OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH & SAFETY

Background

The District places a very high priority on ensuring the health and safety for all who are associated with the District.

The Superintendent and the administrative staff of the District recognize that the health and safety of all employees is of primary importance and contributes to overall safety of our schools and buildings.  Therefore, the District is committed to providing a healthy and safe working and learning environment throughout the District and promoting the development of safe working practices and positive attitudes towards accident prevention.

Procedures

1. The District will achieve its stated health and safety objectives by:
   1. Assigning managerial responsibility for the development and maintenance of a written Occupational Health and Safety Program;
   2. Providing adequate safety training and instruction for employees to ensure the safe performance of their duties;
   3. Ensuring the establishment and maintenance of worksite Occupational Health and Safety Committees or safety representatives in accordance with WorkSafe BC Regulation;
   4. Ensuring the prompt investigation of workplace incidents where workers are injured, property is damaged, or there was potential for loss to occur, with the aim of preventing re-occurrence;
   5. Ensuring that regular safety inspections are conducted at each worksite;
   6. Ensure adequate first aid equipment, supplies, and trained attendants are available on each site;
      1. Ensure student injury management is supported by site designated first aid attendants
   7. As per WorkSafe regulations, support the position that all employees are required to follow the policies, administrative procedures, safety procedures, and guidelines created to protect their safety,
2. Every employee of the District has a responsibility to:
   1. Work in such a manner so as to prevent injury to themselves or any other person;
   2. Report observed unsafe acts or conditions directly to their immediate supervisor without undue delay;
   3. Comply with WorkSafe Health and Safety Act, Regulations, and District specific safety procedures;
   4. Report all workplace related illnesses, injuries, violent incidents, challenging student behaviour or near miss incidents in accordance with WorkSafe BC Regulation and the District Safety Program;
   5. Promote safe working practices and positive attitudes towards accident prevention;
   6. Co-operate with Occupational Health and Safety Committees, WorkSafeBC officers, and others with health and safety duties
   7. Use and/or wear protective clothing and equipment in accordance with WorkSafe Regulation and the District Safety Program;
   8. Not remove, impair or render ineffective any safeguard provided for the protection of students or workers;
   9. Not engage in horseplay, violence, or bullying in the workplace
   10. Not enter or remain at any workplace while their ability to work is affected by alcohol, a drug or other substance so as to endanger themselves or any other person.
3. Every Supervisor/Principal of the District has a responsibility to:
   1. Ensure the health and safety of the employees under their direct supervision;
   2. Instruct and/or supervise new employees in the safe performance of their duties;
   3. Ensure employees understand the hazards associated with their job duties;
   4. Ensure that any observed or reported unsafe condition or act is corrected without undue delay;
   5. Ensure only authorized, adequately trained employees operate machinery and equipment;
   6. Ensure work-related injuries are reported to the Health and Safety Manager within 24 hours of occurrence;
      1. Complete District Incident Investigation Report (Form 160-1);
   7. Ensure that each employee is properly trained to perform their job duties;
   8. Work in cooperation with the local Occupational Health and Safety Committee or worker representative to investigate workplace incidents;
   9. Enforce workplace safety rules in accordance with the WorkSafe BC Act, Regulation and the District Safety Program and initiate progressive discipline where required;
   10. Provide required District Safety Program submissions to Manager Health and Safety upon request;
       1. Annually complete minimum 6 fire drills, 2 earthquake drills, 2 lockdown/hold and secure drills per location and submit to Manager Health and Safety;
       2. Establish site-based Occupational Health and Safety Committee and submit associated documentation to Manager Health and Safety;
       3. Ensure a First Aid attendant meeting location requirements is available at all times on each work location;
   11. Encourage employees to seek assistance through the Employee Assistance Program to deal with personal or work related problems that may impair their well-being and productivity.
4. The local Occupational Health and Safety Committees have a responsibility to:
   1. Annually report the names of the school’s Occupational Health and Safety Committee members or representative to the Occupational Health and Safety Manager and prominently post the names of the members or representative on staff bulletin boards at the workplace;
   2. Hold regular meetings, at least once a month, record proceedings and forward the minutes promptly to the Occupational Health and Safety Manager;
   3. Recommend actions that will improve the effectiveness of the Occupational Health and Safety Program;
   4. Promote compliance with WorkSafe BC Occupational Health and Safety Regulation and District Safety Program rules and directives;
   5. Work with supervisors and injured workers to investigate all employee loss time or medical aid accidents and submit the results using the Accident Investigation Form (Form 160-1) provided by the Occupational Health and Safety Manager;
   6. Conduct monthly inspections of the workplace using the inspection checklists provided by the Occupational Health and Safety Manager;
   7. Participate in annual Occupational Health and Safety training sessions;
   8. Work with the Principal to annually prepare and submit critical emergency planning details as requested by the Occupational Health and Safety Manager;
   9. Participate in an annual review of local Occupational Health and Safety committee effectiveness and submit findings to Occupational Health and Safety Manager.