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CCOHS and Vubiz Partner to Help Ensure Safety of Healthcare Workers
HAMILTON, August 25, 2003 – In an initiative to help hospitals and other healthcare establishments improve
the health and safety of their employees, the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) and Vubiz
have partnered to create an information service for the Safe Handling of Hospital Chemicals (SHHC).
The service provides hospitals with help in the management of their health and safety responsibilities and in enhancing
the health and safety of their employees, by providing electronic access to a customized healthcare collection of
Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs). These MSDSs provide detailed information pertaining to chemicals specifically used
by the healthcare workers. The service, developed jointly by Vubiz and the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and
Safety (CCOHS), relies on CCOHS’ extensive collection of MSDSs provided to them by over 1200 chemical
suppliers in North America. In addition, the service includes access to detailed chemical profiles produced by CCOHS.
Chemicals are a major safety concern in healthcare facilities. Tens of thousands of different products are used in
Ontario facilities. With resources stretched thin, it has been a difficult challenge for hospitals to source, maintain, and
retrieve Material Safety Data Sheets required to manage their health and safety responsibilities as well as ensure the
most up-to-date information is available. Through the use of Taxonomer's content management software from Greyhead
Associates (a user tool provided with SHHC), each hospital will have instant access to MSDSs specific to the chemicals
they use in their facility and have the ability to further refine collections specifically for departments, units or even individual
employees. The MSDSs are automatically refreshed as changes occur. This makes the most current, relevant information
readily accessible to healthcare workers when they need it, potentially protecting them from workplace chemical hazards.
SHHC is now installed and operational in North York General Hospital.
CCOHS’ President & CEO S. Len Hong remarked, “We are proud to be a part of this initiative with
Vubiz that addresses a specific health and safety need in hospitals and other healthcare facilities. “
He added, “The beneficiaries of this service will ultimately be the healthcare workers, who will be equipped with
ready access to information that could ensure their health and safety - an important measure that will take us closer to
realizing our vision of helping to eradicate all Canadian work-related illnesses and injuries.”
Vubiz President Jim Rapino commented, "The Vubiz team is equally proud to be working together with CCOHS
on this timely and important service that offers hospitals and other healthcare facilities a low-cost, high quality electronic
MSDS management and information service, which includes our award winning web-based WHMIS training."
About CCOHS
The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) is Canada's national
resource for workplace health and safety information. Established in 1978 by the Government of Canada, CCOHS is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of a
safe and healthy working environment with an emphasis on prevention, by providing clear, concise and factual information and advice for the prevention of work-related injuries and
illnesses in Canada.
Contact:Eleanor Irwin, Manager - Marketing, Sales and Communications
CCOHS
905.572.2981 X 4408 eleanori@ccohs.ca
About Vubiz
Vubiz is a strategic e-learning solutions company that provides a full range of services from customized courseware production to distribution and management. Vubiz started in 1996 with an initial vision of helping growth-oriented companies become more globally competitive through the use of Internet learning technologies. Vubiz provides online education delivery systems, and assists in building workforce excellence with healthcare e-learning and knowledge solutions.
Contact:Polly Sharpe, VP Operations & GM
Vubiz
905.569.2280 X40 psharpe@vubiz.com
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