EB-P1 - Workplace Safety and Health

Preamble

The Workplace Safety and Health Act requires that the School Division “establish a written workplace safety and health program for each workplace where 20 or more workers … are regularly employed.”  [WSH Act 7.4(1)]  It further requires that “the employer shall design the workplace safety and health program in consultation with the committee for the workplace…” [WSH Act 7.4(6)]  It is recognized that programs will vary somewhat from one workplace to another.  There are, nonetheless, twelve elements that must be present in all locally developed programs.  The intention of this administrative procedure is to assist each committee to develop its own program and to ensure that it incorporates those elements, as specified under Section 7.4(5) of the Act.  They are as follows:

1.  Summary of the Division’s Workplace Safety and Health policy.

The Prairie Spirit School Division is concerned for the safety of students, staff, and visitors.  It is intent on promoting a sound culture of health and safety.  Senior Management will oversee the establishment of committees and the implementation of programs with plans designed to identify and control hazards and respond to emergencies.  A safe environment is a shared responsibility of supervisors, employees, students, and visitors.  Substandard safety and health performance will not be tolerated.

2.  Measures to Identify and Control Hazards.

The Committee will list those policies and procedures which are already in place, such as Policy EIE – Buildings and Grounds Inspections, or Policy EIF – Fire Drills.  Measures or systems to identify hazards, such as a Job Hazard Analysis (safe work procedures) for the more hazardous jobs will be developed.  Other topics to be considered include: mechanisms to address the concerns of workers, record-keeping, reports, assignment of responsibilities, etc.

3.  People, resources, and procedures to deal with emergencies.

The school’s Emergency Preparedness Plan will form the basis of the Committee’s focus in identifying all potential emergencies.  The committee will ensure that it is complete, up-to-date, and understood by all concerned.

4.  Responsibilities.

Statements of responsibilities regarding workplace safety and health are to be prepared with regard to the employer, supervisors, workers, and “other persons” (students, visitors, suppliers, contractors, self-employed persons).

5.  Inspections.

Schedules and procedures are to be developed.  Plans to provide training will be made.

6.  Plans to control chemical and biological hazards.

This will involve the preparation of an inventory of chemicals and biological hazards.  The WHMIS 2015 (Workplace Hazardous Materials Information Systems) regulation, which includes the Globally Harmonized System (GHA) will need to be studied and administered by the committee.

7.  Dealing with contractors and self-employed persons.

In order to deal with the safety and health risks of contracted employers and employees, the program must have a system for evaluating and monitoring outsiders who do jobs at the workplace.  This particular aspect of the local program will be developed in close cooperation with Senior Administration.

8.  Training.

The committee will develop a long term and an annual training plan.  It will determine how the training will be delivered, to whom, and what it will involve.

9.  Investigations of incidents and dangerous occurrences.

Investigation procedures for incidents and dangerous occurrences should state, among other things: the objectives of investigations; who investigates which types of incidents; the type of training the investigators will receive; who receives written investigation reports; who follows up on corrective actions; who maintains documents and records, who reports to the Division of Workplace Safety and Health.

10.  Develop a strategy to involve workers.

All employees and other persons need to be involved in efforts to prevent injuries and illnesses.  They need to be aware of the Safety and Health program, know their rights and responsibilities, and understand how to handle concerns.

11.  Evaluation and revision of the program.

Each committee will develop a procedure to address how its program will be reviewed and revised with a minimum of 3 year intervals.

References:

• 1. The Workplace Safety and Health Act

  2. An Overview of Workplace Safety and Health Legislation in Manitoba

  3. Code of Practice for Workplace Safety and Health Committees

  4. Workplace Safety and Health Committee Minutes

  5. Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System Regulation (WHMIS 2015)

  6. Administrative Penalty Regulation 62/2003

  7. SAFE Work – Student Program

  8. Hazardous Products Act (Department of Justice – Canada)

  9. Elements of a Workplace Safety and Health Program

  10. A Guide to Setting up a Workplace Safety and Health Program

Note: References are frequently released and/or updated. Please view www.safemanitoba.com for most up-to-date documents.