SWITCH BC Engages at Events
SWITCH BC participated in eight events this year, connecting with hundreds of health care workers at union and employer events. We shared information about SWITCH BC and demonstrated new resources, such as the OHS Resource Centre. Attendees had the opportunity to try out the new digital meeting management platform in real time and learn how it supports JOHSCs.
Members of our Community Physician Health and Safety team connected with medical professionals, showcased the new Community Physician Health and Safety Guide, and shared information about how clinics can receive a free health and safety assessment.
Connecting with workers at partner events gives us the opportunity to hear first hand about current challenges they face: many shared that musculoskeletal injuries, violence, and psychological health and safety remain top of mind.
Event Highlights
Health Sciences Association (HSA) – Annual Convention
SWITCH BC connected with more than 300 HSA members at the 53rd Annual Convention in Vancouver. We shared information with members from the health sciences, including community health services and social services sectors, such as lab technicians, social workers, medical imaging technologists, psychiatric nurses, occupational therapists, and many more.
Rural Health Conference
SWITCH BC was a proud sponsor of the BC Rural Health Conference, where nearly 300 medical professionals gathered. At our information booth, we showcased the new Community Physician Health and Safety Guide and discussed rural health workers’ unique challenges.
Provincial Physicians Health and Safety Summit
The 2024 Doctors of BC Provincial Physicians Health and Safety Summit was the perfect opportunity for SWITCH BC to release its Community Physician Health and Safety Guide. A B.C. first, it’s a single source of truth for all workplace health and safety rules and regulations for community physicians and their staff.
Jennifer Zadorozniak, SWITCH BC Director of Operations, speaks at the Provincial Physicians Health and Safety Summit, April 22, 2024, Vancouver, B.C.
Quality Forum
SWITCH BC was a proud sponsor of Health Quality BC’s (HQBC) Quality Forum conference where more than 1,200 people, many of them health workers and medical staff, converged. At our information booth, we shared details about the launch of the OHS Resource Centre, and asked health workers about their top health and safety concerns.
Meribeth Burton, SWITCH BC Director of Communications, shares information with attendees at the Quality Forum, May 6, 2024.
HEU Convention
SWITCH BC connected with numerous Hospital Employees’ Union (HEU) delegates who visited our information booth during HEU’s 34th biennial convention in October in Vancouver. The convention brought together 800 members from across the province, including care aides, laboratory technicians, cooks, and licensed practical nurses (LPNs).
[Left to right] Diana Latorre, SWITCH BC Project Manager, and Georgina Hackett, SWITCH BC Technical Advisory Committee Member, at the HEU convention in October.
Fraser Health Joint Occupational Health and Safety Conference
SWITCH BC staff engaged with an energetic room of more than 400 JOHSC members at the annual Fraser Health Joint Occupational Health and Safety Conference in Surrey. Attendees stopped by the booth to learn more about SWITCH BC resources, including the OHS Resource Centre, a digital meeting management platform.
[Left to right] David Durning SWITCH BC Board Member, Anne Bull SWITCH BC TAC Member, Laura Faccone HEU Representative, Gordon Lechner SWITCH BC Manager, OHS Resource Centre, Carolina Borges SWITCH BC Health and Safety Advisor, and Wendy Mah SWITCH BC TAC Member.
BC General Employees’ Union (BCGEU) Occupational Health and Safety Conference - Breathing Life into Work
At the BC General Employees’ Union (BCGEU) occupational health and safety conference, Breathing Life into Work, SWITCH BC staff connected with hundreds of union members. We demonstrated the new digital OHS Resource Centre, and its meeting management features for JOHSCs, such as agendas, meeting minutes, and calendar features.
Rahul Naranthatta, System Administrator, OHS Resource Centre, demonstrates the new digital meeting management system in real time at the BCGEU OHS conference, in Vancouver, B.C., November 12, 2024.
MOA Violence Prevention and De-escalation Training event
SWITCH BC’s Community Physician Health and Safety program team had the opportunity to meet with more than 40 Medical Office Assistants (MOAs) and Division of Family Practice members from across the Fraser Northwest region at their Violence Prevention and De-escalation Training event.
Emily Chan SWITCH BC Health and Safety Advisor, January 24, 2025 in Vancouver, B.C.