- Policy #:
- HS01
- Responsible Authority:
- Director, Physical Resources
- Approval Authority:
- President's Executive Committee
- Executive Sponsor:
- Vice President, Administration
- Approval Date:
- 1998/04/27
- Last Reviewed:
- 2010/12/01
- Mandatory Revision Date:
- 2011/12/01
- Downloadable Version:
- Occupational Health and Safety
PURPOSE
To implement of an effective Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Management System
SCOPE
This policy applies to all College employees, students and contractors.
DEFINITIONS
Word/Term | Definition |
Act | The Occupational Health and Safety Act of Ontario. |
Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Management System | The OHS management system refers to the totality of all safety related organizational policies, OHS standards, OHS programs, safe work practices, procedures and organizational statements which are structured in an inter-related fashion so as to achieve implementation of the policy. |
Internal Responsibility System (IRS) | Every individual in the workplace is responsible for health and safety. The IRS gives everyone within an organization direct responsibility for health and safety as an essential part of his or her job. That includes the President, senior executives, managers and workers. |
Joint Health & Safety Committee (JHSC) | A bi-partite committee of management and labour representatives which operates in accordance with the requirements of the Occupational Health & Safety Act of Ontario (OHSA). |
Supervisor | A person who has charge of a workplace or authority over workers (OHSA). |
Worker | A person who performs work or supplies services for monetary compensation (OHSA). |
Academic administrator | Program Chair, Course Chair, Academic Manager or Dean. |
PPE | Personal protective equipment |
POLICY
1. Algonquin College is committed to providing a safe and healthy work and learning environment for its staff, students and contractors. The College acknowledges its duty and responsibility to ensure that every precaution reasonable in the circumstances for the protection of workers is taken.
2. Supervisors will be held accountable for the health and safety of employees under their supervision. They will ensure that workers work in compliance with legislation and established safe work procedures.
3. The College will implement an Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Management System that:
3.1 Assigns and delegates the roles and responsibilities for the development, implementation and maintenance of the system.
3.2 Provides for the development, implementation, maintenance and evaluation of policies, procedures, standards and programs relating to safe working conditions and work practices.
3.3 Provides for a system to deliver required training and instruction of all staff.
3.4 Encourages the ongoing development of an internal responsibility system (IRS) for occupational health and safety where responsibility is shared by all workplace parties and at every level.
3.5 Demonstrates due diligence.
4. The Act and its regulations will be used as a reasonable guideline where specific College requirements do not exist. Failure by employees, students, or contractors to observe the OHS management system will lead to disciplinary action or may jeopardize contractual agreements.
PROCEDURE
| Action |
| Responsibility |
1. | Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Management System |
|
|
1.1 | Develop and maintain the OHS Management System. |
| Director, Physical Resources |
1.2 | Assign appropriate resources to support the OHS Management System. | President | |
1.3 | Ensure that the OHS management system is followed by direct reports. | President, Vice Presidents, Deans / Directors, Chairs / Managers | |
1.4 | Ensure the Occupational Health & Safety policy is reviewed annually by the Board of Governors and the College. | President/ Director, Physical Resources | |
1.5 | Report the College-wide safety performance to the Board of Governors annually. | President | |
2. | Occupational Health and Safety Standards |
|
|
2.1 | Ensure OHS standards are followed and OHS programs are implemented. | Director, Physical Resources | |
2.2 | Implement and evaluate policies, procedures, standards and programs relating to safe working conditions and work practices. | Director, Physical Resources | |
2.3 | Plan and deliver appropriate OHS training to all staff. | Director, Physical Resources/Supervisors | |
2.4 | Include safety performance measurements in performance reviews of staff. | President, Vice Presidents, Deans / Directors, Chairs / Managers | |
3. | Working Environment | ||
3.1 | Comply with the provisions of the Act, its regulations and prescribed requirements under the OHS management system as it relates to their work. | Workers | |
3.2 | Use or wear the equipment, protective devices or clothing that the employer requires to be used or worn. | Workers | |
3.3 | Report to their supervisors, the absence of or defect in any equipment or protective device of which they are aware and which may endanger themselves or others. | Workers | |
3.4 | Report to their supervisor, any contravention of the Act or the regulations or the existence of any hazard of which they know. | Workers | |
3.5 | Assist in accident investigations. | Workers | |
3.6 | When in a position to direct how others do work or perform a task, take reasonable steps to ensure the safety of those persons, including students. | Workers | |
3.7 | Co-operate with Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee members and inspectors from the Ministry of Labour. | Workers | |
3.8 | Shall NOT remove or make ineffective any protective device required by regulation or policy. | Workers | |
3.9 | Shall NOT use or operate any equipment, machine, device or thing or work in a manner that may endanger himself, herself, or any other person. | Workers | |
3.10 | Shall NOT engage in any prank, contest, feat of strength, rough or boisterous conduct. | Workers |
Note: For the purpose of this policy, students and contractors are required to follow the measures and procedures outlined for workers. Where reporting requirements exist for supervisors, students will meet this requirement by reporting to their professor or academic administrator. Contractors will meet this requirement by reporting to the responsible College management staff that oversees their contractual agreement.
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION
Appendix 1 Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee
Appendix 2 College Safety Review Committee
Appendix 3 OHS Management System
Appendix 4 Guide for Management Responsibilities Related to Occupational Health & Safety
Appendix 5 Internal Sources of Management Responsibilities for OHS
Appendix 6 Administrative Performance Measurement Standards
RELATED POLICIES
HS 02 Disaster Response Planning
HS 03 Workplace Violence Prevention
HS 05 Accident Reporting & Investigation
HS 06 Emergency Evacuation Orders
HS 08 Fatal & Critical Injuries
HS 09 First Aid
RELATED MATERIALS
Annexe 1 Excerpts from the Occupational Health & Safety Act of Ontario