POLICY Number: 7311-30-002 Title: Workplace Safety Authorization [ X] President and CEO [ ] Vice President, Finance and Corporate Services Source: Director, Worksafe and Employee Wellness Cross Index: SHR Occupational Health & Safety Policy & Program Manual; 7311-50- 006; 7311-30-001; 7311-60-011 Date Approved: May 12, 2004 Date Revised: July 3, 2012 Date Effective: July 20, 2012 Date Reaffirmed: Scope: SHR & Affiliates Any PRINTED version of this document is only accurate up to the date of printing. Saskatoon Health Region (SHR) cannot guarantee the currency or accuracy of any printed policy. Always refer to the Policies and Procedures website for the most current versions of documents in effect. SHR accepts no responsibility for use of this material by any person or organization not associated with SHR. No part of this document may be reproduced in any form for publication without permission of SHR. Safety Philosophy The well-being of the Saskatoon Health Region (SHR) patients, clients and residents is dependent on the health and safety of our workforce. SHR believes safety is the responsibility of all our staff and as such, senior leadership, Directors, Managers and Supervisors work collaboratively with staff to support an integrated approach to a healthy and safe workplace. Health and safety policy is legislated under the provincial Occupational Health and Safety Act. Legislation sets minimum standards; we will strive to rise above minimum standards and pursue an exemplary standard in safety. As a signatory and supporter of the Saskatchewan Health and Safety Leadership Charter, SHR will work toward continuous improvement, analyzing and measuring information to make better decisions towards reaching our strategic goal, the elimination of all injuries in the workplace. DEFINITIONS (All) Staff means SHR employees, practitioner staff, professional staff, affiliates, contractors, students and volunteers. The Act means The Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1993. The Regulations means The Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 1996. Page 1 of 6
1. PURPOSE The purpose of this policy is to establish the responsibilities and accountabilities within Saskatoon Health Region (SHR) for safe work practices. 2. PRINCIPLE SHR s safety framework is built upon the principles of the provincial Safety Management System: Management commitment and leadership Assessment and improvement Training and communication Employee involvement Site regulatory standards 3. POLICY 3.1 SHR is committed to a health and safety program that involves everyone and results in the provision of a safe and healthy work place. 3.2 SHR will work collaboratively with the Saskatchewan Association of Safe Workplaces in Health (SASWH) to ensure an effective safety management system. 3.3 All staff will be held accountable to follow legislation, SHR policies and procedures about safe work practices. 3.4 No policy can address all possible scenarios or prepare staff for all eventualities. All staff are expected to exercise judgment and to consult their Manager/Supervisor if uncertain about how to proceed. 3.5 All staff must be aware of their 3 rights: the right to know about hazards at work; the right to participate in occupational health and safety; and the right to refuse work which the worker has reasonable grounds to believe is unusually dangerous. 4. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 4.1 Shared Responsibility 4.1.1 Everyone in SHR is jointly responsible for creating and maintaining a safe work environment. 4.1.2 Everyone in SHR will work toward an organizational culture that promotes the highest possible occupational health and safety standards for all staff according to the provincial Safety Management System. 4.1.3 Everyone will support a harassment-free workplace. 4.2 Senior Leadership Team will 4.2.1 Comply with the Act and Regulations. 4.2.2 Ensure that the highest possible occupational health and safety standards for all staff are in place within SHR, according to the provincial Safety Management System. Page 2 of 6
