OrientationHealth and Safety Training

Karla Pacheco and Andrea Klooster are your main contacts for Human Resources and Health and Safety related concerns. Here is their contact

information….

Karla Pacheco

Human Resources Generalist, USC

Ext. 80371

Room 309, beside Council Chambers

usc.hr@uwo.ca

Andrea Klooster

Human Resources Officer, USC

Ext. 82616

Room 310, beside Council Chambers

akloost5@uwo.ca

UNIVERSITY STUDENTS’ COUNCIL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN ONTARIO -

HEALTH AND SAFETY POLICY •

• The USC is committed to the health and safety of all its employees. The USC Health and Safety Policy outlines the roles and responsibilities of managers/supervisors and employees in maintaining a safe workplace.

• The Policy is reviewed and updated annually and signed off on by the USC General Manager. A current copy of the Policy can be found on every Health and Safety Board in every operation.

• The USC Health and Safety Policy can also be found at the following link -

http://uschr.ca

Joint Health & Safety Committee of the USC

• The USC has one umbrella JHSC which covers all operations: Administration, Food & Beverage, Retail, & Media.

• All health and safety issues and concerns are brought to the JHSC for review. At least one representative from each area sits on the Committee. The Committee is made up of both management and worker reps.

The following are the functions of the JHSC…

• To identify, evaluate and recommend solutions on matters pertaining to the health and safety of the workplace to members of Management;

• To review educational and training programs, provided by the Employer, to ensure that they are sufficient. These educational and training programs will ensure that all Employees are thoroughly knowledgeable of their duties, responsibilities, restrictions and rights under the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act and the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act;

• To create and maintain an active interest in health and safety concerns;

• To make written recommendations to Management on the continuous improvement of the Safety program and any hazards present in the workplace;

• To complete workplace inspections

• To review any accident/injury record summaries on an annual basis, and,

• To identify a Worker Representative to investigate any critical injury, fatality, work refusal or any Ministry of Labour visit to the workplace.

The USC JHSC Terms of Reference is posted on all of the USC Health and Safety boards and can also be found online at http://uschr.ca.

This JHSC poster can be found on every Health & Safety board in every USC operation. Please feel free to contact any of these Committee members regarding any health and safety concerns you might have. You can also contact a member regarding Committee membership. There is always room for student volunteers on the Committee!

JHSC minutes and inspections can be found at the following

address:

http://uschr.ca

Your USC J oint Health & Safety

Committee

Tanee Edwards Worker Rep

Purple Door Promos

Ext. 82615

Jeff Stemmler

Management Rep

Human Resources Ext. 80371

Spoke

Ext. 88917

Karen Savino

Worker Rep

Gazette Ext. 83579

Nick Vassiliou

Management Rep

InfoSource Ext. 83572

Cheryl Forster

Worker Rep

InPrint Ext. 83581

Andrea Klooster Management Rep

Government Services

Ext. 82616

Occupational Health and Safety Act The USC Health and Safety Policy is based on the Ontario Health and Safety Act (OHSA) . The Act is a legal document monitored by the Ministry of Labour. It sets out the rules and regulations in regards to health and safety in Ontario workplaces, regardless of their size.

There is a current copy of the Act on every Health and Safety board in every USC operation. Please make sure that you know where yours is located.

The OHSA is based on an Internal Responsibility System that includes the rights and responsibilities of supervisors and employees and the roles that everyone has in contributing to a safe workplace.

Employee Rights

1. The Right to Know

2. The Right to Refuse

3. The Right to Participate

All employees have three specific rights in regards to health & safety according to the OHSA. They are as follows -

1. Right to Know

Each Employee has the right to know about the specific hazards in their

workplace.

2. Right to Refuse

A worker may refuse to work or do particular work where he or she has

Reason to believe that,

(a)  any equipment, machine, device or thing the worker is to use or operate is likely to endanger himself, herself or another worker;

(b)   the physical condition of the workplace or the part thereof in which he or she works or is to work is likely to endanger himself or herself; or

(c) any equipment, machine, device or thing he or she is to use or operate or the physical condition of the workplace or the part thereof in which he or she works or is to work is in contravention of this Act or the regulations and such contravention is likely to endanger himself, herself or another worker. 

R.S.O. 1990, c. O.1, s. 43 (3).Occupational Health and Safety Act Section 43

• All employees have the right to refuse unsafe work as per the following excerpt from the OHSA -

Work Refusal Flowchart Please review the following flowchart for the process to refuse

unsafe work -

Here's a flow chart that shows the work refusal process.

3. Right to Participate

All Employees have the right to participate in the

Corporation’s Health and Safety Program, including membership on the JHSC

and participation in training programs such as this one.

Employer Reprisals

No employer or person acting on behalf of anemployer shall,

(a) dismiss or threaten to dismiss a worker;

(b) discipline or suspend or threaten to discipline or suspend a worker;

 (c)  impose any penalty upon a worker; or

(d)  intimidate or coerce a worker, because the worker has acted in compliance with this Act or the regulations or an order made thereunder, has sought the enforcement of this Act or the regulations or has given evidence in a proceeding in respect of the enforcement of this Act or the regulations or in an inquest under the Coroners Act. 

R.S.O. 1990, c. O.1, s. 50 (1).

