A six foot bunny dressed in personal protective equipment is just one of the ways Almonte Country Haven created a culture of safety.
Almonte scores 100 per cent on safety audit
Home used as an example on how to create a culture of safety
Wednesday September 3, 2008 -- Camille Jensen
Almonte Country Haven staff members are celebrating a job well done after receiving 100 per cent on a recent safety audit conducted by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB).

Rick Gourlie, the home’s administrator, says the evaluator was “thrilled” with the home’s processes and its ability to take a dry subject and turn it into a dynamic activity.

He credits the management team, along with help from Kelly Burns, OMNI's human resources manager, for creating a vibrant and effective learning environment.

“We took an arduous process and made it less arduous by adding incentives, reinforcement and just plain fun,” says Gourlie.

He says the Ottawa-area home focused on creating a culture of safety, which was instrumental to their success.

To engage everyone in the learning process, Gourlie says the home offered incentives, such as opportunities to win gift certificates, to staff members that were able to successfully complete safety quizzes. 

All staff members were supported in the learning process, which included the home constructing a large safety board to inform and answer questions on safety.

The management team also looked for ways to make the process more entertaining and set up a variety of creative safety displays to encourage staff members to have fun with the process.

A favourite at the home was a six-foot bunny dressed in a gown, goggles and gloves.

Known as the “personal protective equipment (PPE) bunny,” the furry stuffed animal was accompanied by a sign that read, “PPE is your responsibility, now hop to it!”

“I don’t think there is a person who has come into our home and doesn’t see that bunny and laugh about it,” says Gourlie.

On the day of the audit, the home chose to transorm the event from a stressful procedure into an opportunity to show off their new knowledge.

The home decorated with balloons and had cake and tea available for residents, staff members and the evaluator.

The evaluator was so pleased with what she saw, she plans to use the home as an example for other long-term care homes about how to create a culture of safety.

“What she reported back was that she was stunned that (the staff members) had a greater retention than any other home she had previously visited,” says Gourlie. “She said whatever you have been doing you have been doing it right.”

— More to come

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