Procedures for Dealing with Safety or Health Concerns

Definition  A health or safety concern exists when a condition or hazard in a workplace or on divisional property may potentially endanger employees, students or visitors to that site.  A health or safety concern also exists when the equipment, tools or procedures utilized at a worksite may potentially endanger employees, students or visitors to that site.

Procedures  When a concern arises in a workplace, the employee with the concern should report it without delay to the principal or supervisor of that workplace.  If the concern is not satisfactorily resolved in consultation with the supervisor, the employee may report to the workplace WSH Employee Representative, elected by the staff.

Procedures  Any concern which cannot be resolved at the workplace should be reported in writing to the HSD WSH Committee, in advance of the next quarterly meeting of that committee. A workplace concern, so reported, will be placed on the agenda of the HSD WSH Committee.  Concerns of a critical or urgent nature will be in an accelerated manner, as appropriate and feasible.

Dangerous Work  Definition of Dangerous Work: Dangerous work generally refers to work involving potential health and safety risks that would go beyond what would be normally acceptable for the job in question. Dangerous work generally refers to work involving potential health and safety risks that would go beyond what would be normally acceptable for the job in question.

Procedures  When an employee believes that he/she has been assigned dangerous work, the employee must report this immediately to the school principal or workplace supervisor, indicating their reasons for refusal to perform the work. Both the employee and the principal or supervisor must attempt to resolve the concern to the employee’s satisfaction in order for the work to proceed.  Refusing Dangerous Work Refusing Dangerous Work Refusing Dangerous Work

Procedures  If no resolution is reached between the workplace employee representative and the principal or supervisor, the workplace WSH Employee Representative will bring the concern to the attention of the employee co-chair of the HSD WSH Committee. He/she will work together with an employer representative of the HSD Committee to resolve the concern, including inspection of the facilities or equipment and investigation of the concern.

Procedures  If there is no resolution reached between the employee and the principal or supervisor, the employee must report immediately to the workplace WSH Employee Representative indicating his/her reasons for refusal to perform the work. The workplace employee representative will work together with the principal or supervisor to attempt to resolve the concern to the employee’s satisfaction.

Procedures  If no resolution is reached between the employee co-chair of the HSD WSH Committee and the employer representative of that committee, the employee co-chair will notify a Safety and Health Officer of the WSH Division of the work refusal and the reasons for it. The officer will investigate the concern and render a decision.

Procedures  During the refusal to work, the employee will remain at the workplace unless given permission by the supervisor to leave. He/she and may be reassigned by the supervisor to other duties without loss in pay or benefits. Any replacement worker assigned to the original task must be informed of the first worker’s refusal and the reasons for it.

Procedures for Reporting of Accidents / Incidents

Accidents and incidents are investigated: 1. To ensure the health and safety of teachers, support staff, students and visitors in our facilities. 2. To identify the cause and occurrence of the accident. 3. To provide data for making recommendations for changes to equipment and procedure.

Accidents and incidents are investigated: 4. To prevent further accidents or incidents and improve the HSD Safety Program. 5. To meet legislative requirements.

Incidents include the following:  Personal injury  Occupational illness  Fire/explosion  Property and equipment damage  Environmental damage  Near miss incidents (those incidents that could have resulted in any of the above losses)

Minor Accident/Incident Investigation and Reporting Procedures:  The supervisor responsible for the facility or the injured worker shall complete the accident/incident report in cooperation with the workplace WSH employee representative.

Minor Accident/Incident Investigation and Reporting Procedures:  A copy of the report will be kept on file at the facility and a copy will be submitted to the HSD Safety Program Coordinator. If minor adjustments are required to prevent future incidents, these will be taken care of at the workplace.

Reporting Serious Incidents 1. The first person on the scene immediately contacts the workplace supervisor or designate. 2. Crisis Team members provide first aid and contact required emergency services.

Reporting Serious Incidents 3. The workplace supervisor contacts appropriate divisional supervisor and Safety Program Coordinator. 4. WSH is to be contacted directly by the principal (or designate) shortly after a serious accident / injury occurs at a workplace, using “the fastest means of communication available.”

Reporting Serious Incidents 5. The HSD Safety Program Coordinator and appropriate divisional supervisor determine the scope of the investigation, involving divisional co-chairs, divisional committee members, workplace representatives, department safety officers and “experts” as required.

Reporting Serious Incidents 6. The HSD Safety Program Coordinator completes an injury/incident report in consultation with those involved in the investigation. This report is submitted to the HSD WSH Committee for review and recommendations. A report may also be made to the Department of Labour, WSH Division or included in the minutes of the HSD WSH Committee Meeting and forwarded to the WSH Division.

Reporting Serious Incidents 7. Remedial action will be taken as soon as possible to repair or replace faulty equipment or modify procedure to ensure the accident / incident won’t happen again. 8. The HSD WSH Committee will consider education and training in appropriate areas to address concerns coming out of the report.

WSH Regulation: M.R. 217/2006 Section 2.6: Reporting Serious Incident a) A worker is killed; b) A worker suffers: An injury resulting from electrical contact, An injury resulting from electrical contact, Unconsciousness as a result of a concussion, Unconsciousness as a result of a concussion, Fracture Fracture Amputation Amputation Third degree burns Third degree burns Permanent or temporary loss of sight Permanent or temporary loss of sight Cut or laceration that requires medical treatment at a hospital Cut or laceration that requires medical treatment at a hospital Asphyxiation or poisoning, or Asphyxiation or poisoning, or

Section 2.6 Continued i. The collapse or structural failure of a building, structure, crane, hoist, lift, temporary support system or excavation, ii. An explosion, fire or flood, an uncontrolled spill or escape of hazardous substance, or iii. The failure of an atmosphere-supplying respirator.

Reporting Guidelines for Educational Institutions When to Report

Guidelines  When electrical contact results in the person being transported to the hospital.  When burns result in a person being transported to hospital.  When fire/flood results in a worker issue.  When failure of an atmosphere-supplying respirator results in a worker(s) injury.

We are not required to report..  Student violence toward other student(s).  Student violence toward an instructor or other school staff.  Injuries from playground equipment.  Injuries in gymnasiums or slip and fall injuries outside the school and other recreational sites.

Reporting to WSH

Section 2.7(1) Notification  Notification takes place directly from the principal and immediately after the situation has been stabilized.  Information to include: Name and address of injured person; Name and address of injured person; Name and address of employer; Name and address of employer; Name and address of each person who witnessed the incident; Name and address of each person who witnessed the incident; The apparent cause of the incident and the circumstances that gave rise to it. The apparent cause of the incident and the circumstances that gave rise to it.