Employers may not respond negatively to a worker who has refused unsafe work as per this excerpt from the OHSA -

The following are the duties of a Worker as outlined in the OHSA -

A Worker shall,(a) work in the manner and with the protective devices,

measures and procedures required by this Act and the regulations; and(a) work in compliance with the provisions of this Act and the regulations;

(b) use or wear the equipment, protective devices or clothing that the worker’s employer requires to be used or worn;

(c) report to his or her employer or supervisor the absence of or defect in any equipment or protective device of which the worker is aware and which may endanger himself, herself or another worker; and

(d) report to his or her employer or supervisor any contravention of this Act or the regulations or the existence of any hazard of which he or she knows

USC Hazard Reporting Form

• If you observe a hazardous condition or behaviour in your work environment make sure that you complete a USC Hazard Reporting Form and submit it to your Supervisor immediately

• USC Hazard Reporting forms can be found in the bins by each operation’s Health and Safety Board

The following are the duties of a Supervisor as outlined in the OHSA -

A supervisor shall ensure that a worker,

 (a) works in the manner and with the

protective devices, measures and procedures required by this Act and the regulations; and

(b) uses or wears the equipment, protective devices or clothing that the worker’s employer requires to be used or worn.

This section of the OHSA outlines further duties of a Supervisor -

Without limiting the duty imposed by subsection (1), a supervisor shall

(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.  R.S.O. 1990, c. O.1, s. 27.

Penalties

• 66.  (1) Every person who contravenes or fails to comply with,

• (a) a provision of this Act or the regulations;• (b) an order or requirement of an inspector or a Director; or• (c) an order of the Minister,

is guilty of an offence and on conviction is liable to a fine of not more than $25,000 or to imprisonment for a term of not more than twelve months, or to both.

If a corporation is convicted of an offence under subsection (1), the maximum fine that may be imposed upon the corporation is $500,000 and not as provided therein.

If you are fined as an individual, it is against the law for the corporation that you

work for to pay the fine. Do you have $25,000 laying around?

There are stiff penalties for those who are in violation of the Act. They are as follows -

If you are Injured on the Job1. Get First Aid Immediately if Needed• First aid kits are located in each USC operation. Your Supervisor

will inform you of its location during operation specific training. Each USC operation has at least one certified first aider on each shift.

2. Tell your Supervisor about the Injury Immediately and Complete an Injury/Illness Reporting Form

• Whether it is a burn, cut, scrape, slip trip and fall, etc. ensure that your Supervisor is aware of your injury as soon as possible. Your Supervisor will arrange and cover the cost of transportation to get you medical care if needed. Student Health Services and SERT are the first line of care for all USC Employees. Injury/illness Reporting Forms can be found in the bins beside each operation’s Health and Safety Board . Complete the top part of the form and submit it to your Supervisor.

If you are Injured on the Job3. Your Wages Will be Paid for the Day• If you are not able to return to return to your regular duties following

your injury, your wages will be paid for that shift. If you are still unable to return to your regular duties on your next scheduled shift, the USC will find you modified work through our Early and Safe Return to Work Program.

4. Your Injury Will be Reported to the WSIB Within 3 Days if it Involves:

• Healthcare• Time away from work• Lost wages

* An accident investigation will be conducted by members of the JHSC in order to gather all necessary

information

The USC’s Early & Safe Return to Work Program

• The USC has an Early & Safe Return to Work Program designed to assist employees who have sustained a work related injury or illness with respect to returning to work.

• The USC is committed to providing appropriate modified duties to employees who are restricted due to a workplace injury or illness.

• The USC will investigate any potentially fraudulent claims and upon a thorough investigation, any claim deemed fraudulent will result in progressive discipline up to and including termination and will be reported to the WSIB immediately.

USC Accessibility for Customer Service Policy

The USC ‘s Accessibility for Customer Service Policy was created as a result of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act legislation introduced in 2005. Customer Service is the first standard in the Act that has been fully mandated by the Ontario government to date.

Purpose of the Policy:

To ensure we respect all our customers, regardless of their abilities.

Responsibilities Outlined in the Policy:

The USC is committed to recognizing the dignity and independence of all staff, students, faculty and visitors and seeks to ensure that persons with disabilities have genuine, open and unhindered access to USC goods, services, facilities, accommodation, employment, buildings, structures and premises.

The USC will comply with all applicable Federal, Provincial and Municipal legislation with respect to accessibility and will implement the standards specified under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (“AODA, 2005”).

Accessibility for Customer Service Policy

Procedures Outlined in the Policy:

1. Assistive Devices, Service Animals and Support Persons• The USC welcomes persons with disabilities to use assistive devices, use service animals in the

areas that are open to the public, and allow for any support person to accompany them on the premises.

– If a service animal cannot be permitted to an area due to health or safety concerns, the USC will find an alternative means for to access to that area

– If a fee is to be charged for the admission of a support person, that will be communicated and posted accordingly by the USC through its website, brochures or other public methods

2. Temporary Disruptions to Service• The USC will notify customers promptly in the event of a planned or unexpected interruption to

services or facilities for customers with disabilities.

– For non-USC interruptions, information will be posted on the UWO Accessibility website

If you are assisting an individual with a disability and are unsure how to help, your first question should be:

“How can I help you?”