The following email was sent on behalf of the Canadian Association of Critical Care Nurses and the Canadian Association of Neonatal Nurses to The Honourable Jennifer Whiteside, Minister of Labour, BC.
Dear Minister Whiteside
Policy Opportunity: Protecting British Columbia Nurses Through Investment in Occupational Health and Safety
On behalf of two professional nursing associations representing frontline nurses across British Columbia, we are writing to highlight an urgent and underrecognized occupational health issue affecting nurses: chronic hand eczema (CHE).
We commend the Government of British Columbia for introducing Bill 10, the Labour Statutes Amendment Act, which aims to strengthen employment standards and protect workers. As the province advances these important workplace protections, there is a timely opportunity to address occupational skin disease among healthcare workers, particularly nurses who are routinely exposed to “wet work,” including frequent handwashing with agents containing known chemical irritants, alcohol-based sanitizers, and prolonged glove use.
Protecting nurses from preventable occupational conditions such as chronic hand eczema aligns directly with the province’s commitment to safe workplaces and sustainable healthcare staffing. We would welcome the opportunity to discuss how these measures could be incorporated into BC’s workplace health and safety framework.
We thank you for your consideration and response.
Sincerely
Dr. Brandi Vanderspank-Wright
PhD, RN, CNCC(C)
President
Dr. Amy Wright
PhD, NP-Pediatrics, RN, NCC-BC
President