News and Media Centre
Check out the latest news releases related to the work of SWITCH BC and its partners, along with fact sheets on the most critical topics affecting the health, safety, and wellbeing of everyone working in healthcare.
If you are a member of the media interested in learning more about SWITCH BC, please contact Meribeth Burton, Communications Director at Meribeth.burton@switchbc.ca or 1-250-818-0293
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New Workplace Health and Safety Program for Community Physicians and Staff
December 12, 2024 |
News and Media Centre SWITCH BC News
New program takes the guesswork out of finding regulations and legislation that applies to clinics and brings all of that information together in ...Learn more
Understanding the past and planning for the future
November 27, 2024 |
News and Media Centre SWITCH BC News
Several members of SWITCH BC’s Board of Director met with staff to share the history of the organization and to look ahead at the projects ...Learn more
OHS Resource Centre soft launch begins at Providence Health Care
November 20, 2024 |
News and Media Centre SWITCH BC News
SWITCH BC supports PHC and union partners on initial rollout of online committee platform. ...Learn more
SWITCH BC congratulates HEU president elect and Board member ratification
October 30, 2024 |
News and Media Centre Partner News
On behalf of everyone at SWITCH BC, I extend my sincere congratulations to Hospital Employees’ Union (HEU) president Barb Nederpel ...Learn more
SWITCH BC welcomes new Executive Director, Operations
September 20, 2024 |
News and Media Centre SWITCH BC News
Patrick Whalen brings more than 20 years of occupational health and safety and human resources leadership in B.C. ...Learn more
HEU names new secretary-business manager
June 14, 2024 |
News and Media Centre Partner News
SWITCH BC Board Director Lynn Bueckert has been appointed secretary-business manager of the Hospital Employees’ Union (HEU). ...Learn more
SWITCH BC’s 2023-2024 Annual Report
June 3, 2024 |
News and Media Centre SWITCH BC News
Read about our work supporting health, safety, and wellbeing of the more than 330,000 people in healthcare in B.C. ...Learn more
New website homepage puts program work front and centre
May 14, 2024 |
News and Media Centre SWITCH BC News
Updated website homepage, OHS Resource Centre platform update, and a free download of the Community Physician Health and Safety Guide. ...Learn more
Province announces $155.7 million to recruit, retain, and train allied health workers
May 3, 2024 |
News and Media Centre Partner News
The Ministry of Health is announcing new initiatives aimed at tackling recruitment and retention issues in the health sector and at expanding health ...Learn more
New guide helps community physicians and staff improve workplace health and safety
April 10, 2024 |
News and Media Centre SWITCH BC News
SWITCH BC, in partnership with Doctors of BC and Ministry of Health, has developed the Community Physician Health and Safety Guide. ...Learn more
Infection prevention measures reduced – respiratory season is over
April 10, 2024 |
News and Media Centre Partner News
The Ministry of Health has announced as of April 8, 2024, respiratory season is over, and the additional infection prevention and control measures ...Learn more
Community physicians bring expertise to SWITCH BC
March 19, 2024 |
News and Media Centre SWITCH BC News
SWITCH BC hosted the first Community Physician Health and Safety Task Group meeting with physicians from around the province. ...Learn more
WorkSafeBC update: Occupational first aid regulatory change
March 12, 2024 |
News and Media Centre Partner News
On November 1, 2024, changes to the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Regulation relating to workplace first aid will come into effect. ...Learn more
Stay safe while working in cold weather
January 12, 2024 |
Blog
Parts of BC are experiencing extreme winter weather. Here are some health and safety tips if you are working outdoors or driving to and from work. ...Learn more
Happy New Year from all of us at SWITCH BC!
