chapter 1: organizational commitment - regina · 2018-03-14 · organizational commitment _____...

Corporate Safety Manual

Chapter 1

Organizational Commitment

Last Updated: March 2018


___________________________________________________________________________ Workplace Health and Safety Branch 1 - 1

Chapter 1: Organizational Commitment

Index Page

Corporate Safety Policy Directive ............................................................ 1-2 Introduction .............................................................................................. 1-3 Effectiveness of the City of Regina Safety Manual .................................. 1-3 Application ............................................................................................... 1-4 Occupational Health and Safety Requirements ....................................... 1-4 Responsibility of Management................................................................. 1-4 Responsibility of Employees .................................................................... 1-5 Knowledge of Safety Rules...................................................................... 1-5 Conditions not covered ............................................................................ 1-5 Not Fit for Duty ........................................................................................ 1-5 Care in Performance of Duties ................................................................ 1-6 Definitions ................................................................................................ 1-7

City of Regina Safety Manual

___________________________________________________________________________ 1 - 2 Workplace Health and Safety Branch



Introduction The information contained within this manual is based on best practices in accident prevention. This manual is to be referenced in combination with the Saskatchewan Employment Act and the Provincial Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 1996. These Provincial Acts and Regulations prescribe what safety standards have to be present within City of Regina workplaces. To view these standards the above titles are hyperlinks to the document’s web site. It is recommended that you place the documents on the computer Desk Top for future reference. The City of Regina Safety Manual will prescribe the corporate standard, policy or process to be followed to attain or exceed the requirements of the current Provincial OH&S legislation. The standards contained within the City of Regina Safety Manual can exceed the requirements of any provincial legislation in the best interest of our employees. Effectiveness of the City of Regina Safety Manual 1. This manual shall be effective as of the date of issuance. 2. Managers must ensure that their Employees are aware of, and comply with, the

relevant sections within this manual that are applicable to their workplaces. 3. Existing provincial and federal acts, regulations and codes of practice that govern

our workplaces shall be considered a part of this manual. 4. Revisions, additions or amendments as required shall be made to this manual to

ensure compliance with current governance. All Divisions will be advised of any revisions through e-mail or corporate notification on InSite they are made. It will be the responsibility of management to ensure that all employees are familiar with the contents of this manual.

“YOUR SAFETY DEPENDS UPON YOUR ACTIONS”



Application The contents of the City of Regina Safety Manual are applicable to all employees at all levels of the Corporation, from the City Manager to the most recent hired employee. The safety practices that are to be adopted into specific workplaces will be determined through the application of the current Provincial Employment and Occupational Health & Safety Legislation, the City of Regina, Safety Accountability Matrix and the contents of this manual. Occupational Health and Safety Requirements The City of Regina is responsible for employee compliance with all applicable Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, both federal and provincial. The City of Regina and its employees may be subject to severe penalties for violation of these rules. As stated in the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, Sections 12, 13, 17 and 18, each employee shall comply with the codes of practice, regulations, or orders issued pursuant to that Act, which are applicable to their own actions or conduct. Failure to comply with current Provincial OH&S Legislation or City of Regina safety requirements may result in fines or corrective discipline issued to the Department, Branch or its employee(s). Under the Provincial OH&S Branch Summary Offence Ticket Program fines for a safety violation would be issued if orders issued by the Province for safety compliance have been not completed to the required standard. Fines can be ussued to either the employer or the employee.

Fines for the employer range from $600 - $1000

The fine for an employee is capped at $250

Where a person has failed to discharge their duty prescribed under the Saskatchewan Employment Act, Section 79, the fines range from $4000 - $200,000. If the safety violation results in the death of a worker the fine can be as high as;

$1.5 million for a corporation

$500,000 for an individual

In addition to the fine, the convicting judge may order that the convicted individual to be imprisoned for a term not exceeding two years. Responsibility of Management Management will share with their employees the responsibility for safety. All levels of management are responsible for their own safety, the safety of their employees and the safety of the general public in all City of Regina places of work.



