BLOG
New Brunswick releases guidance on workplace health and safety programs [CA]
- #Health & Safety
In June 2014 WorkSafeNB released its Guide to Workplace Health & Safety Programs, intended to help employers prepare and maintain a written health and safety program. The guide discusses the elements required for a formal health and safety program and the roles and responsibilities of those preparing and maintaining the program. Following the guide should ensure that your health and safety program complies with the Occupational Health and Safety Act’s requirements.
All employers in New Brunswick that employ 20 or more employees are required to have a written health and safety program, created in consultation with the joint health and safety committee or health and safety representative. The 20 employee threshold applies to employers, not worksites, throughout the province. For example, an employer with one workplace with 15 employees and another with 5 employees is required to have a written health and safety program.
An effective health and safety program is required so that employers and employees work together and take responsibility for workplace health and safety. The employer is responsible for developing, implementing, and monitoring the program in consultation with employees.
There are 9 steps to creating and maintaining an effective health and safety program:
- Create a safety policy
- Establish a joint health and safety committee or a health and safety representative
- Establish and record regular workplace inspections
- Incident investigation
- Create a hazard identification system
- Develop written work procedures
- Establish orientation, training, and supervision
- Maintain records and statistics
- Monitor the program
The guide provides helpful information in completing each of the 9 steps and sample forms, such as a draft safety policy, sample inspection report form, incident/injury investigation report form, and sample critical hazard identification system with work procedures.
Source:
WorkSafeNB, Guide to Workplace Health & Safety Programs, Revised June 2014
http://www.worksafenb.ca/docs/WorkSafeNBHSProgramsGuideE.pdf
Red-on-line EHS Legal Counsel