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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPR 653 HS - Occupational Health And Safety Policy Implementation -1- PR.653.HS PROCEDURE PR.653.HS TITLE: OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY POLICY IMPLEMENTATION Date issued: July 2007 Last revised: Authorization: Senior Staff: 26 June 2007 1.0 OBJECTIVE To provide a procedure that outlines the roles, responsibilities, authority and accountability of all who are engaged in activities at the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board. The Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Policy Implementation Procedure complies with the Act and its fundamental principle, the Internal Responsibility System (IRS), whereby every person in the workplace has rights, duties and responsibilities as set out in the Act. 2.0 DEFINITIONS In this procedure, 2.1 Accident means an unplanned event which results in unintended injury, death or property damage. 2.2 Act means the Occupational Health and Safety Act of Ontario. 2.3 Certified member means a member of the Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee who is certified under section 16 of the Act. 2.4 Committee means the Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee (JOHSC) established at the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (the Board) under the Act. 2.5 Hazard means a dangerous object, event, behaviour or condition which can interrupt or interfere with the expected orderly process of an activity. 2.6 Incident means an undesired event that either did result, or which could have resulted, in injury, death or property damage. 2.7 Internal Responsibility System refers to the philosophical approach to occupational health and safety (OHS), which underlies the OHS Act of Ontario, whereby responsibility for OHS is shared by all parties in the workplace. The IRS is based on all workplace parties working together to prevent injuries and illness and to resolve OHS issues. -2- PR.653.HS 2.8 Policy means a written statement that expresses values that are to be used as guide to action by members of the organization when promoting specific goals of the organization. 2.9 Program as identified in the Board policy means an occupational health and safety procedure forming part of the OHS system. 2.10 Programs means a series of responsibilities, procedures, standards and major activities required to accomplish objectives and fulfill policy and principles under a system. 2.11 Safe means a condition where risks are as low as reasonably practicable, with no significant residual risk. 2.12 Supervisor means a person who has charge of a workplace or authority over a worker, and may include leadhands. 2.13 System means an organized and complex whole that has its components arranged such that they work together towards one or more goals. Its components are the Board Policy, principles and organizational statements set out in this procedure, OHS programs and special programs such as the change control program and the system audit program. 2.14 System audit means a periodic measurement of performance of system elements against previously established standards. 2.15 Worker means a person who performs or supplies services for monetary compensa tion, and includes union and non-union workers, management and administrative workers. 2.16 ACRONYMS IRS Internal Responsibility System JOHSC Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee JSA Job Safety Analysis MFA Materials Flow Analysis MOL Ministry of Labour MOE Ministry of Environment MSDS Material Safety Data Sheet OHS Occupational Health and Safety OHSA Occupational Health and Safety Act PPE Personal Protective Equipment SOP Standard Operating Procedures WSIA Workplace Safety and Insurance Act WSIB Workplace Safety and Insurance Board WHMIS Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System 3.0 RESPONSIBILITY 3.1 Board of Trustees, Board staff at all levels, Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee (JOHSC). 3.2 Supervisor Occupational Health and Safety -3- PR.653.HS a) The Supervisor OHS is the occupational health and safety resource person for the Board. The Supervisor OHS develops the Occupational Health and Safety System, provides training, and manages the OHS System and its programs. b) Some of the services provided are as follows: (i) identify and evaluate hazardous conditions and practices, evaluate the severity of the accident or loss problem; (ii) develop hazard control methods, procedures and programs; (iii) communicate hazard control information to those directly involved, including the management, planning and motivation necessary to integrate safety considerations into operations; and (iv) measure the effectiveness of the hazard control system and development of the modifications needed to achieve optimum results. 