Hospital cleaning up report’s concerns

A March workers' compensation inspection of the health records room at Whitehorse General Hospital revealed six contraventions of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

A March workers’ compensation inspection of the health records room at Whitehorse General Hospital revealed six contraventions of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

“The ceiling-mounted ventilation of diffusers inspected are coated with a thick layer of dust and dust ball material,“ wrote health officer Ossie Vanesse. “Dust and dust balls were found throughout this office.“

Vanesse’s report, obtained by the Star, described six workers complaining of “adverse effects, such as coughing” when working in the office.

It went on to describe ventilation filters that had not been replaced since late 2005 or early 2006.

“Judging by the dust, state of the health records (room) and its diffusers, this task is overdue,“ continued the report.

Mark Hill, the Yukon Workers’ Compensation Health and Safety Board’s communications director, said last week he couldn’t comment on what precipitated the inspection.

“We as a rule do not disclose or discuss business inspections to other than the employer so you’d have to talk to the hospital about that,“ said Hill.

The report ordered the problems rectified by April 15.

Hospital CEO Joe MacGillivray told the Star Friday that one of the employees filed a workers’ compensation claim after becoming ill and the inspection is what followed.

He added that two orders - the placement of a filter log book and thorough cleaning of the records room - had been completed and that the board provided extensions until May 15 to address duct cleaning and until May 29 to replace filters and adjust air pressure in the records room.

“We ended up with some recommendations that we’re following through on,“ MacGillivray said.

“This will all be cleaned up in the next little bit.“

The records room is located in the old section of the hospital and patients were not affected.

Last Tuesday, Liberal Leader Arthur Mitchell clashed with Health Minister Brad Cathers over the issue during question period in the legislature.

“These are very serious concerns, concerns this government refused to make public,“ said Mitchell.

“Instead of chastising the opposition for raising these questions, the minister should do his job, talk to the chair of the (hospital) corporation and make sure (the problems) are being addressed.“

On several occassions during the exchange, Cathers said both the hospital and the board are independent, arm’s-length entities and that he has confidence the problem is being handled.

“Again, I remind the member that staff and administration of the hospital corporation have the legal obligation (to act) under the Occupational Health and Safety Act,“ said Cathers.

“If they require it to be bumped up to the ministerial level, I am confident that they will exercise their responsibility and make me aware of any assistance that is required from me .... I have faith that they have done their jobs.“

According to MacGillivray, the situation was handled internally and did not require communication to Cathers.

“This is very operational ... it’s not something we would inform the minister of.“