Safety in the Workplace

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Safety in the Workplace

• Professionalism in the Work Environment
• Presented by Geoffrey White
• Occupational Health Safety Coordinator
• August 3, 2004

2
Occupational Health Safety Legislation -
Overview

• Occupational Health Safety Act and Regs
• Act
• Responsibilities Employers Supervisors
  Employees
• Identify and control Hazards
• Joint Health Safety Committees
• Worker Rights
• Right to refuse unsafe work Right to know
  hazards Right to participate
• Regulations
• (Industrial Construction Health Care) WHMIS
  Control of Exposure to Biological or Chemical
  Agents ..

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Occupational Health Safety Legislation -
Overview contd

• Workplace Safety Insurance Act (WSIA)
• Workplace Safety Insurance Board (WSIB)
• Reporting Accidents
• Entitlement to WSIB Benefits
• Return to work requirements/process
• First Aid Regulation
• Questions????

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OHS Definitions

• Occupational Health Safety Act
• Provides legislative framework for worker
• protection
• Outlines general workplace requirements,
  responsibilities and fines (employers
  supervisors employees)
• Provides coverage for workplaces in Ontario
• Penalties/Fines for contraventions
• Anyone - up to 25, 000 and/or 12 months in jail
• Corporations up to 500, 000

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OHS Definitions

• Regulations
• Applied under the Act
• Specific requirements for procedures or
  equipment chemicals (WHMIS) designated
  substancesFirst Aid workplace conditions
  protective equipment etc

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Definitions Continued

• Employer
• Anyone who hires one or more workers.
• Includes Contractors, Subcontractors
• Supervisor
• Person who has authority over a worker or is in
  charge of workplace
• Typically have hiring/firing power
• Worker
• Anyone who performs work for pay.

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Definitions Continued

• Ministry of Labour Inspector
• Enforce the Act and Regulations
• Investigate complaints
• Investigate critical injuries (places life in
  jeopardy unconsciousness substantial blood
  loss fractured arm or leg amputation or
  arm/hand/leg/foot) burns to major portion of
  body loss of sight in an eye)
• Competent Person
• A person who is qualified (knowledge,training or
  experience) to organize and perform work safely
• Familiar with legislative requirements
• Act Regulations
• Knowledgeable about hazards in workplace

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Employer Responsibilities Continued

• Refer to sec 25 of the Act for complete list
• Employers required to
• Make sure proper equipment is used and in good
  condition
• Protective devices, equipment and materials as
  prescribed
• Provide instruction, training and supervision to
  protect HS of worker
• Take every precaution reasonable in the
  circumstances for the protection of a worker
• The big hammer
• Make sure first aid is given promptly

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Supervisor Responsibilities

• Refer to sec 27 of the Act
• Supervisor must
• Ensure workers work in compliance with the Act
  and Regs
• Ensure workers use or wear equipment, protective
  devices or clothing required by employer
• Take every precaution reasonable in the
  circumstances for the protection of a worker
• Provide written instruction where prescribed.

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Employee Responsibilities

• Know your rights and responsibilities under the
  OHS Act and Regulations
• Use/wear any protective equipment required
• E.g. hearing protection protective gloves
  safety glasses
• Know proper procedures for any equipment to be
  used or process to be performed

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Employee Responsibilities Contd

• Ask for help if you dont know how to use a
  particular piece of equipment or perform a
  particular task.
• Report any unsafe conditions or broken/defective
  equipment to your supervisor
• Report accidents immediately
• Know emergency evacuation procedures
• Know where first aid stations are located

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Employee Responsibilities Contd

• Know where the nearest fire extinguisher is
  located in your area and how to use one
• Only operate equipment if authorized and trained.
• Know the safety resources available to you
• Supervisor
• Joint Health Safety Committee
• OHS Coordinator/Department
• Ministry of Labour
• WSIB

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Joint Health Safety Committees

• Required in workplaces with twenty or more
  workers
• At least 2 members for lt 50 employees at least 4
  members for 50 or more employees
• Mgt. and labour representatives (at least 50
  must be non-mgt.)
• Certified members (Mgt and Labour) certified by
  WSIB (special training requirements)

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Joint Health Safety Committees Contd

• Typically have one JHSC per work location but may
  apply to Ministry for a multi-site committee
• Advisory committee
• Identify hazards and make recommendations to
  improve safety
• Recommend practices, procedures and programs
• Post member names and work locations

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Joint Health Safety Committees Contd

• Workers selected by workers or trade unions
• Meet at least x 3 months
• Inspections
• Physically inspect workplace at least monthly
• Large workplaces
• Develop a schedule to cover the entire workplace
  at least 1/yr.

