Introduction Ohs Program
Introduction Ohs Program
Introduction Ohs Program
Sources of Information
Workplace Health, Safety and
Compensation Commission
Prevention Services
Phone: (709) 778-1552
Toll free 1 800 563-9000;
or
Department of Government Services
Occupational Health and Safety Branch
Phone: (709) 729-2706
Or toll free 1-800-563-5471
or
Human Resources and Social
Development
Labour Program, Newfoundland and
Labrador Office
Phone: (709) 772-5022
(call collect outside St. John's)
INTRODUCTION TO
AN OCCUPATIONAL
HEALTH AND SAFETY
PROGRAM
www.safeworknl.com
May 2006
The
Workplace
Health, Safety and
Compensation
Commission is developing
resource materials to help
workplace partiesemployers,
workersincluding supervisors and
managers, and occupational health
and safety committeescarry out their
responsibilities for health and safety in
the workplace. This booklet, Introduction
to an Occupational Health and Safety
Program, is designed to provide workplace parties with an understanding of an
occupational health and safety program
and the commitment required to make it
effective. It gives a brief overview of
the legislative requirements for
provincially and federally regulated
workplaces, roles and responsibilities of the workplace parties,
and a description of an
occupational health and
safety program.
June, 2006
DISCLAIMER
The Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission(the Commission) provides information and
health and safety advisory services for most aspects of occupational health and safety programming.
The information presented is subject to a disclaimer. It is intended to provide examples of general use and may
not apply to every circumstance. While all reasonable efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy of the
information presented, the Commission does not and cannot guarantee the accuracy thereof. The Commission
does not warrant or assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of
the information presented nor for any actions taken in reliance thereon. The Commission shall not be liable for
any damage or loss arising out of the use of the information or the application of the concepts contained therein.
All those using the information do so at their own risk and shall be deemed to indemnify the Commission from
any loss or damage arising from the use of the information.
The information presented is subject to jurisdictional variation and is always subject to change. Individuals or
organizations responsible for working with the information presented are responsible for ensuring that all
applicable standards and regulations are fulfilled. The information presented cannot and should not be
considered a definitive guide to government regulations nor does it relieve individuals or organizations using the
information from their responsibilities under any or all applicable legislation.
Provincial legislation contact information
For official copies of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the Occupational Health and Safety
Regulations please contact:
Office of the Queen's Printer
Ground Floor
Confederation Building, East Block
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
Telephone: (709) 729-3649
Unofficial copies are available on-line at: http://www.gs.gov.nl.ca/ohs/legislation.stm
Federal legislation contact information
For an official copy of the Canada Labour Code please contact:
Canadian Government Publishing, Communication Canada
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0S9
Telephone: (613) 941-5995 or 1-800-635-7943
FAX: (613) 654-5779 or 1-800-565-7757
Internet: http://publications.gc.ca
Unofficial copies are available on-line at:
http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/l-2/17632.html
Introduction .............................................1
More Information .....................................2
OH&S Program ........................................3
Requirements for an OH&S Program........3
Provincially Regulated Employers..........3
Federally Regulated Employers .............4
Accident/Incident Investigations..............15
Conclusion ...............................................18
Parts of an OH&S Program .......................10
Leadership and Administration ...............10
Appendix A - Glossary.................................21
Communication .......................................11
OH&S Committees ..................................11
Education and Training ............................12
Safe Work Practices and Procedures .......13
Hazard Recognition, Evaluation and
Control ....................................................14
Workplace Inspections ............................14
Introduction
Prevention of workplace accidents and injuries is
the aim of an effective occupational health and
safety (OH&S) program. Having a safe work
environment where prevention is the key to an
organization's success is important to all workplace
parties employers, workers including
supervisors and managers, and OH&S committees.
When all workplace parties work co-operatively to
incorporate safe work practices and procedures
into their daily work activities, the savings in
human and financial costs are immeasurable.
When workplace accidents and injuries occur, the
costs are high for workers and employers. For
example, workers may sustain an injury or illness leading to pain and
suffering, a disruption in their daily lives, a loss in their regular wages, and a
negative impact on their families. Employers also experience loss; for example,
a decrease in worker morale and the loss of experienced workers; an increase in
costs arising from repair and/or replacement of equipment, materials, and
product; and administrative costs such as time to hire or re-train replacement
workers. Development, implementation and evaluation of an OH&S program
will be instrumental in preventing workplace accidents and injuries and the
associated costs for both employers and workers.
