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OCCUPATIONAL
HEALTH AND SAFETY COMMITTEE (OHSC)
Ø
Members
Ø Duties
Ø Meetings
A written health and safety program must be initiated and maintained in consultation with the occupational health and safety committee (OHSC) in facilities that have 10 or more employees.
Where fewer than 10 workers are employed at a workplace, the employer shall ensure that a worker not connected with the management of the workplace is designated as the worker health and safety representative to monitor the health, safety and welfare of workers employed at the workplace. A written health and safety policy must be developed in consultation with the health and safety representative.
Where fewer than 6 persons are engaged at a workplace and the designation of a worker health and safety representative is impracticable, the employer may designate a workplace health and safety designate to monitor the health, safety and welfare of workers employed at the workplace. The workplace health and safety designate may be either
(a) a worker connected with the management of the workplace; or
(b) the employer, if the designation of a worker connected with the management of the workplace is not practicable.
(Occupational Health and Safety Act, 41 - 42
The
health and safety program must be signed by the employer and the manger of
operations in the province. The plan must include the following elements:
a statement of support for the OHSC, the responsibilities of the employer,
supervisors, and OHSC, written work procedures, a training and orientation
plan for workers and supervisors, operating rules for the OHSC, a system for
hazard assessment, evaluation and control, a plan for control of hazardous
substances, a plan for contractor safety, an emergency response plan, maintenance
of records, and a plan for monitoring the effectiveness of the program.
The health and safety policy must be signed by the employer and the manger of operations in the province. The policy must include the following elements: a statement of support for the worker health and safety representative, and the responsibilities of the employer, supervisors, and the worker health and safety representative. The policy must be reviewed at least annually. (Occupational Health and Safety Regulation 1165/96, 4)
The employer must consult with the OHSC or the worker health and safety representative about the scheduling of workplace inspections that are required by the regulations, and ensure that the committee or the worker health and safety representative participates in an inspection. (Occupational Health and Safety Act, 5)
The employer must make regular inspections of all buildings, machinery, equipment and places of employment at intervals that will ensure the health and safety of workers. (Occupational Health and Safety Regulation 1165/96, 4)
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY COMMITTEE (OHSC)
A OHSC is required in workplaces that have more than 10 workers. (Occupational Health and Safety Act, 37)
An OHSC must have at least 2 members and no more than 12, of which at least half must be workers. The committee must have both a worker and a management co-chair. (Occupational Health and Safety Act, 38)
The duties and function of the committee includes the following: to identify unsafe, deal with complaints, make recommendations for the enforcement of health and safety standards, establish and promote health and safety educational programs, and participate in inspections. (Occupational Health and Safety Act, 39)
The employer must respond in writing within 30 days
to a recommendation of the OHSC, the worker health and safety representative
or designate indicating that the recommendation has been accepted or that
it has been rejected, with a reason for the rejection.
The employer shall provide periodic written updates to the OHSC or the worker health and safety representative on the implementation of a recommendation accepted by the employer until the implementation is complete. (Occupational Health and Safety Act, 5)
Committee members are entitled to be paid for time spent preparing for and attending monthly meetings, and other duties. The committee must meet at least once every three months. (Occupational Health and Safety Act, 40)
Minutes of meetings must be recorded, one copy must be kept on file with the committee, one copy sent to the commission and one copy posted in the workplace. (Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 1165/96, 21)
When there are more than 50 workers at a workplace, the employer must provide training for all members of the OHSC. Where there are between 10 and 49 workers at the workplace, the employer must provide training for the co-chairs of the OHSC, (Occupational Health and Safety Act, 38)
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