Fact_Sheet_PPE_Health_Care_EN_2022_01_19

This fact sheet provides the federal, provincial, and information and tools for health care workers to advocate and bargain for territorial governments to stronger pandemic health and safety protections at work. [...] The most reported adequate stocks of N95 and other restriction was extended use of PPE beyond normal use while PPE and make them available in one in five health care workers said that the respirator masks event of reasonable indications of (KN95 or N95) they needed were sometimes or never available the emergency of a pandemic, during the pandemic.3 epidemic or infectious disease outbreak. [...] Even after mass shortages of PPE ended, public health officials, governments and employers were reluctant to acknowledge the possibility of airborne transmission of COVID-19 and provide N95 masks to workers.4 It was the responsibility of governments and employers to follow the precautionary principle, which states that every reasonable precaution should be taken to protect the health and safety of. [...] Health care workers without restrictions or conditions for accessing PPE reported better mental health and stress outcomes than those with restricted access.5 Workers who could not access appropriate PPE experienced high levels of anxiety, stress, and fear 6 Government stockpiles of PPE CUPE has been advocating for stronger action from the federal government to protect the health and safety of hea. [...] Take action! • Review your collective agreement for health and safety protections related to PPE, air quality, and pandemic preparedness • Write to provincial and federal ministers of health calling for sufficient stock of PPE, PPE manufacturing in Canada and yearly reports on stockpile levels • Get involved with your local health and safety committee • Read CUPE’s COVID-19 health and safety fact.