This booklet is designed to provide all workplace parties with a basic overview
of an OH&S program. It gives an outline of the legislative requirements for
provincially and federally regulated workplaces, the roles and responsibilities
of workplace parties, and a description of an OH&S program.
For commonly used OH&S terms, please refer to Appendix A Glossary.
More Information
For more information on building a health and safety program, there are
several booklets and information resources available in this series.
Fact Sheets:
+ Introduction to an OH&S Program
+ Leadership and Administration
+ OH&S Committees
+ Education & Training
+ Safe Work Practices and Procedures
+ Hazard Recognition, Evaluation and Control
+ Workplace Inspections
+ Accident and Incident Investigation
+ Disability Management
+ Ergonomics and the OH&S Program
+ Worker Health and Safety Representative/Workplace Health and Safety
Designate
Look for these fact sheets in the near future:
+ Communication
+ Emergency Preparedness
Booklets:
+ Guide to Writing an Occupational Health &Safety Policy
+ Occupational Health & Safety Committees
+ Introduction to an Occupational Health and Safety Program
+ Workplace Inspections
+ Accident/Incident Investigations
Look for these booklets in the near future:
+ Communication
+ Emergency Preparedness
Note: Part II of the Canada Labour Code does not apply to certain
undertakings by the Nuclear Safety and Control Act.
OH&S Act
OH&S Regulations
Sections
2 (f), (j), (m), and (n)
4
5
6
7
36.1
37
39
41 (1)
42.1 (1), (2), (3)
44
54
Sections
2 (f), (j)
4
5
6
21
Report unsafe
work conditions to
your supervisor as
soon as possible!
10
Excellent ways of getting the OH&S program started and of ensuring all
workplace parties feel ownership are to:
+ develop an OH&S policy;
+ involve workers at all levels in developing the OH&S policy;
+ ensure the OH&S policy outlines the need for co-operation and
commitment to OH&S including ergonomics;
+ include the responsibilities of all workplace parties;
+ communicate the policy to all workplace parties; and
+ post the policy.
It takes a strong team and tremendous effort to incorporate the OH&S
program into all daily activities in the workplace. It is only with this kind of
effort and co-operation that the OH&S program can be effective and lead to
an environment where a positive health and safety culture can grow.
Communication
Effective communication is essential to
the success of an OH&S program. To
ensure effective communication, health
and safety information must flow
between all workplace parties.
Employers, all workers and OH&S
committee members all have a right to
express their ideas or concerns regarding
OH&S. This can be accomplished
through the development and
implementation of communication
procedures for each part of the OH&S program.
OH&S Goals
l
l
l
decrease injuries
develop safe work
procedures
perform hazard
assessments on all
job tasks
OH&S Committees
An OH&S committee is an advisory group made up of representatives of the
employer and the workers in a workplace. The committee is an important
communication link between workers and management. As part of the
internal responsibility system, the OH&S committee works closely with the
employer to promote a positive health and safety culture. It is important for
11
12
OH&S
13
Workplace Inspections
Workplace inspections are regular examinations of the workplace
conducted to ensure a healthy and safe work environment. They provide
opportunities to find and correct existing and potential hazards thus
preventing injury, illness and property damage.
Employers are required to develop procedures and schedules for regular
workplace inspections.
Employers must consult with their OH&S committees about scheduling
workplace inspections and ensure their committees actively participate in
conducting the inspections.
14
The OH&S committee should also review all formal workplace inspection
reports to:
Workplace Inspections Checklist
+ ensure workplace inspections are carried
out as required;
+ identify hazard trends;
+ identify specific areas of the workplace that
Checklist Items
Location
Conditions/Notes
Ventilation System
System meets standards
System free from dust, fumes, etc
System controls smoke, dust and
fumes
Complaints of headaches, skin or eye
irritation
Exhaust systems are prevented form
returning to the workplace
Lighting
Adequate illumination during the day
Adequate illumination during the night
Glare from light source
Effect from moving equipment(e.g.
fans) or trees
Stairs
Free from objects
Safe angle
Free from clutter
Adequate lighting
Safe riser height and width
Railing available
Exits
Signage present
Width/wheelchair accessibility
Ice controls
Direction of openings
Mechanical hardware
Door kept closed
Ergonomics
Excessive force when lifting, pushing
or pulling heavy loads
Repetitive movements required
High paced production
Awkward postures used
Workers using proper lifting
techniques
Accident/Incident Investigations
Workplace accidents and incidents are preventable; but if an accident or
incident occurs, an investigation should be conducted to find the root
cause(s) and recommend controls/corrective actions to prevent it from
happening again. Incidents or near misses are warning signs that something
is wrong in the workplace. If they are not addressed, an accident will likely
result; therefore, it is important to investigate incidents as well as accidents.
