With the changes introduced by Bill 30 that are required to be implemented by June 1, 2018, many company owners are worried and wondering what this will mean for them in regards to the safety program requirement.
In short, Bill 30 will require all employers with 20 or more workers at a work site to have a written health and safety program. The written program must be reviewed every 3 years, or more often, if there is a change in circumstances at the work site that creates or could create a hazard to workers. The written program must include, at a minimum, the listed mandated elements.
The mandated elements that must be included are:
- A Health and Safety Policy that states the company’s commitment to the protection and maintenance of the health and safety of workers at the work site;
- Identification of existing and potential hazards to workers at the work site, including harassment, violence, physical, biological, chemical or radiological hazards and measure that will be taken to eliminate, reduce or control those hazards;
- An Emergency Response Program, that includes site specific emergency response plans, maps, and procedures.
- A statement of the responsibilities of the employer, supervisors and workers at the work site;
- A schedule and procedures for regular inspection of the work site;
- Procedures to be followed to protect health and safety when another employer or self-employed person is involved in work at the work site, including criteria for evaluating and selecting and for regularly monitoring those employers and self-employed persons;
- Worker and supervisor health and safety orientation and training;
- Procedures for investigating incidents, injuries and refusals to work;
- Procedures for worker participation in work site health and safety, including inspections and the investigation of incidents, injuries and refusals to work;
- Procedures for reviewing and revising the health and safety program if circumstances at a work site change in a way that creates or could create a hazard to workers;
- Any elements set out in the regulations.
In addition to having the written health and safety program, the employer is also responsible for implementing the health and safety program.
Employers with fewer than 20 employees are not off the hook either. Employers with fewer than 20 employees must involve affected workers, and the health and safety representative, in the hazard assessment process including the control or elimination of the identified hazards.
Luckily for you, we at Safety Ahead can help you with all these changes! We can develop a written health and safety program that includes all the above listed elements, and more! Our customized programs are specific to your company and we can also assist with implementing the program! Give us a call today and let us take your stress away!