4.2.3 Establish and maintain functioning Occupational Health Committee(s) (OHC); representatives for facilities with less than ten (10) staff and consult and cooperate with them in resolving health and safety concerns. 4.2.4 Ensure oversight and monitoring of safety work through the establishment of appropriate committees. 4.2.5 Monitor key indicators to ensure progress towards SHR s goal to eliminate workplace injuries. 4.2.6 Ensure required safe work procedures are in place. 4.3.7 Ensure that the resources and programs exist to: Ensure equipment is provided and maintained; Ensure all staff are trained; Ensure Managers and Supervisors are competent; Prevent contraventions through proper planning. 4.2 Directors/Administrators will 4.2.1 Ensure safe work practices in compliance with the health and safety program and applicable legislation are in place in the department. 4.2.2 Ensure SHR programs and policies related to safe work practices are implemented in the department. 4.2.3 Hold Managers and Supervisors accountable for completing departmental safety profiles and the subsequent action plans, for implementing these plans and for monitoring safe work practices in the department. 4.2.4 Make safety management a priority for Managers and Supervisors, ensuring it is a part of everyday work. 4.2.5 Be accountable for contravention follow-up. 4.3 Managers/Supervisors/Designates will 4.3.1 Ensure Safety Profiles are completed and department action plans developed on a biennial basis in alignment with the Safety Management System. This work will be done by a committee that includes staff. 4.3.2 Implement action plans in a timely fashion and communicate progress to staff. 4.3.3 Identify resource issues for Directors that impede progress on implementation. 4.3.4 Investigate incidents immediately upon notification. 4.3.5 Hold regular safety meetings (e.g. huddles, safety talks) with staff to discuss safety action plans, incidents, OHC inspections and/or, contraventions as these relate to the safe operation of the department. 4.3.6 Ensure that OHC members from the department are released as required to attend OHC meetings and inspections. 4.3.7 Ensure staff have been educated as required in safe work practices, including Transfer Lifting and Repositioning - Safe Moving and Client Handling. 4.3.8 Hold staff accountable for following safe work practices as outlined in the Occupational Health and Safety Program Manual. 4.3.9 Ensure all equipment is properly maintained and meets current standards. 4.3.10 Have sufficient knowledge, so as to supervise in a competent manner, of the Act & Regulations and the SHR OH&S Program Manual. Page 3 of 6
4.4 All staff will 4.4.1 Take reasonable care to protect the health and safety of themselves and other staff. 4.4.2 Comply with the Act and Regulations. 4.4.3 Immediately report to the Manager/Supervisor any unsafe work practice. 4.4.4 Immediately stop using unsafe equipment, follow the procedures to get it repaired and report it to the Manager/Supervisor. 4.4.5 Participate in, and use, the orientation and training provided. 4.4.6 Follow safe work practices as outlined in the Occupational Health and Safety Program Manual. 4.4.7 Use protective equipment provided to them. 4.4.8 Participate when required in the safety profile assessments and in the implementation of the action plans. 4.4.9 Support and cooperate with the Occupational Health Committee or Representative. 4.4.10 Report any incidents that may have or did result in an injury to the Incident Report Line (655-0820 in Saskatoon, 1-866-766-0820 in rural areas). 4.5 Occupational Health Committee will 4.5.1 Carry out duties specified in the Act and Regulations, including participating in the identification and control of health and safety hazards at the place of employment. 4.5.2 Co-operate with the Occupational Health and Safety Department. 4.5.3 Establish, promote and recommend the means of delivery of health and safety programs for the education and information of staff. 4.5.4 Maintain records with respect to the duties of the committee. 4.5.5 Investigate work refusals. 1 4.5.6 Receive, consider and resolve matters respecting the health and safety of staff. 5. POLICY MANAGEMENT The management of this policy including policy education, monitoring, implementation and amendment is the responsibility of Director, Worksafe and Employee Wellness. 6. NON-COMPLIANCE/BREACH Non-compliance with this policy will result in a review of the incident. A review for noncompliance may result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment or privileges; fines; and/or prosecution of individuals under the Act. 7. REFERENCES SHR Policy Safety Reporting: Adverse Event Management System (AEMS) SHR Policy Respect and Dignity SHR Policy Transfer, Lifting and Repositioning Safe Moving and Client Handling The Worker s Compensation Act, 1979 1 The Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1993 s 23 Page 4 of 6
