OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY POLICY

Transcription

1 OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY POLICY Rationale The ( Resource Centre ) is committed to providing a safe working environment to its employees and other persons admitted on its work premises. It is also committed to complying with its obligations under Part II of the Canada Labour Code and related Regulations. Applicability This Occupational Health and Safety ( OHS ) Policy covers all employees, agency personnel, students, volunteers and contractors engaged in work on behalf of the Resource Centre on its premises and, to the extent that the Resource Centre controls the work activity, on other premises. For the sake of clarity, the application of this OHS Policy shall not be construed to mean that agency personnel, volunteers, contractors or contractor s personnel are employees or employees of the Resource Centre. Definitions Accident is an unintended or unexpected event causing material damage or personal injury. Designate is an employee appointed to act on behalf of a manager if the manager is unavailable to carry out his/her duties (sickness, leave of absence, vacation etc). Due Diligence is the requisite and reasonable degree of judgment, care, caution and adherence to safe practice that an individual or organization must demonstrate under all circumstances where work or activity ancillary to work is being performed. Incident is an unintended or unexpected event which might have caused material damage or personal injury. Manager is an employee of the Resource Centre who has managerial responsibilities. Workplace means Resource Centre premises in all locations in Canada. Workplace Health and Safety Representative (the Representative ) is the individual selected from the employees at a workplace who do not exercise managerial functions, pursuant to section 136 of the Canada Labour Code. Policy The Resource Centre and all parties identified in this OHS policy will comply with all applicable aspects of Part II of the Canada Labour Code and its Regulations, and any applicable Provincial law. The Resource Centre recognizes that the Canada Labour Code makes the Workplace parties responsible for the management of risk in the Workplace. The Resource Centre shall adopt such internal processes and programs as it deems necessary to effectively comply with Part II of the Canada Labour Code and to otherwise assess and enforce safe work practices. To that end, the Page 1 of 5

2 Resource Centre and all other parties to whom this OHS policy applies shall adhere to a Due Diligence strategy focused on: The continual identification and assessment of risk; The elimination of risk, where possible; The reduction of risk, to the degree possible; The protection of people against remaining risk, where necessary. Occupational health and safety responsibilities apply to every individual and organization engaged in work at or on behalf of the Resource Centre. This includes but is not limited to: Maintaining current knowledge of safe working procedures; Adherence to those procedures; Observing and reporting any perceived hazard or danger; Ensuring that no person engages in work posing inappropriate risk to that person. Every job at the Resource Centre includes the duty to work safely. A failure to adhere to safe working procedures which are known or ought reasonably to be known will be grounds for appropriate disciplinary sanctions in the case of the individual responsible. Workplace Health and Safety Representative The Resource Centre shall ensure that employees at every Workplace who do not exercise managerial functions select a Workplace Health and Safety Representative from amongst themselves. If such an individual is not selected, the Resource Centre shall act as the Workplace Health and Safety Representative until such time as one is appointed. The duties of the Workplace Health and Safety Representative are as set out at s.136(5) of the Canada Labour Code, as amended. The Resource Centre will organize and support the work of the Workplace Health and Safety Representative pursuant to the requirements of Part II of the Canada Labour Code. Roles and Responsibilities - Appendix A All employees of the Resource Centre must comply with and apply provisions of Part II of the Canada Labour Code and its Regulations (refer to Appendix A ). All other workers (agency personnel, contractors, contractors personnel, volunteers) must also comply with Part II of the Canada Labour Code and its Regulations and, where necessary, such provincial requirements as may apply to them. Appendix A applies to these other workers, with whatever necessary modifications. The duties and responsibilities at Appendix A apply not only to the Resource Centre as an employer but also to any other employer engaging in work at, or on behalf of, the Resource Centre, to every manager engaged by any such employer and to every person conducting work for any such employer. Page 2 of 5

