your request for accommodation. In these cases, the MSH Accommodation Policy will be followed.

Step 2: First Day of Work

Health Review Questionnaire

All Mount Sinai Hospital employees and paid students must submit to Occupational Health and Safety representative a completed Health Review Questionnaire on their first scheduled day of work (typically at Hospital Orientation).

The purpose of the Health Review Questionnaire is to comply with applicable legislation (Human Rights Code, Public Hospitals Act, Workplace Safety & Insurance Act) by identifying any health issues that may impact on the individual’s ability to perform their duties and/or impact the health and safety of other employees or patients of Mount Sinai Hospital. If you have indicated a “yes” answer to any of the questions, an Occupational Health Nurse will contact you within ten (10) business days to follow-up. (Refer to Step 3) Mask Fit Testing

It is the policy of Mount Sinai Hospital that all workers (employees, students, physicians, residents, and fellows) and others who provide care in or have clinical placement at Mount Sinai Hospital will receive N95 respirator training and fit testing either through Occupational Health and Safety or through another qualified resource.

Disposable N95 respirators (masks) are an item of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). PPE must be properly used and maintained consistently with the regulation for Health Care Residential Facilities (Reg.67/93.S.10) made under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. All workers who may be required to wear an N95 respirator while working must complete N95 respirator training and fit testing.

This fit testing should be done within the last two (2) years. The fit-testing process involves selecting the correct size and type of respirator (mask) for each worker and ensuring that he/she knows how to use it correctly. Time is scheduled for Mask Fit Testing during New Employee Orientation.

In the event that you have recently been fitted (i.e. within the last two years), please bring the details of this fitting with you to Orientation.

Scent Reduced Environment

When planning what to wear when coming to work in the Hospital, note that we are a scent sensitive environment and all members of the community are expected to refrain from wearing and/or using scented products while working or visiting the Hospital.

WHMIS Training

The Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) is Canada's hazard communication standard for chemical products. The MSH WHMIS policy on the intranet outlines the three (3) main components: Material Safety Data Sheets, Product Labels and Training. All MSH employees are required to complete annual WHMIS training as per OHSA legislation. You will complete training during Hospital Orientation. You will then be required to complete refresher training through the hospital’s eLearning system annually.
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Step 3: The first few weeks of work

A) New Hire Health Review Appointment with Occupational Health (as applicable).

If required, OHS will contact you to set up a follow-up appointment based on the New Hire Health Review Questionnaire submission. Appointments typically take 30-45 minutes.

B) Learn about Important Health and Safety Policies and Procedures.

1. Mandatory Training on Workplace Violence, Harassment and Domestic Violence Prevention Programs and CODE White

It is a legal requirement that all New Employees learn about Mount Sinai Hospital’s Workplace Violence, Domestic Violence and Workplace Harassment Policies. You are required to complete this training along with the MSH Code White Emergency program on-line through the Hospital’s eLearning Centre located on the Intranet.

2. What to do when you are sick? and MSH Disability Management Program Policy

You are required to notify your supervisor or team leader if you will be absent for any reason. If absent for three (3) days or more, you are required to see a doctor and provide a medical note to OHS.

You must also call the hospital’s sick reporting line (416-586-4800 ext. 7425) to report any potentially infectious illnesses such as gastrointestinal infections, eye infections, respiratory illnesses, sore throat, chicken pox, shingles, or high fevers within the last 24 hours. The sick reporting line is used to help identify outbreaks and prevent transmission of infections. The Occupational Health Clinic will follow-up as required with all employees who report their symptoms through this sick reporting line.

3. What to do if you are injured on the job?

A Mount Sinai Employee Incident Report must be completed for all work-related incidents/illnesses, including near misses, first aid, medical aid and lost time as well as a hazardous situation or hazards identified in the workplace. The Employee Incident Report Form can be found on the Occupational Health and Safety intranet site or a quick link is found on the main hospital intranet page under Employee Safety Portal. The completed form must be returned to your Manager/Supervisor and Occupational Health and Safety.

4. Get acquainted to the hazards and safety controls for your job and work environment.

In Ontario, new and young workers are four (4) times more likely to be injured during the first month of employment than any other time. As a new or young worker, it is important that you ask all the right questions and have all the information you need to work safely.

Checklist of top ten things to ask your Manager on the first day on the job:

What hazards may I encounter as part of this job?
What precautions do I have to follow to protect myself?
What Personal Protective Equipment do I have to wear and where is it located?
What should I do if I’m injured at work?
What should I do if I’m sick?
What training is required and what is the frequency? Will I receive unit specific health and safety training?
What should I do in an emergency situation and who do I call?
Will I be using hazardous chemicals and where is our MSDS binder?
Where are the fire extinguishers/fire hose cabinets, fire pull stations, emergency exits and stairwells?
Where are the eyewash stations, safety showers?

Overall Health and Safety Things to Know:

If you have a health and safety related concern, ask your manager or supervisor.
Alternatively, if you would like further clarification or explanation you can always contact a member of the Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC). The JHSC site is located on the main Intranet page under committees or feel free to call the Occupational Health and Safety Department at ext. 1572.

Your Rights:

You have the right to know about hazards in your work place
You have the right to be involved in health and safety
You have the right to refuse unsafe work

Your Responsibilities:

You are required to work in a safe manner, for your own personal safety and the safety of your co-workers
You are required to report any unsafe working conditions
You are required to participate in and use job-specific training
You are required to wear all protective equipment required for your job

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