Health Canada

Consumer Product Safety Program

Triage Tools

October 2013

2

Rational for Centralized Triaging Approach

• Ensure a consistent and structured approach to the prioritization

of incidents

• Track record of decision for more accountability and transparency

• Provide a consistent framework within which to exercise

judgement

• Prioritize workload nationally

3

Use of Incident Reporting Data

4

Incident Report Form

5

5

Incident Reporting

6

Triage Process Workflow

7

Triage Business Mapping

8

Implementation of the

Prioritization Tool

• Identified needs throughout the organization

• Developed an injury coding manual in consultation with risk assessment experts

• Use over 100 cases to calibrate the tool

• Workshop with RA & RM experts to validate the tool

• Developped user manual and SOPs

• Audit of the full process including tool results

9

Prioritization Tool

10

Example 1

5

While priming a camping gas stove, too much fuel entered the priming cup. When

reporter ignited the fuel in the priming cup, he burn his hand (1st degree). When

returning product to store, retailer noted that the fuel line’s seal was cracked. Stove

is four years old, quite well used, and had never had its seal checked or replaced.

Instruction clearly state to perform a function check before every use.

Score = 1.5

No RA, Monitored

by Surveillance

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Example 2

4

While carrying his 1 year old child in a kid bicycle trailer, a parent rode over a

pothole. Upon impact, the metal tubing at the bottom of the trailer frame broke. The

child tipped out of the trailer, landed on the ground and broke his neck.

Score = 8000

Assign to RA

12

Example 3

6

When applying a hair smoothing treatment, hairdresser and customers’ eyes and

throat burned. After inhaling fumes from a few application of the product, hairdresser

experience severe back and chest pain and partial lost of voice. Product was bought

from supplier a month ago. Customer also complain of red and itchy scalp.

1st Incident Score = 50

4th Incident Score = 100

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What we have seen for 2012-2013

Consumer, 663

Industry, 1065

Surveillance 27%

Risk Assessment, 29%

Risk Management 36%

Referred or Deferred (Outside Mandate)

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1800

Cases Triaged Triage Outcome

Consumer Products Workflow: Triage Stage: Fiscal Year 2012-13

88%

12%

Triage Performance Within Performance Standardof 3 Calendar Days

Longer than PerformanceStandard