Ergonomic considerations should be a part of all accidents/incidents
investigations. Employers are required to have procedures in place for
investigating hazardous occurrences.
The OH&S committee should review all accident/incident investigation
reports to:
+ ensure accidents/incident investigations are being carried out;
+ identify trends in incidents and in injury, illness and property damage
including ergonomic trends;
+ identify specific areas of the workplace that require close monitoring;
+ review the recommendations for controls/corrective actions and forward
them to the employer;
+ make other recommendations as appropriate; and
+ monitor the implementation and effectiveness of controls/corrective
actions.
15
Emergency Preparedness/Response
An emergency can happen at any time and can result in mass confusion.
Having an effective emergency preparedness/response plan can minimize
loss and enhance a quick return to normal operations. Employers are
required to include an emergency response plan in their OH&S program.
Types of emergencies may include fires, bomb threats, hostage situations,
floods, and armed robberies. The emergency response plan should ensure
workers are trained in their responsibilities, detail available organizational
resources, include ergonomic considerations such as ensuring signs and
equipment are easily accessible, and list outside organizations which can
offer aid. An effective emergency response plan minimizes loss to people,
equipment, materials and the environment.
Periodically, emergency preparedness/response drills should be coordinated and carried out with local responders (fire fighters, police
officers, and emergency medical personnel) to
increase workers awareness and familiarity with
the emergency preparedness/response plan.
There is an effective response for every situation;
but being prepared means having trained people,
adequate equipment and organized systems. It is
essential to plan ahead, predict what could go
wrong and practice appropriate responses.
All workplace parties should be aware of the
emergency preparedness/response plan and
should know the role they play in it. Managers
and supervisors should regularly schedule a
review of the plan during staff meetings or at safety/toolbox meetings, etc.
16
Disability Management
Disability management has two components:
1. It is a workplace prevention plan that aims to prevent disability from
occurring in the first place.
2. If a disability occurs, it aims to intervene to assist the disabled worker to
return to work as safely and as quickly as possible.
Since the early 1900s, the scope of services included in disability management
has expanded greatly. Initially, the focus was on return-to-work programs for
those who sustained an occupational injury or illness. The focus has now
shifted to include disability prevention and benefits for those with
occupational and non-occupational disabilities. Disability management
programs may include health promotion, employee assistance programs
(EAP), disease management, data management and case management
services. These are all aimed at improving physical, psychological and social
health of the workforce; encouraging job retention; and easing the human and
financial costs of disability for both employers and workers.
A disability management program benefits workers and employers because,
from a prevention viewpoint, it aims to find signs of disability early and
resolve them before disability occurs; and from a disability perspective, it
aims to provide a smooth transition back to the workplace after an illness or
injury.
When assisting disabled workers to return to work, ergonomic considerations
are an important part of the plan. They include such aspects as:
describing the physical demands of the job so that physicians and/or
health care providers can better determine a worker's return-to-work
capabilities;
having workers review the physical demands of the job to ensure they can
perform the job safely;
listing essential tasks of the workplace to assist workers in early and safe
return to work; and
allowing flexibility so that adjustments or accommodations to the work
environment, duties and/or hours of work may be made.
17
Conclusion
The employer and the OH&S committee should continuously monitor the
OH&S program to ensure its effectiveness. Provincial employers are
required to review and, where necessary, revise the OH&S program at least
every three years where there is a change in circumstances that may affect
the health and safety of workers, or when an officer requests a review.
All parts of an OH&S program are inter-related. Therefore, when there is a
change in one part, all other parts are affected. The following is an example
of this.
18
The OH&S program is also part of the overall organizational system and
should be incorporated into such areas as purchasing, budgeting, finance,
facilities management, maintenance, etc. This means that when changes are
made in business operations in the workplace, an analysis should be done to
determine the potential impact, including ergonomic impact, on the
components of the OH&S program.