4.0 PROCEDURES Organizational structure 4.1 The organizational structure of the Board relates to "the Act" in the following way: a) The Board of Trustees is the "employer"; b) The Director of Education and the Chief Financial Officer are "officers", "supervisors" and "workers"; c) The superintendents, managers, principals, vice-principals and supervisors are "supervisors" and "workers"; d) Chief custodians and leadhands are "workers" and may be "supervisors" depending on circumstances; e) All other employees are "workers". Board OHS System Statement of Principles Board of Trustees 4.2 The Board of Trustees of the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (Board) collectively is the "employer", and as such, is responsible for the duties outlined under Sections 25 and 26 of the Act. Each Board member is a "director" of the Board and, as such, is responsible for the duties outlined under Section 32 of the Act. Director of Education 4.3 The Director of Education is an "officer" of the Board, and as such, is responsible for the duties outlined in Section 32 of the Act. The Director of Education is accountable to the Board of Trustees for the Board’s safety performance. The Director of Education represents the "employer" and is responsible for the duties outlined in Section 25 and 26 of the Act. The Director of Education is also a "supervisor" with duties outlined in Section 27 of the Act. The Director of Education is also a "worker" with duties outlined in Section 28 of the Act. 4.4 The Director of Education is an "officer" of the Board, and as such, is responsible for the duties outlined in Section 32 of the Act. The Director of Education is accountable to the Board of Trustees for the Board’s safety performance. The Director of Education represents the "employer" and is responsible for the duties outlined in Section 25 and -4- PR.653.HS 26 of the Act. The Director of Education is also a "supervisor" with duties outlined in Section 27 of the Act. The Director of Education is also a "worker" with duties outlined in Section 28 of the Act. a) bring to the Board of Trustees, for review annually, a written OHS; b) ensure that the OHS System is developed and maintained; c) review and resolve issues brought forward from the JOHSC and forward critical safety issues to the Board of Trustees for information; d) review and report the Board-wide safety performance to the Board of e) Trustees periodically, and f) establish and communicate safety goals and priorities annually. Superintendents 4.5 The Chief Financial Officer is an "officer" of the Board, and as such, is responsible for the duties outlined in Section 32 of the Act. The Chief Financial Officer is also a "supervisor" with duties outlined in Section 27 of the Act. The Chief Financial Officer is also "worker" with duties outlined in Section 28 of the Act. 4.6 The other superintendents are "supervisors", and as such, are responsible for the duties outlined in Section 27 of the Act. The other Superintendents are also "workers" with duties outlined in Section 28 of the Act. 4.7 Each superintendent is accountable to the Director of Education for ensuring that: a) the Board OHS System is followed by those they supervise; b) the OHS Procedures are implemented and maintained by their respective principals, vice-principals, managers and supervisors; and c) the performance of each principal, vice-principal, manager and supervisor (as applicable) includes measurements for safety performance. Principals, Vice-Principals, Managers and Supervisors 4.8 Principals, vice-principals, managers and supervisors are "supervisors", and as such, are responsible for the duties outlined in Section 27 of the Act. They are also "workers" with duties outlined in Section 28 of the Act. 4.9 Each principal, vice-principal, manager and supervisor is accountable to their respective supervisor for ensuring that: a) the Board OHS System is followed by those they supervise; b) the OHS Procedures are implemented and maintained by staff members; and c) the performance of each staff member includes measurements for safety performance. Coordinators, Chief Custodians and Leadhands 4.10 Coordinators, chief custodians and leadhands may, depend ing on circumstance, be "supervisors", and as such would be responsible for the duties outlined in Section 27 of -5- PR.653.HS the Act. Coordinators, Chief Custodians and Leadhands are also "workers" with duties outlined in Section 28 of the Act. 4.11 Each coordinator, chief custodian and leadhand may, depending on circumstance, be accountable to their respective supervisor for ensuring that: a) the Board OHS System is followed by those they supervise; b) they implement and maintain the OHS Procedures applicable to their area of operation; c) the performance of those they supervise include measurements for safety performance. Workers 4.12 All Board employees are "workers", and as such, are responsible for the duties outlined in Section 28 of the Act. 4.13 Teachers are workers who have the additional duty to instruct students and execute training activities in such a manner that the safety of oneself, students or other workers is not at risk. 4.14 The Board expects all workers to perform their duties in a safe manner and in accordance with the Act. The safety performance of all workers will be part of their annual performance appraisal. 