December 29, 2023 |
News and Media Centre SWITCH BC News
Happy New Year from all of us at SWITCH BC! In 2024, I am making you and me a priority. ...Learn more
Updating training, for everyone working in healthcare
December 6, 2023 |
News and Media Centre SWITCH BC News
CEO Victoria Schmid speaks about violence in the workplace and what SWITCH BC is doing to help. ...Learn more
Board Chair Reappointed and new Board Directors
December 5, 2023 |
News and Media Centre SWITCH BC News
B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix has reappointed SWITCH BC’s Board Chair Roberta Ellis to another three-year term. ...Learn more
Find out “What We Learned” about violence prevention training in healthcare
November 9, 2023 |
News and Media Centre SWITCH BC News
We are grateful to the 1,300 people working in healthcare in B.C. who participated in engagement sessions on violence prevention training. ...Learn more
HEU poll finds 82% of care aides face violence or aggression at work
October 20, 2023 |
News and Media Centre Partner News
A new poll commissioned by B.C.’s largest health care union finds care aides in B.C. are subjected to high rates of on-the-job violence. ...Learn more
How to disconnect and create better work-life balance
October 4, 2023 |
Blog
Many people carry their work everywhere they go, but there are practical ways to disconnect and for employers to encourage work-life balance. ...Learn more
Heat safety at work
August 8, 2023 |
Blog
Working in extreme heat presents challenges for employees and employers, and there are actions that everyone can take to prevent heat stress. ...Learn more
SWITCH BC welcomes OHS leader secondees
August 4, 2023 |
News and Media Centre SWITCH BC News
SWITCH BC welcomes Georgina Hackett and John Fitzgerald to the positions. ...Learn more
SWITCH BC’s 2022-2023 Annual Report
May 23, 2023 |
News and Media Centre SWITCH BC News
Read about our work in our foundational first year to improve occupational health and safety for the more than 300,000 people in healthcare in B.C. ...Learn more
Roberta Ellis Award Recipients
May 4, 2023 |
News and Media Centre SWITCH BC News
The leadership and excellence of SWITCH BC’s Board Chair in occupational health and safety is being recognized and celebrated at the University of BC ...Learn more
SWITCH BC CEO on ratification of union contracts
April 28, 2023 |
News and Media Centre Partner News
With the ratification of all health care union contracts, there is certainty for people working in healthcare for the next two years. ...Learn more
Violence Prevention refresh featured in Canadian Security Magazine
March 20, 2023 |
News and Media Centre SWITCH BC News
SWITCH BC CEO Victoria Schmid and B.C. paramedic Jason Green share insight into the work and the need for updated violence prevention training. ...Learn more
Happy New Year from all of us at SWITCH BC!
December 30, 2022 |
News and Media Centre SWITCH BC News
SWITCH BC’s CEO, Victoria Schmid, is heading into 2023 with hope and cautious optimism. Find out why. ...Learn more
SWITCH BC leads refresh of Provincial Violence Prevention Curriculum
November 5, 2022 |
News and Media Centre Partner News SWITCH BC News
We are asking everyone working in healthcare to share their experiences to help us improve violence prevention training. ...Learn more
Doctors of BC and Ministry of Health announce new family physician payment model
November 3, 2022 |
News and Media Centre Partner News
The Province, Doctors of BC, and BC Family Doctors have agreed on a new payment model for family doctors to h ...Learn more
Hospital Employees’ Union announces tentative deal
November 2, 2022 |
News and Media Centre Partner News
Tentative agreement with the provincial government reached for more than 60,000 health care workers ...Learn more
Fact Sheet: Mental Wellbeing in Healthcare
July 14, 2022 |
Fact Sheets News and Media Centre SWITCH BC News
In B.C. mental health injury claims increased by 38% between 2019 and 2021. And 40% of all mental health claims came from the health sector, ...Learn more
SWITCH BC by the numbers
July 14, 2022 |
Fact Sheets News and Media Centre SWITCH BC News
Learn more about the 300,000+ people working in healthcare that SWITCH BC supports. ...Learn more
Board appointed to govern new provincial OH&S Organization
February 24, 2021 |
News and Media Centre SWITCH BC News
February 2021
Provincial Framework on OH&S in Health Care Working Group Joint Communication.
A Board of Direct ...Learn more
BC Health Care Occupational Health and Safety Society: work underway
December 19, 2019 |
News and Media Centre SWITCH BC News
December 2019
BC’s new provincial occupational health and safety organization has been officially incorporated as the BC ...Learn more