This booklet provides an overview of the parts commonly found in most
OH&S programs. All workplace parties have a part to play in making sure
the program is successful. Employers and OH&S committees have an added
responsibility to show leadership by working co-operatively to ensure the
program is established, monitored, evaluated, revised where appropriate
and communicated to all workplace parties.
The OH&S program can be effective if all workplace parties work together to
make it happen!
19
Appendix A
Glossary.................................................23
Appendix B
References to Legislation .......................27
APPENDICES
Appendix A Glossary
Appendix A - Glossary
21
Accident
Basic/root cause
Best practice
Controls
Direct
(immediate)
cause
Due Diligence
Employer
Ergonomics
Formal
workplace
inspections
Hazard
Incident (near
miss; potential
accident)
Informal
workplace
inspections
Internal
responsibility
system
Occupation
OH&S committee
Appendix A Glossary
22
Appendix A Glossary
23
Procedures (in
relation to the
OH&S program)
Risk
Root/basic cause
Serious accident
Serious injury
Supervisor
Unsafe act
Unsafe condition
Worker
Workplace
Workplace Health,
Safety and
Compensation
Commission
Workplace parties
Appendix A Glossary
24
25
OH&S Act
2. Definitions
In this Act
(f) employer means a person who employs 1 or more workers;
(j) principal contractor means the person primarily responsible for the carrying
out of a project and includes the person who owns the thing in respect of
which the project is being carried out;
(m) worker means a person engaged in an occupation; and
(n) workplace means a place where a worker or self-employed person is
engaged in an occupation and includes a vehicle or mobile equipment used
by a worker in an occupation.
26
(g) shall co-operate with a person exercising a duty imposed by this Act or
regulations.
(ii) the health and safety of other workers engaged in the work of the
employer,
27
(iii) the health and safety of other workers or persons not engaged in the
work of the employer but present at or near the workplace;
(a.1) shall use devices and equipment provided for his or her protection in
accordance with the instructions for use and training provided with
respect to the devices and equipment;
(b) shall consult and co-operate with the occupational health and safety
committee, the worker health and safety representative or the workplace
health and safety designate at the workplace; and
(c) shall co-operate with a person exercising a duty imposed by this Act or
regulations.
37. Committees
28
(c) shall receive complaints from workers as to their concerns about the health
and safety of the workplace and their welfare;
(d) shall establish and promote health and safety educational programs for
workers;
(e) shall maintain records as to the receipt and disposition of complaints received
from workers under paragraph (c);
(f) shall co-operate with the assistant deputy minister or an officer who is
exercising his or her duties under the Act; and
(g) shall perform those other duties and follow those procedures that may be
prescribed by the regulations.
(b) the employer, if the designation of a worker connected with the management
of the workplace is not practicable.
(3) the workplace health and safety designate shall be appointed by the employer.
29
but does not include injuries to a worker of a nature that may be treated through
first aid or medical treatment and the worker is able to return to his or her work
either immediately after the treatment or at his or her next scheduled shift.
OH&S Regulations
2. Definitions
In these regulations
(f) occupation means employment, business, calling or pursuit but does not
include an endeavour that is not included in one of the classes of occupations
in the current Canadian Classification and Dictionary of Occupations.
(j) supervisor includes a superintendent, foreman or other worker authorized
or delegated to exercise direction and control over workers of an employer.
30
(i)
31
(g) a plan for the control of biological and chemical substances handled, used,
stored, produced or disposed of at the workplace and where appropriate, the
monitoring of the work environment to ensure the health and safety of workers
and other persons at or near the workplace;
(h) a system to ensure that persons contracted by the employer or for the
employer's benefit comply with the program developed under this section and
the Act and regulations;
(i) an emergency response plan;
(j) maintenance of records and statistics, including occupational health and
safety committee minutes, reports of occupational health and safety
inspections and investigations, with procedures to allow access to them
by persons entitled to receive them under the Act; and
(k) provision for monitoring the implementation and effectiveness of the program.
(1)
(2)
An employer shall ensure that necessary protective clothing and devices are
used for the health and safety of his or her workers.