Management shall become familiar with the Saskatchewan Employment Act and the Provincial Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 1996 and the City of Regina, Safety Manual in order to understand the safety requirements of the workplaces they manage. Management will monitor the workplace to ensure that their employees are compliant with the applicable safety standards. Responsibility of Employees Employees will share with the employer the responsibility for safety in the workplace. Each employee is responsible for their own safety, the safety of their fellow workers and the general public in all City of Regina places of work. Employees shall become familiar with safe work procedures, practices, and the use of all protective equipment or devices required for the work being performed. Employees shall immediately report all unsafe equipment, tools, or hazardous conditions on the worksite that comes to their attention to their respective supervisor. In the absence of a site supervisor, the manager should be made aware of the workplace deficiency. It may become necessary to discipline employees who do not abide by the City of Regina, Safety Manual or any other applicable safety legislation or requirement. Knowledge of Safety Rules Every employee shall become thoroughly familiar with the contents of this manual as they apply to their work activities. The Human Resources Department, Workplace Health and Safety Branch will provide safety training courses based on the application of the Saskatchewan Employment Act and the Provincial Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 1996 as well as the roles and responsibilities of management, supervisors and employees. Conditions Not Covered Although each employee is primarily responsible for their safety, instances where conditions are not covered by this manual, or the job is not completely understood, the employee shall not start to work and will obtain specific instructions from their supervisor before proceeding with the work. Not Fit For Duty Any supervisor having reasonable grounds to suspect that an employee is either mentally or physically unfit to safely conduct their work shall prohibit such an employee from working, until satisfactory medical or other evidence indicating their fitness for work is provided. Removal of an employee from the workplace shall be reported immediately to the Manager of the Branch or their designate. Refer to the Reasonable Suspicion Guidelines.



In the event that an employee feels temporarily incapable of safely performing their work as assigned, that employee shall bring such condition to the attention of their direct supervisor. Care in Performance of Duties Each employee shall use reasonable care in the performance of their duties and shall at all times act in a manner as to assure safety for themselves, their fellow co-workers and the public.

“EACH EMPLOYEE HAS THE RESPONSIBILITY TO WORK SAFELY”



Definitions The following are definitions that may be useful in understanding the contents of this manual. Accident: An undesired, unplanned and unexpected event that usually results in physical harm (injury or disease), damage to property or both. Act: The Saskatchewan Employment Act. Approved: A method, equipment, procedure, practice, tool, etc, which is sanctioned, consented to, confirmed, or accepted as good or satisfactory for a particular use, or purpose by a person or an organization to render such approval or judgment.

approved by an agency acceptable to the Director of the Saskatchewan Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety, for use under the conditions prescribed by the agency

approved conditionally or otherwise by the Director of the Saskatchewan Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety.

Authorized person: One who has the authority to perform specific duties, or who is carrying out orders or duties as assigned by their supervisor, manager or executive member. Barricade: A physical obstruction, such as tapes, screens, cones, wood, steel or concrete intended to warn and limit access to a hazardous area. Certified or Licensed: One who possesses a license or certificate issued by a recognized authority, attesting that they have been trained and/or tested and is competent and qualified in a specific field of endeavour. City: The City of Regina. Clearance: A statement with documentation from an authorized source declaring that specific electrical equipment and/or facilities have been de-energized and isolated from hazardous sources of energy. Clearance from Hazard: Adequate separation or protection by the use of devices to prevent accidental contact by persons or objects on approach to a point of danger. Competent: Means possessing knowledge, experience and training to perform a specific duty.



Competent Person: With respect to a particular task or duty, includes a worker who is being trained to perform that task or carry out that duty and who is under close and competent supervision during that training. Confined Space: Means an enclosed or partially enclosed space that:

is not designed or intended for human occupancy except for the purpose of performing work.

has restricted means of access or egress. may become hazardous to an employee entering it due to:

its design, construction, location or atmosphere. the material or substance in it. any other conditions relating to it.

Construction Site: Means the erection, alteration, renovation, repair, dismantling, demolition, structural maintenance, and painting of a structure, and includes:

land clearing, earth moving, grading, excavating, trench digging, boring, drilling, blasting and concreting.

the installation of any plant. Contaminant: Any material which, by nature of its composition or reaction with other materials, is potentially capable of causing injury or illness to a person or persons. Danger: A term denoting liability or potential to cause injury, death, illness, damage, loss, or pain. Defect: Refers to any characteristic or condition which tends to weaken or reduce the strength of a material or object of which it is a part. A condition that has changed a tool, piece of equipment or vehicle unable to be used safely as designed by the manufacturer. Departmental / Branch Occupational Health and Safety Committee: The safety committee with a membership consisting of union and management members that represents a specific department or work group within a department. Designated Person: Synonymous with “authorized person”. Director: The Director of the Occupational Health and Safety Branch, Saskatchewan Ministry of Advanced Education, Employment and Labour. Disabled: The inability through physical or psychological limitation to perform the duties of the position to which the employee is permanently appointed.



