Over the years, the community has grappled with complex social issues and shown strength and resilience in its efforts to address them. As a result, DTES employers include health care and social service providers who provide housing support and provide programs for low-income residents, people who use substances, and people with mental health challenges or co-occurring disorders. But this is not a problem unique to one neighborhood in Canada—many of the challenges facing workers and employers in the Vancouver DTES occur nationally, in other communities, and in workplaces with diverse and complex populations.
WorkSafeBC: Unique approaches to unique challenges
WorkSafeBC has dedicated prevention officers who ensure a regular presence at the DTES working with workers and employers to increase awareness and understanding of healthy and safe workplaces. “Through consultation, education and enforcement, we have developed relationships with workers and employers in the DTES community,” says Jacqueline Holmes, Director of Preventive Services at WorkSafeBC. “A key role for our officers is to help employers understand their legal obligations to protect the health and safety of their workers.” As part of WorkSafeBC’s High Risk Strategy for Health and Social Services, prevention efforts in the Downtown Eastside are focused on reducing the risk of workplace violence and related injuries. Occupational health issues are also at the forefront of efforts in the community, as businesses must address exposure to infectious diseases, illegal substances, and other health issues that require unique approaches from both employers and prevention workers. “The Downtown Eastside has unique challenges when it comes to workplace health and safety,” says Holmes. “It is important that prevention officers conduct objective and respectful inspections when working with this diverse community.”
When working in the DTES, WorkSafeBC prevention officers work with employers to ensure:
The risk of injury to workers is minimized through workplace procedures, instructions and arrangements (eg safety, hours of operation, barriers, access/egress, safe areas, etc.). There are communication systems in place to report and deal with hazards in the workplace. Joint health and safety committees exist and operate if required by law. Employers develop and implement safe work procedures to prevent violence, working alone, and the risk of exposure to needles and hazardous substances (eg, asbestos, mold, and lead). Workers have access to personal protective equipment—such as masks and gloves.
Employers are responsible for protecting workers from violence and other risks. “When working with the DTES community, the risk of violence can never be completely eliminated, however, employers must implement controls that reduce the risk to workers,” says Holmes. These controls include developing and implementing safe work procedures, posting signs with expectations for respectful behavior, installing physical barriers and alarms, and using personal protective equipment. Employees also have a responsibility to follow their employer’s safe work procedures so that they and their colleagues stay safe. “DTES workers may sometimes tolerate or feel they have to tolerate behavior or issues that may affect their safety in the workplace, so it is important to remind them that violence, whether physical or verbal, should not be tolerated and should be reported to their supervisor,” says Holmes. “Regular enforcement and a supportive presence at DTES has opened the door to open and honest conversations with workers and employers about their workplace safety.” Holmes adds that every employee has a right to a safe workplace and a responsibility to report safety concerns to their supervisor. Employers also have a responsibility to investigate safety concerns and take corrective action.
Adaptation to the needs of the community
The COVID-19 pandemic has shown the importance of adapting safety plans to the work environment. As the DTES landscape evolves, employers must be situationally aware and responsive to changes in the neighborhood. “Covid-19 has been challenging for everyone, including those who live and work in the Downtown Eastside,” says Holmes. “But the pandemic has also raised awareness of the importance of assessing risk and implementing controls to reduce those risks. We would like to build on this increased awareness of health and safety in the community.”
Making a difference
While changing a workplace safety culture takes time, working with employers and employees, WorkSafeBC prevention officers have seen a positive change in the workplace safety culture in the DTES. “It is rewarding to see that by providing employers with ongoing support, information and resources, employers and employees are becoming more aware of how to work safely,” says Holmes. WorkSafeBC’s prevention line is available to workers and employers and connects callers with prevention officers, who provide training and advice on health and safety questions or concerns. The Prevention Information Line is open 24/7 for job site emergencies.
