Implementing an Occupational Health and Safety Program Updated

Get guidance on how to develop, implement, and maintain an effective occupational health and safety program.

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Introduction

What is an occupational health and safety (OHS) program?
Why have an occupational health and safety program
Objectives
Target Audience
Scope
Getting Started: The Sections

Section 1. Health and Safety Program Overview

Section 2. Health and Safety Policy

Section 3. Legislation

Legislation in Canada
Worker Access
General Duty Clause
Due Diligence
Enforcement

Section 4. Responsibilities

Government
Employers
Supervisors
Workers

Section 5. Health and Safety Committees and Representatives

Section 6. Training and Communication

General Health and Safety Training
Task Specific Health and Safety Training
Orientation
Training for Managers and Supervisors

Section 7. Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment, and Hazard Control

Section 8. Inspections

Types of inspections
Conducting the Inspection

Section 9. Incident Investigations

Section 10. Return to Work and Stay at Work

Section 11. Safe Work Practices, Procedures, and Rules

Section 12. Preventive Maintenance

Section 13. Personal Protective Equipment

Section 14. Emergency Preparedness and First Aid

Emergencies
First Aid

Section 15. Fit for Work

Fatigue
Substance Use

Section 16. Harassment and Violence Prevention

Section 17. Hazardous Materials

Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS)
Transportation of Dangerous Goods
Hazardous Waste

Section 18. Hazardous Energy

Section 19. Records and Statistics

Leading and Lagging Indicators
Types of Records
Statistics

Section 20. Audits, Program Review, and Continuous Improvement

Audits
Program Review
Continuous Improvement

APPENDIX A: Glossary of Terms

Key Terms

APPENDIX B: Core Occupational Health and Safety Legislation across Canada

Canada
Alberta
British Columbia
Manitoba
New Brunswick
Newfoundland and Labrador
Northwest Territories
Nova Scotia
Nunavut
Ontario
Prince Edward Island
Quebec
Saskatchewan
Yukon

APPENDIX C: Internal Audit Checklist

APPENDIX D: Canadian Government Departments

Resource Centre

APPENDIX E: Bibliography

Samples

Sample 1: Health and Safety Policy
Sample 2: Health and Safety Policy
Sample 3: Checklist for health and safety policy
Sample 4: Health and Safety Policy
Sample 5: Health and Safety Committee Meeting Agenda
Sample 6: Minutes from Health and Safety Committee
Sample 7: Training and Communication Policy
Sample 8: Safety Orientation
Sample 9: Safety Orientation Questionnaire
Sample 10: Pre-start Safety Meeting Minutes and Agenda
Sample 11: Training Requirement Matrix
Sample 12: Risk Assessment Template
Sample 13: Workplace Safety Inspection Policy
Sample 14: Informal Workplace Safety Inspection
Sample 15: Formal Workplace Safety Inspection
Sample 16: Workplace Investigation Policy
Sample 17: Workplace Incident Investigation Report
Sample 18: Follow up Form for Investigation Recommendations
Sample 19: Company Rules
Sample 20: Safe Work Practice - Portable Ladders/Step Ladders
Sample 21: Safe Work Practice - Fire and Use of Fire Extinguishers
Sample 22: Safe Job Procedure - Portable Circular Saw
Sample 23: Safe Job Procedure - Fire Fighting
Sample 24: Worker Acknowledgement of Review of Company Rules
Sample 25: Disciplinary Action Report
Sample 26: Preventative Maintenance Policy
Sample 27: Light Road Vehicle Checklist (day-by-day)
Sample 28: Daily Vehicle Inspection Checklist
Sample 29: Heavy Equipment Preventative Maintenance Schedule
Sample 30: Personal Protective Equipment Policy
Sample 31: Emergency Response Policy
Sample 32: Emergency Evacuation Procedures
Sample 33: Emergency Phone Numbers Checklist
Sample 34: Emergency Response Plan
Sample 35: First Aid Assessment
Sample 36: Violence Policy Creation Checklist
Sample 37: Violence Prevention Policy
Sample 38: Violence/Harassment: Risk Assessment Checklist
Sample 39: Sample Lockout/Tagout Procedure
Sample 40: Records and Statistics Policy
Sample 41: Records to be Maintained
Sample 42: Annual Summary of Numbers/Types of Injuries
Sample 43: Annual Summary of Safety Activities
Sample 44: Program Review Document Control

Figures

Figure 1 Model of an occupational health and safety management system
Figure 2 Flow chart for developing an occupational health and safety program
Figure 3 Example of how hazards can be controlled at the source, along the path, or at the worker
Figure 4 Hierarchy of controls
Figure 5 Emergency Response Sketch

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Description

Health and safety is fundamental to an organization's success in all areas. An occupational health and safety program is a systematic approach to safe work practices, procedures, and activities that are designed to ensure and maintain a safe and healthy workplace. Effective programs can reduce incidents and illnesses in the workplace and can improve the well-being of workers.

All workplaces, regardless of size, should have a health and safety program in place. This 162-page manual will help you get started by providing guidance on how to develop, implement, and maintain an effective health and safety program..

Objectives

This manual provides information on elements to consider when:

Implementing a new health and safety program
Trying to improve an existing program
Working towards a full management system or certification

It will help you to:

Create a comprehensive health and safety program, with an emphasis on effectiveness, compliance, diligence, and documentation
Assign responsibilities and accountabilities for occupational health and safety
Eliminate hazards and reduce risks to workers, equipment, material, and environment through risk assessments
Decrease workplace illnesses, injuries, and fatalities
Reduce the impact of incidents in the workplace
Monitor and improve your program
Foster a workplace culture of prevention and awareness of health and safety issues

Scope

This manual is organized by sections that cover common health and safety program elements. You can customize these sections and the included sample policies, procedures, forms and checklists, to create a program that is specific to your workplace.

The size of your workplace and number of workers, the hazards present, and the complexity of the jobs will determine the scope of your program.

NOTE: The information in this publication is based on good practice standards and principles. The purpose of this manual is to provide guidance, rather than prescribe specific requirements. It is not intended as a legal interpretation of any federal, provincial or territorial legislation, nor does it replace any legal requirements in your jurisdiction.

Target Audience

This manual is recommended for anyone who is committed to providing a healthy and safe workplace, including owners, employers, managers, supervisors, and workers.

Each publication produced by CCOHS undergoes several stages of review. As part of this review, representatives from government, employers, and labour are requested to comment on draft copies of CCOHS documents for technical accuracy and readability.

Although every effort is made to ensure accuracy and completeness of the information, it is understood that CCOHS makes no warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of such information and assumes no liability for any damages or loss suffered as a result of any inaccuracy or incompleteness therein.

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The CCOHS Difference

CCOHS publications are unique in that they are developed by subject specialists in the field, and reviewed by representatives from labour, employers and government to ensure the content and approach are unbiased and credible.