Disciplinary Action: Corrective action taken by the employer as the result of an employee engaging in a culpable act; may vary from written reprimand to dismissal. Reference the Corrective Discipline Policy. Emergency: An emergency occurs when an unusual condition exists that endangers life and/or property. Employee: Any person who is engaged in an occupation in the service of an employer. An employee may be a person at any level within the corporation, worker, foreman, supervisor, manager, director, deputy city manager, city manager. Employer: The entity having jurisdiction and control over the operation of the City of Regina. Enclosed: Surrounded by a case, cage, or fence, which will protect the contained equipment and prevent accidental contact of a person with live parts. Engineer: One, who, by possession of a recognized degree from an accredited university and a valid engineering registration certificate, has knowledge, training, and experience, has successfully demonstrated the ability to design or analyze electrical, mechanical, civil, or structural systems including their proper application. Equipment: Any machine, device, or apparatus; electrical, mechanical or hydraulic; including transmission lines, piping systems, and waterways. Ergonomics: The discipline of preventing injury through workplace design, fitting the task to the human. Excavation: Any opening made in the ground, street or sidewalk at a worksite, such as holes, trenches, ditches or tunnels. First Aider: A person who has proof of current qualifications in Standard First Aid as required by Section 52 of the Provincial Occupational Health and Safety Regulations. First-Aid Injury: An on-the-job incident that causes minor injury to a worker requiring in-house treatment by a first aider at the time of the occurrence. Flares: Flares, torches, fuses, red lanterns, reflectors or any other equipment that is adaptable for use as a visible warning. Foreman or Supervisor: Used in a general sense to indicate any person, regardless of classification, who is directly in charge of a specific job or jobs, and/or any other employees (see supervisor definition). Governmental: Any type of political agency having control over an area. Included are federal, provincial and municipal.



Guarded: Protected by personnel, covered, fenced, or enclosed by means of suitable casings, barrier rails, screens, mats, platforms, or other suitable devices in accordance with standard barricading techniques designed to prevent dangerous approach or contact by persons or objects. Hazard: Any chemical, biological, or physical agent, substance, object, or situation that could be dangerous to workers and which can bring about an interruption or interference with the expected orderly progress of an activity. Hazardous Condition: A physical condition or circumstance which is casually related to accident occurrence. Hazardous Substance or Material: Refers to any substance which, by reason of being explosive, flammable, poisonous, corrosive, oxidizing, irritating, or otherwise harmful, is likely to cause illness or injury. High Potential Incident: Any occurrence which did or could result in serious injury or damage to material, equipment, property, or a combination of these factors. Hygiene: Those activities involved in minimizing occupational exposure to chemical, physical or biological stress; the science of health and its maintenance system of principles for the preservation of health and prevention of disease. Imminent Danger: A danger which is not normal for a Worker’s occupation or a danger under which a Worker engaged in that occupation would not normally carry out his or her work. Incident: An undesired event that could or does result in a loss, or downgrades the efficiency of an operation; they can be accidents, production problems, wasted effort or theft of time, tools, or money. Industrial Hygienist: An individual who, by virtue of education, training, special studies, certifications, and experience has acquired competence in industrial hygiene. The individual is capable of recognizing the environment factors, toxic chemicals, and stress of work operation, evaluating those factors based on experience and quantitative measurement techniques, and recommends methods to eliminate, control, or reduces such stress. Inspector: An Occupational Health Officer designated by the Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety. Isolated: An object that is not readily accessible to persons unless special means of access are used. Joint Safety Committees: a Branch level Occupational Health and Safety Committee with a membership consisting of a Manager and Employees within the