(3)
(a) send to the assistant deputy minister a written notice containing the name
of the plant or construction site, where it is situated, the mail address to
which correspondence should be directed, the nature of the work, the
numbers of workers to be employed and the name of the firm under which
the business is to be carried out; and
32
(b) in the case of a plant, provide the assistant deputy minister upon request
with plans showing the plant buildings and the main disposition of
equipment and information relevant to processes and the nature of a
substance which may be used.
(4)
The employer shall ensure that safety procedures are followed at all
workplaces.
(2) Minutes of all regular meetings and special committee meetings shall be
recorded in the form prescribed by the commission and one copy shall be kept
on file with the committee, one copy shall be filed with the commission and
one copy shall be posted in the workplace.
(3) A worker health and safety representative or workplace health and safety
designate shall report to the commission in a form prescribed by the
commission.
(4) The occupational health and safety committee at a workplace shall meet within
2 weeks of its formation and shall then select co-chairpersons as required in
subsection 38(6) of the Act, and notify the commission.
(5) A quorum shall consist of one-half of the membership of the committee
provided that both employer and worker members are represented.
(6) Rep. by 100/98 s5
(7) At a workplace, the assistant deputy minister may by reason of particular
hazards and complexity of operations of large number of workers involved,
require meetings of a committee to be held at least monthly.
33
(9) Copies of all health and safety inspection reports made by an officer of the
division, which in the opinion of the division warrant circulation, shall be
circulated to the employer and
(a) the occupational health and safety committee;
(b) the worker health and safety representative; or
(c) the workplace health and safety designate.
(10)
(z)
34
(z.03)
(z.04)
where the program referred to in paragraph (z.03) does not cover certain
hazards unique to a work place, develop, implement and monitor, in
consultation with the work place committee or the health and safety
representative, a prescribed program for the prevention of those hazards
that also provides for the education of employees in health and safety
matters related to those hazards;
(z.09) develop health and safety policies and programs in consultation with
the policy committee or, if there is no policy committee, with the work
place committee or the health and safety representative;
(z.13) when necessary, develop, implement and monitor a program for the
provision of personal protective equipment, clothing, devices or
materials, in consultation, except in emergencies, with the policy
committee or, if there is no policy committee, with the work place
committee or the health and safety representative;
(z.19) consult with the work place committee or the health and safety
representative on the implementation and monitoring of programs
developed in consultation with the policy committee
Duties of Employees
126. Health and safety matters
(1) While at work, every employee shall
(a) use any safety materials, equipment, devices and clothing that are
intended for the employee's protection and furnished to the employee by
the employer or that are prescribed;
(b) follow prescribed procedures with respect to the health and safety of
employees;
(c) take all reasonable and necessary precautions to ensure the health and
safety of the employee, the other employees and any person likely to be
affected by the employee's acts or omissions;
(d) comply with all instructions from the employer concerning the health and
safety of employees;
35
(e) cooperate with any person carrying out a duty imposed under this Part;
(f) cooperate with the policy and work place committees or the health and
safety representative;
(g) report to the employer any thing or circumstance in a work place that is
likely to be hazardous to the health or safety of the employee, or that of
the other employees or other persons granted access to the work place by
the employer;
(h) report in the prescribed manner every accident or other occurrence
arising in the course of or in connection with the employee's work that
has caused injury to the employee or to any other person;
(i) comply with every oral or written direction of a health and safety officer
or an appeals officer concerning the health and safety of employees; and
(j) report to the employer any situation that the employee believes to be a
contravention of this Part by the employer, another employee or any
other person.
36
The employees or the trade union shall advise the employer in writing of the name
of the person so selected.
37
HOW TO REACH US
St. John's
146-148 Forest Road
P.O. Box 9000
St. John's, NL A1A 3B8
Prevention Services Inquiries (709) 778-1552
Prevention Services Fax (709) 778-1564
Toll Free 1 800 563-9000
Grand Falls-Windsor
26 High Street
P.O. Box 850
Grand Falls Windsor, NL A2A 2P7
Telephone: (709) 489-1600
Fax (709) 489-1616
Toll Free 1 800 563-3448
Corner Brook
Suite 201, Fortis Towers
4 Herald Avenue
P.O. Box 474
Corner Brook, NL A2H 6E6
Telephone: (709) 637-2700
Fax (709) 639-1018
Toll Free 1 800 563-2772
www.whscc.nf.ca