Message from the CEO
At SWITCH BC, we know that creating healthier and safer workplaces for the 330,000+ people who work in healthcare in our province takes more than good intentions – it takes ongoing collaboration, shared accountability, and a commitment to action.
What makes our organization unique is the model we’re built on. We bring together healthcare unions, employers, physicians, the Ministry of Health, and WorkSafeBC to make decisions by consensus. This structure ensures the voice of workers is at the table, alongside people who shape policy and oversee implementation. It’s what gives our programs both credibility and impact: they’re grounded in the experience of frontline workers and backed by the organizations that put them into practice.
This collaborative model is especially important now. Health systems across the world are facing a critical shortage of workers. In British Columbia, we feel this pressure too. Retaining skilled people and recruiting new ones requires our workplaces to be healthier, safer, and more supportive. That’s exactly what our work is focused on.
We recently launched the OHS Resource Centre a new digital platform to support Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committees. This resource was developed with input from workers and employers alike, providing online committee meeting management tools and templates. We are also at work on the next evolution of the platform which will include data tracking to further drive health and safety improvements.
We’ve also refreshed the Provincial Violence Prevention eLearning Curriculum, helping workers and leaders respond to one of the most pressing issues facing the sector today: workplace violence. The updated training supports both prevention and de-escalation.
Recognizing the unique needs of physicians who work in communities across B.C. and their clinic teams, we’ve created the Community Physician Health and Safety program. This includes a dedicated web portal so physicians and staff can create their own health and safety programs. Plus, we have workplace health and safety advisors who travel the province to provide practical, in-person guidance. Watch tour of a Sooke clinic to get a better understanding of how our teams support community physicians.
As we connect directly with health workers, we are learning that workplace wellbeing is a high priority. We are currently developing a provincewide model to monitor, evaluate, and report on the psychological health and safety of health workers. Because workplace wellbeing is essential to caring for the people who care for us.
Our programs have been made possible through collaboration. By bringing together the right people, we’re building solutions that are more effective, more trusted, and have champions who ensure they are put into action.
To all those working in healthcare: thank you. Your health and safety matters. Your input and advice matter. And we are committed to collaborative solutions to improve workplace health and safety across the health sector.
Sincerely,
Victoria Schmid
SWITCH BC Chief Executive Officer