jurisdiction of a union and established pursuant to Section 3-22 of the Saskatchewan Employment Act. Loss Control: A program to reduce or eliminate downgrading incidents which cause injury to personnel, damage to property, fire, or explosion, security losses, hazards to health, pollution and liability claims. Lost Time Injury: An injury that requires medical attention and working time is lost following the day of the injury where the employee does not report for their next scheduled shift for work. Management: Anyone who is responsible for the handling, controlling, and directing the administration of a program. Manhole: An underground enclosure which personnel may enter. Manhole Opening: An opening through which individuals may enter into a confined or restricted space when installing, operating and maintaining underground facilities. Medical Aid Injury: An injury that requires medical attention from a licensed practitioner but no working time is lost other than the time required to obtain medical treatment; the worker returns to work the same day or at the start of their next shift. Non Preventable Vehicle Accident: An accident in which the driver did everything they could to reasonably prevent the accident. Notice of Contravention: A written notice issued by a provincial officer advising of non-compliance with an Act or regulation. The Notice of Contravention will require a formal response by the management of the work area within a set period of time. Refer to the Saskatchewan Employment Act, Sections 3 (38–42) for complete definitions and process. Occupational Health: Those activities that deal with the inter-relationship of an employee’s health and occupation. OH&S Program: The program and related activities designed to carry out the City of Regina’s, Occupational Health and Safety Policy, including, but not limited to, those components detailed in this manual alone. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Including but not limited to: hearing protection, safety glasses, boots, hard hats, respirators, coveralls, rubber ware, gloves, gas detectors, oxygen indicators, heat reflective clothing, ventilating equipment, barricading, rescue equipment, radiation indicators and shoring. Positive Safety Attitude: A commitment to respond safely and effectively to all situations, particularly stressful ones; common sense, self-discipline, intelligence, training and imagination are all components of this commitment.



Preventable Accident: An accident in which the employee failed to do everything one could reasonable do to prevent the accident. Public: Any individual who is not an employee or representative of the City of Regina. Qualified Person: Refers to one who, by possession of a recognized degree, certificate, or professional standing or who by extensive knowledge, training, and experience, has successfully demonstrated ability to solve or resolve problems relating to the subject matter, a particular piece of work, or a particular project. Regulations: Any federal, provincial, or municipal legislation concerning health and safety. Road: The paved or unpaved surface of a roadway upon which vehicles travel. Roadway: The road and the areas immediately adjacent, such as the shoulder of the road, parking strip, easement or right-of-way. Safety: The quality or condition of being safe or those activities involved in minimizing levels of risk in the employee’s occupation; freedom from danger, injury, or damage. Safety Factor: This refers to the ratio of the ultimate breaking strength of a member or piece of material or equipment to the actual working stress or safe working load when in use. Safety Personnel: Persons employed by the City of Regina, Workplace Health and Safety Branch of the Human Resources Department. Safety Professional or Safety Engineer: An individual who, by virtue of education, training, certification, and experience, has achieved professional status in the safety field e.g. Canadian Registered Safety Professional (CRSP). Safety Rule: A positive rule requiring compliance by all employees; deviation from safety rules is not permitted and employees may be subject to disciplinary action. Serious Accident: Lost time accident causing serious injury to a worker. Shall: When the word “shall” appears in the wording of a rule, the rule is to be obeyed as written. Should: When the word “should” appears in the wording of a rule, the rule is recommended but is not compulsory. Suitable: That which fits and has the qualities or qualifications to meet a given purpose, occasion, condition, function, or circumstance



Supervisor: Anyone who supervises and Employee or Employees, who is thoroughly trained and knowledgeable of safety regulations, whether or not they are titled supervisor (see “Worksite Supervisor” definition). Tailgate Talks: A short informal discussion of the work to be accomplished and the safety measures to be incorporated; it is normally conducted by the foreman. Tailgates must be documented. Threshold Limit Values (TLV): The limit below which the effects of airborne substances, chemical or radiation cease to be perceptible and dangerous to employees who may be repeatedly exposed, day after day. Toxic: Of, pertaining to, or caused by poison: poisonous, harmful. Unsafe Condition: Any physical state which contributes to a reduction in the degree of safety normally present. Warning Signs: For the purpose of these rules, a warning sign is any sign or similar means of alerting an Employee or the public of an actual or possible hazard. Included are “Danger”, “Warning”, “Caution”, traffic control, instructional and informational signs. Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS): A federal legislated system that was established to help employees by providing information about the hazardous materials that are produced, handled, decanted, stored, used or disposed of in the workplace. Worksite: Any location, including a vehicle or powered mobile equipment, in an inside or an outside environment where a worker is engaged in their occupation. Worksite Supervisor: The person designated as being in charge and/or responsible for all aspects of the worksite, whether or not they are the supervisor.

chapter 1: organizational commitment - regina · 2018-03-14 · organizational commitment _____...

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