Health and Safety Orientation and Training Procedures

PURPOSE

  • To provide for the health and safety of employees, volunteers and contractors by ensuring that:
    1. Site and task specific health and safety orientation is provided prior to individuals
    2. commencing new work or projects.
    3. Health and Safety training is provided and updated on an ongoing basis.
    4. Orientation and training records are maintained and audited on an ongoing basis.
  • To identify for supervisors, safety orientation requirements established in various programs and policies;
  • To ensure compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) sections 25, and 27 (See Appendix A).

 

SCOPE
All employees, volunteers and contractors.

DEFINITIONS
Supervisor: Person who has control over assigned work and authority over the person(s) conducting the work

Worker: Person who has entered into or is employed under a contract of service or apprenticeship, written or oral, express or implied, manual labour or otherwise

Safety Orientation: A process of education to make people aware of task-related risks before starting such activities and the procedures necessary to prevent injury, adverse health exposure and/or property damage

ACRONYMS
JHSC: Joint Health and Safety Committee
OHSA: Occupational Health and Safety Act
WHMIS: Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System

RESPONSIBILITIES
Role of Manager/Head Office

  • provide the resources and direction necessary to support the safety orientation and training program;
  • schedule regular general orientation sessions for new staff;
  • include an overview of the OHSA and Regulations, health and safety, emergency response and the role of JHSC’s in all such sessions; and
  • maintain records of all people attending such presentations.

Role of Supervisors

  • ensure that safety orientation and training for risks associated with assigned tasks is presented to all people starting new work or projects;
  • provide refresher safety training as required;
  • maintain safety orientation and training records for all people within their area of responsibility and file a copy of such records with the head office.

Role of Worker

  • participate in safety orientation and training course as required by nature of the work involved; and
  • undertake proficiency and certification tests as required by the nature of the work.

Role of Joint Health and Safety Committees

  • provide input for the development and updating of orientation and training initiatives;
  • audit and make comment on the safety orientation and training initiatives within their area of responsibility.

PROCEDURAL GUIDELINES

  • It is the supervisor’s responsibility to develop and arrange for task-specific safety orientation to new staff. (See Appendix A: OHSA Sections 25, 27)
  • Orientation sessions shall be documented (See Appendix B: New Employee Safety Orientation Checklist).
  • Safety orientation and training records shall be recorded by the supervisor and maintained by the employee’s department. (See Appendix C: Employee Safety Training Record).
  • Safety training needs shall be identified and arranged for by the supervisor. (See Appendix D for listing of training programs available)
  • Safety orientation and training records shall be communicated to the JHSC on request.
  • Feedback and recommendations from all employees is essential for continuous improvement of the safety orientation and training program.

RECORDS
All records of safety orientation and training shall be documented by supervisors, with copies sent to Head Office and originals retained on site (where applicable)
Records will be updated and retained for the duration that the individual is acting in the same capacity.

Appendix A
Requirements of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) R.S.O. 1990 Sections 25 (2) a, 27(2), 42 (3)
Duties of Employers, Section 25 (2)

a) provide information, instruction and supervision to a worker to protect the health or safety of the worker;
d) acquaint a worker or a person in authority over a worker with any hazard in the work and in handling, storage, use disposal and transport of any article, device, equipment or a biological, chemical or physical agent;
h) take every precaution reasonable in the circumstance for the purpose of protecting the worker.
Duties of Supervisors, Section 27 (2)

a) advise a worker of the existence of any potential or actual danger to the health or safety of the worker of which the supervisor is aware;
b) where so prescribed, provide a worker with written instructions as to the measures and procedures to be taken for protection of the worker; and
c) take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances for the protection of a worker.
Toxic Substances
Section 42 (1) Instruction and Training - In addition to providing information as required and instruction to a worker as required by clause 25 (2a), an employer shall ensure that a worker exposed or likely to be exposed to a hazardous material or to a hazardous physical agent receives, and that the worker participates in, such training as may be prescribed.

Appendix B
See: Health and Safety Orientation Checklist

Appendix C
See: Employee Safety Training Record

Appendix D

  • First Aid & CPR Training
  • Health and Safety Responsibilities
  • WHMIS
  • Workplace Inspections
  • Work Refusal Procedure