PROCEDURE Number: 7311-30-002 Title: Workplace Safety Authorization [ X] President and CEO [ ] Vice President, Finance and Corporate Services Source: Director, Worksafe and Employee Wellness Cross Index: Date Approved: May 12, 2004 Date Revised: July 3, 2012 Date Effective: July 20, 2012 Date Reaffirmed: Scope: SHR Any PRINTED version of this document is only accurate up to the date of printing. Saskatoon Health Region (SHR) cannot guarantee the currency or accuracy of any printed procedure. Always refer to the appropriate website for the most current versions of documents in effect. SHR accepts no responsibility for use of this material by any person or organization not associated with SHR. No part of this document may be reproduced in any form for publication without permission of SHR. 1. PURPOSE The purpose of this procedure is to outline SHR s programming and resources available that ensure the health, safety and welfare at work of all SHR staff (excluding Long Term Care Affiliates). 2. PRINCIPLES The Occupational Health and Safety Department will be a resource to facilitate, consult, coach and interpret for departments/units/facilities and Occupational Health Committees in the implementation and continuing improvement of health and safety plans. In no way does this absolve management or staff of their responsibilities under The Occupational Health & Safety Act. The SHR OH&S Department will advise and monitor, but cannot replace the Managers and Supervisors roles in holding staff accountable. 3. PROCEDURE The components of the SHR health and safety program will include, but are not limited to, ensuring SHR has established: 3.1 A Safety Program that includes: 3.1.1 Policies and procedures that outline the roles and responsibilities of SHR and staff. 3.1.2 A communication plan to raise awareness of SHR s commitment to safety and the programs that support it. 3.1.3 Performance monitoring including the following indicators: Incident frequency and type Severity rating Completion and implementation rates for safety profiles and action plans 3.1.4 Emergency response procedures. Page 5 of 6
3.1.5 Plans to control biological, chemical, environmental and physical hazards. 3.1.6 Policy and procedures for injury prevention programs including prevention of musculoskeletal injuries and safe object moving and client handling. 3.1.7 A program of orientation and ongoing education for staff, supervisors, management, volunteers, students, occupational health committees, external contractors and others as required to ensure they know about the hazards of work and how to control them and work safely. 3.1.8 A system to monitor and track all required education. 3.1.9 Processes that ensure staff understand their right to refuse work that they believe is unusually dangerous. 3.1.10 Procedures to report, investigate and follow up on near misses, incidents, accidents, dangerous occurrences, harassment and work refusals. 3.1.11 A program that works with staff and care givers to return staff to work as soon as it is safe to do so, and if this isn t possible, accommodate them to an alternate job. 3.1.12 A strategy for effective Occupational Health Committees that facilitate employee participation. 3.1.13 A process to review and revise the health and safety program a minimum of every three years. 3.2 An Occupational Health and Safety Department that provides services including: 3.2.1 Assistance with completing and implementing safety profiles and plans and follow-up on the implementation. 3.2.2 Advice to Managers regarding identifying and mitigating hazards. 3.2.3 Advice to Managers regarding appropriate training to support competent supervision and safe work practices. 3.2.4 Orientation and ongoing education to all Managers and staff in safe work practices. 3.2.5 Inspection and/or audit of all facilities, departments, workplaces and grounds to identify safety hazards. 3.2.6 Support to stop unsafe work immediately. 3.2.7 Support to remove from service an unsafe piece of equipment ( danger tag it). 3.2.8 Notification of the Manager and Director of an area when an unsafe practice or piece of equipment has been identified. 3.2.9 Support to all sites Occupational Health Committees (and representatives for facilities with less than ten (10) staff). 3.2.10 A liaison with the Ministry of Labour and their Officers. This includes organizing tours and inspections, coordinating reports on contraventions and ensuring corrective action is taken. 4. PROCEDURE MANAGEMENT The management of this procedure including education, monitoring, implementation and amendment is the responsibility of Director, Worksafe and Employee Wellness. 5. NON-COMPLIANCE/BREACH Non-compliance with this procedure will result in a review of the incident. A review for non-compliance may result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment and or privileges; fines; and/or prosecution of individuals under the Act. Page 6 of 6