In this section

Policy

The following is the Health and Safety Policy of St. Thomas University, Fredericton, New Brunswick.

1. The Workplace

The workplace covered by this safety policy includes the following buildings and areas of St. Thomas University:

  1. Administration Building
  2. Edmund Casey Hall
  3. The areas in other University buildings in which the offices of faculty or staff are located.

With the exception of #3 above, the Safety Policy does not includes the following buildings:

  1. University Residences - Harrington Hall, Vanier Hall, Holy Cross House
  2. Cafeteria and kitchen

2. Objectives

The Objectives of the Safety Policy of St. Thomas University are:

  1. To ensure that St. Thomas University is a safe and healthy place to work.
  2. To ensure that there is compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act of New Brunswick (1983) and its regulations.

3. Plan to Achieve Objectives

The objectives shall be achieved through the cooperation of the employer and employees and through the activity of the Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee at St. Thomas University.

The functions of the Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee include:

  1. Identifying health and safety concerns in the workplace.
  2. Recommending to the employer the correction of health and safety concerns.
  3. Ensuring that recommendations have been implemented.
  4. Reporting the failure to carry out Committee recommendations to the Occupational Health and Safety Commission.
  5. Promoting awareness in all employees of the importance of health and safety in the workplace.
  6. Promoting health and safety education among employees.
  7. Acting as referee in situations where employees exercise their right, under SEction 20(4) of the Act, to refuse unusually dangerous work.
  8. Investigating the causes of accidents to prevent recurrence.
  9. Developing a thorough knowledge of the Act and its regulations.
  10. Securing a special bulletin board to be used exclusively for health and safety matters.

Appendix

The following information is attached to the Safety Policy as a guide to the establishment and activity of the Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee.

1. Requirements of the Occupational Health and Safety Act

Health and safety in the workplace is a responsibility which must be shared by both the employer and the employee. The best way to prevent accidents and to reduce health hazards is to involve people from all levels within an organization.

The Occupational Health and Safety Act of New Brunswick (1983) and its regulations provide a legal basis for the protection of workers exposed to hazards in the workplace. This protection is ensured by a regulation that stipulates that every workplace with twenty or more employees shall establish and enforce an approved safety policy which requires the establishment of a Joint Health and Safety Committee.

2. Establishment of a Joint Health and Safety Committee

The establishment, structure and functioning of the Joint Health and Safety Committee shall be in accordance with the regulations of the Occupational Health and Safety Act. Important guidelines include

  1. The Committee equally represents the interests of the employer and the employees.
  2. The Committee shall be composed of equal numbers of representatitve appointed by the employer and by the employees. The number of committee members shall be established, from time to time, by an agreement between the employer and employees. If the employer and the employees cannot agree the Commission shall determine the size of the Committee.
  3. Co-chairpersons, one representing the employer and the other representing the employees, shall be selected by the members of the Committee. ONly members of the OHSC shall be eligible for the positions of Co-chairpersons.
  4. If required, the Committee may request the employer and/or the employees to select alternate members. Alternate members shall carry out the responsibilities of members of the OHSC Committee in the absence of regular members.
  5. The names of Committee members and the Minutes of the OHSC meetings will be posted on the Health and Safety Bulletin Board.

3. Major Activities of the Health and Safety Committee

The functions of the Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee will be carried out primarily through the following activities.

A. Meetings

  1. A proper agenda, concerned with occupational health and safety items only, should be distributed to committee members prior to each meeting.
  2. Meetings should be scheduled well in advance and be held on a regular monthly basis between September and May (inclusive). During the summer months when the routine of the University is modified meetings will be held as required.
  3. Alternate members should be named to ensure that full attendance is achieved when regular members are unable to attend.
  4. An attendance record and meeting minutes should be taken and signed by the secretary and co-chairpersons.
  5. A copy of the minutes of the last meeting should be posted on the bulletin board reserved exclusively for the Joint Health and Safety Committee.
  6. The Minutes of the meetings of the Health and Safety Committee shall be forwarded to the Occupational Health and Safety Commission. Such Minutes will also be made available, on request, to Officers of the Occupational Health and Safety Commission.

B. Inspections

Regular inspections of the workpalce are to be conducted by members of the Joint Health and Safety Committee as part of their responsibilities. "Employer" and "employee" members of the Committee shall be designated to carry out these inspections for the purpose of:

  1. Becoming familiar with the workplace and work methods;
  2. Identifying potential health and safety hazards within the workplace;
  3. Recommending corrective measures for any potential hazards identified in `B2' above.

Reports of these inspections will be submitted to the Joint Health and Safety Committee for follow-up action. Copies of these reports will be retained for at least one year and shall be made available to the Occupational Health and Safety Commission on request.

C. Accident Inspections

The Committee shall investigate accidents which occur in the workplace and make recommendations to prevent their recurrence.

D. Education

The Committee shall act to promote an awareness of the occupational health and safety issues in the workplace.