4.15 The safety duties of workers include the following: a) to work in compliance with the provisions of the Act and its regulations; b) to use or wear the equipment, protective devices or clothing that the employer requires be used or worn; c) to report to their employers or supervisors the absence of or defect in any equipment or protective device of which the workers are aware and which may endanger themselves or other workers; d) to report to the employer or supervisor any contravention of the Act or the regulations or the existence of any hazard of which they know; e) to assist in accident investigations; f) to co-operate with Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee members and inspectors from the Ministry of Labour; and g) to take an active role in occupational health and safety by making recommendations and suggestions to protect themselves and others. h) to refrain from removing or making ineffective any protective device required by the regulations of the Board, without providing an adequate temporary protective device and when the need for removing or making ineffective the protective device has ceased, the protective device shall be replaced immediately; i) to refrain from using or operating any equipment, machine, device or thing or work in a manner that may endanger himself, herself, or any other person; or -6- PR.653.HS j) to refrain from engaging in any prank, contest, feat of strength, unnecessary running or rough or boisterous conduct. Students 4.16 Safety is a shared responsibility. Students are required to follow all safety instructions and to wear all personal protective equipment required by the Board. Students are required to report hazards, defects in equipment and protective devices, and acci dents to their professor(s). Failure to comply with safety procedures may lead to disciplinary action. 4.17 In meeting their shared responsibility to ensure a safe learning environment, students are expected to: a) act in compliance with the provisions of the Act and its regulations; b) use or wear the equipment, protective devices or clothing that the Board requires to be used or worn; c) report to the teacher the absence of or defect in any equipment or protective device of which the students are aware and which may e ndanger themselves or another person; d) report to the teacher any contravention of the Act or the regulations or the existence of any hazard of which they know; e) report all accidents immediately and seek medical assistance from Health Services; f) assist in accident investigations; g) co-operate with Joint Occupational Health & Safety Committee members and inspectors from the Ministry of Labour; h) take an active role in occupational health and safety by making recommendations and suggestions to protect themselves and others. i) refrain from removing or making ineffective any protective device required by the regulations or by the professor, without providing an adequate temporary protective device and when the need for removing or making ineffective the protective device has ceased, the protective device shall be replaced immediately; j) refrain from using or operating any equipment, machine, device or thing or act in a manner that may endanger himself, herself, or any other person; or k) refrain from engaging in any prank, contest, feat of strength, unnecessary running or rough or boisterous conduct. All Workers and Students 4.18 The OHS Act and its regulations will be relied on and referred to where Board requirements do not exist. Contractors -7- PR.653.HS 4.19 Contractors must comply with the requirements of the Act and its regulations while performing any work on Board property and must ensure that their employees also comply with the provisions of the Act and its regulations. 4.20 Contractors must also comply with the requirements of the Board OHS System. Visitors and Community 4.21 Board OHS Procedures appropriate to the specific use will be outlined in the community use agreements for community groups’ rentals who apply for and receive a permit to use Board facilities. Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee 4.22 The Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee has been established in accordance with the Act. Membership of Committees consists of worker and management representatives. The representation and function of the Committee is established in the "Guidelines for the Structure and Function of the Multi-Workplace Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee”. 4.23 The members of the Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee will be responsible to: a) identify hazards, by conducting workplace inspections; b) investigate critical injuries; c) obtain safety information from the employer; d) be present at the beginning of any test regarding occupational hygiene; e) review test reports of occupational hygiene; f) make recommendations for the improvement of health and safety of workers; and g) recommend the establishment, maintenance and monitoring of programs, measures and procedures fostering the occupational health and safety of the Board community. 5.0 REFERENCE DOCUMENTS Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act R.S.O. 1990 (as amended) Ottawa-Carleton District School Board Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee “Guidelines for the Structure and Function of the Multi-Workplace Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee” as approved by the Ministry of Labour Board Policy P.058.HS: Occupational Health and Safety