3 1. Employees and other Workers APPENDIX A ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Employees and other Workers have the responsibility to: comply with the Canada Labour Code and Regulations, with this OHS policy, and with any other relevant policies while performing their duties; follow proper safe working procedures at all times and comply with managers instructions regarding health and safety; use all required protective safety devices whenever necessary; not to engage in any prank, contest, feat of strength, unnecessary running or rough and boisterous conduct or otherwise endanger others or themselves; cooperate with the Health and Safety Representative, and with anyone else with health and safety responsibility at the Resource Centre, and with all regulatory bodies; report, avoid, and if it can be done safely, correct potentially hazardous occurrences and report all Accidents and Incidents to the Manager (or designate) and the Committee; and know and understand the procedures to be followed in the event of an emergency and the location, use, and operation of emergency equipment. 2. Managers Managers have all of the responsibilities of employees. On behalf of the Resource Centre they also have the responsibility to: ensure compliance with the Canada Labour Code and all applicable Regulations, and with the OHS Policy and procedures among employees and other workers under their responsibility; ensure that employees and other workers are provided with information, instruction, training and supervision necessary to ensure health and safety at work; ensure that employees and other workers under their responsibility are trained in proper safe work procedures to avoid Accidents and injuries; ensure that employees and other workers under their responsibility follow proper safe work procedures and use all required protective safety devices; investigate as soon as possible, in cooperation with the Health and Safety Representative, hazardous occurrences, Accidents and Incidents brought to their attention and take the appropriate action to prevent a recurrence; inform the Health and Safety Representative of all hazardous occurrences, Accidents and Incidents; cooperate with all persons involved in the Resource Centre s health and safety matters and with all regulatory bodies; and complete any necessary forms and prepare reports as and when requested. Page 3 of 5

4 3. Workplace Health and Safety Representative The Health and Safety Representative has the responsibility to: make recommendations for Accident prevention and health and safety program activities; provide a focus within the Resource Centre for problem resolution for health and safety matters; receive and deal with complaints relating to health and safety matters; participate with the relevant Manager in all inquiries and investigations and where necessary, conduct investigations concerning occupational health and safety, consulting technical experts as required; ensure that adequate records are kept on work Accidents, injuries, Incidents, hazardous occurrences, health and safety complaints, the corrective measures taken, and any refusal to work; monitor the data on work Accidents or injuries on a regular basis; request any information considered necessary to identify existing or potential hazards with respect to materials, processes, or equipment in the workplace that may be discovered in a review; in conjunction with the Executive Director, develop, establish and maintain health and safety programs to educate the Resource Centre employees; inspect the workplace or part of the workplace at least once per month, so as to ensure that the entire workplace is inspected at least yearly; cooperate with all persons with responsibility for health and safety at the Resource Centre, and with all respective regulatory bodies; and fulfill the other obligations pursuant to the Canada Labour Code. 4. Executive Director or Designate The Executive Director or designate has the responsibility to: provide a vehicle for communication and information for health and safety matters; inform employees of the steps necessary to protect their health and safety as determined by the Health and Safety Representative; monitor the implementation of health and safety programs and practices and report the findings to the Health and Safety Representative; maintain records of all programs, measures and procedures related to the health and safety of employees and other workers; ensure proper storage of all health and safety records, Accidents, Incidents, injury and hazardous Incident report, and other documentation; post in a public area in the workplace a copy of: proper safe work methods, the Canada Labour Code and Regulations, this OHS Policy, the names of the Health and Safety Representative(s) and theirr location in the workplace, names and work locations of employees trained in first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), Page 4 of 5

5 other information related to health and safety; and coordinate training activities related to health and safety. 5. The Resource Centre The Resource Centre as the employer has the responsibility to: ensure that managers are adequately trained in health and safety and are informed of their responsibilities under the Canada Labour Code and under this OHS Policy; ensure that in all contracts of engagement with contractors, agencies, contract employees and volunteers, contractual terms are established to enable the Resource Centre to ensure safety compliance by those parties and to sanction and/or terminate those parties where the Resource Centre deems appropriate; provide a healthy and safe workplace for employees and other workers; take the necessary steps to ensure the health and safety of employees and other workers; inquire into, report to designated authorities, document and correct any situation that involves OHS related risks; act promptly on the recommendations of the Health and Safety Representative; investigate and promptly resolve any refusal to work referred to it; and complete any necessary forms and prepare reports as and when requested. Employee Acknowledgment I have read, understood and agree to abide by the terms of this. Employee Signature Date of Signature Page 5 of 5