Standard 14 - Safety & Risk Management

Standard 14 - Safety & Risk Management

Respiratory Therapists (RTs) contribute to a culture of safety for patients/clients, healthcare team members, and others, and adhere to risk management processes.

Performance Requirements

RTs:

1. Recognize situations or environments involving risks to the safety of patients/clients, healthcare team members, and others.
2. Plan, implement and evaluate preventive measures whenever possible.
3. Manage immediate risks to the safety of patients/clients, healthcare team members, and others and respond effectively to eliminate or mitigate harm.
4. Provide full and frank disclosure of all patient safety incidents in keeping with relevant legislation and employer policies.
5. Report incidents using established/appropriate processes.
6. Take part in timely risk event analysis and reflective practice to prevent a recurrence.
7. Ensure appropriate processes are in place for the proper maintenance and cleaning/disinfection/sterilization of equipment.
8. Monitor equipment for and during use, including but not limited to:
   1. activation of appropriate alarms,
   2. proper functioning and application, and
   3. patient’s/client’s response to the applied technology.
9. Perform procedures in accordance with applicable legislative, regulatory, employer, and manufacturers’ requirements.
10. Handle and dispose of dangerous substances and materials (e.g., biohazardous materials, medical gases, and liquids) in a safe manner according to best practices and established protocols (e.g., WHMIS).
11. Use preventative measures to reduce/eliminate hazards and maximize the health and safety of themselves, patients/clients, healthcare team members and others (e.g., protocols and policies related to occupational health and safety and wellness).
12. Participate in safety training programs (e.g., emergency preparedness), safety audits, and risk management activities as per legislative, regulatory, and employer requirements.
13. Collaborate and communicate effectively with other healthcare team members to maximize patient/client safety and the quality of care.

Patient/Client Expected Outcome

Patients/clients can expect the delivery of safe care by RTs.

 Related Standards

• Consent
• Documentation & Information Management
• Infection Prevention & Control
• Patient/Client Assessment & Therapeutic Procedures
• Professional Responsibilities

 Related Resources

• Canadian Patient Safety Institute. (2020). The Safety Competencies. Available at https://www.healthcareexcellence.ca/media/115mbc4z/cpsi-safetycompetencies_en_digital-final-ua.pdf
• College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario. (2023). Infection Prevention and Control. Available Clinical Best Practice Guideline at: https://infection.crto.on.ca/
• College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario. (2022). Administering and Dispensing Medications Professional Practice Guidelines. Available at https://dispensing.crto.on.ca/
• College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario. (2023). Infection Prevention & Control. Clinical Best Practice Guideline. Available at: https://infection.crto.on.ca
• Health Canada. (2025). Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS). Available at: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/environmental-workplace-health/occupational-health-safety/workplace-hazardous-materials-information-system.html
• National Alliance of Respiratory Therapy Regulatory Bodies. (2016). National Competency Framework for the Profession of Respiratory Therapy. Part 1. National Standards for Entry-to-Practice. Available at: https://nartrb.ca/download/ncf-part-i-entry-to-practice-2016.
• National Alliance of Respiratory Therapy Regulatory Bodies. (2024). National Competency Framework. Available at: https://nartrb.ca/national-competency-profileframework.
• Nova Scotia Government. (1996). An Act Respecting Occupational Health and Safety. Available at: https://nslegislature.ca/sites/default/files/legc/statutes/occupational%20health%20and%20safety.pdf
• Nova Scotia Regulator of Respiratory Therapy. (2008) NSRRT Code of Ethical Conduct. Available at: https://nsrrt.ca/professional-practice/code-of-ethics
• Transport Canada. (2025). Transportation of Dangerous Goods. Available at: https://tc.canada.ca/en/dangerous-goods/transportation-dangerous-goods-canada.

 Glossary

Communicate refers to the process of exchanging information, ideas, thoughts, feelings, or messages between individuals or groups using verbal, non-verbal, written, or visual methods.^[1]

Healthcare team refers to “peers, colleagues, and other healthcare professionals (regulated and non-regulated).”^[2]

Patient Safety Incidents refer to an event or circumstance that could have resulted, or did result, in unnecessary harm to a patient.^[3]

Patients/clients refer to “individual, group, community or population who is the recipient of respiratory therapy services and, where the context requires, includes a substitute decision-maker for the recipient of respiratory therapy services”.^[4]

Timely refers to actions, interventions, or responses that are carried out within an appropriate or necessary timeframe to achieve the best possible health outcome.^[5]

 ^[1] Open AI. (2025). ChatGPT (May 14 version) [Large language model]. https://chatgpt.com

^[2] College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario. (2021). A Commitment to Ethical Practice. Available at:  https://ethics.crto.on.ca/

^[3] Canadian Patient Safety Institute. (2020). The Safety Competencies. Available at:  https://www.healthcareexcellence.ca/media/115mbc4z/cpsi-safetycompetencies_en_digital-final-ua.pdf

^[4] Adapted from College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario. (2021). A Commitment to Ethical Practice. Available at:  https://ethics.crto.on.ca/

^[5] Open AI. (2025). ChatGPT (May 14 version) [Large language model]. https://chatgpt.com