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Employee Rights

• Workers have 3 basic rights
• The Right to Know
• About hazards in the workplace
• The Right Refuse
• Anyone (exceptions include police ambulance
  fire or where refusal would directly endanger
  someone) can refuse to perform work if they
  believe they are endangered.
• The Right to Participate
• Investigations, Inspections

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Right to Know Workplace Hazards

• Obviously to work safely, you must know what
  hazards you may be exposed to
• Manually handling materials
• Use proper lifting techniques
• Use 2 hands to grab heavy materials
• Keep the load close to your body
• Keep you back straight
• Lift with your legs.not your back!
• Avoid awkward reaches
• Ask for help with very heavy and/or large items
• Safe Lifting Procedure available

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Office Hazards

• Ergonomics
• Esp. VDT workstations
• Equipment layout
• Reach distances, heights. work surfaces
• Lighting, noise
• Lifting
• Slips, trips and falls

19
Office Hazards

• Chemicals
• Pipe systems/processes
• Cleaning agents
• Toners
• Blueprint machines
• Flammable/combustible liquids
• Indoor air quality
• Temperature, RH, stale stuffy air CO, CO2
• Mould

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Workplace Hazards Continued

• WHMIS Regulation applies in respect to hazardous
  
• products used, stored and handled at a workplace.
• This is a far reaching regulation affecting
  virtually all
• employers
• Glues/adhesives
• Toners
• Oils/Fuels
• Cleaning agents
• Paints
• Lab operations
• Compressed gases/aerosols
• Retail outlets

21
Workplace Hazards Continued

• Violence in the workplace
• Immediately report incidents to your supervisor.
• Tripping Hazards
• Extension cords or other wires
• Filing Cabinets
• Beware of open drawers (you may bang into or trip
  over them.
• Make sure cabinets are not top-heavy low level
  drawers should be loaded first with heavy items
  for stability.
• Only open one drawer at a time (safety feature).

22
Workplace Hazards Continued

• Tripping Hazards Contd
• Materials stored on floor
• Chairs, boxes or other items
• Wet/Slippery Surfaces
• Wet floors clean spills promptly or report to
  housekeeping
• Pushing/Pulling rolling stock (e.g. Carts)
• Pushing is usually more safe than pulling
• Use body weight to push
• Can see where youre going
• Better control

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Workplace Hazards Continued

• Cuts
• Paper cuts (sheet paper boxes packaging)
• Tools
• Paper cutter (table-top unit) - keep free hand
  clear of blade
• Small utility knives
• Avoid pulling knife toward yourself cut away
  from your body
• Keep hands clear of blade
• Make sure blade is sharp
• Sharp edges on furniture/equipment/building
  surfaces

24
Workplace Hazards Continued

• Electrical
• Do not use electrical equipment in wet
  conditions.
• Caution around water/sinks
• Make sure electrical cords are in good condition
• Do not overload circuits
• CSA approved equipment only.

25
Workplace Hazards Continued

• Video Display Terminals (abbr. VDTs)
• Ergonomic considerations
• Avoid continued use for extended periods to allow
  your body (wrist/arms/eyes/back) to rest
• Take short breaks (5 min/hr).
• Break refers to doing something (another task
  perhaps) that uses other muscles/actions - It
  doesnt necessarily have to be a total break.

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Workplace Hazards Continued

• The key to VDT comfort is adjustability
• Chair Allow feet to sit flat on floor
  armrests should
• be just below elbow height
• Monitor Top of screen should be just below eye
  level
• (when sitting on a chair)
• KeyboardAt elbow height. Do not rest arms/wrists
  on
• edge.
• Mouse Close to body avoid awkward reaches.
• Place on same surface as keyboard.

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Workplace Hazards Continued
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Fire Safety

• Review the fire safety procedure at your work
  location. Know the alarm system Single or
  Two-Stage
• Single Stage (one alarm only)
• Evacuate when alarm sounds
• 2-Stage (two different alarms)
• First alarm (intermittent) means----be prepared
  to evacuate, wait for instructions
• Second alarm (constant) - Evacuate
• Know your escape routes

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• Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System

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Overview

• Ontario WHMIS Regulation (O.Reg 860) applies to
• Employers and workers in respect of controlled
  products used, stored and handled at a workplace
• Far reaching regulation that applies to virtually
  all workplaces
• Three components of WHMIS
• Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
• Labels
• Training

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Roles and Responsibilities

• Suppliers
• Must evaluate/determine whether their products
  are
• classified as a controlled product.
• Criteria under the Hazardous Products Act very
  technical
• There are several exemptions to WHMIS
• Consumer products
• Explosives (has its own Act and Regulations)
• Tobacco Products
• Food, Drugs and Cosmetics (Food and Drug
  Act/Regs)
• Radiation (has its own specific Act and
  Regulations)
• Wood or products made of wood
• Manufactured articles
• Hazardous waste

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Suppliers Contd

• Must ensure products are classified properly
  (governed by Hazardous Products Act and
  Regulations)
• Must ensure products are properly labeled
• Must provide material safety data sheets

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Suppliers Contd

• Several Classifications for Controlled Products
• Compressed Gases
• Flammable and Combustible Material
• Oxidizing Materials
• Poisonous and Infections Materials
• Immediate and Serious
• Other Toxic Effects
• Biohazardous Infectious
• Corrosive
• Dangerously Reactive

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Employers

• Must ensure products are properly labeled
• Must ensure material safety data sheets are
  available
• Must ensure workers are educated

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Worker Education

• Workers who work with or in proximity to a
  controlled product must receive training.

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WHMIS SYMBOLS

• Symbol format is regulated

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Class A Compressed Gases
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Class BFlammable and Combustible Material
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Class COxidizing Materials
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Class D Poisonous and Infectious Materials
Class D1 - Immediately and Serious Toxic Effects
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Class D Poisonous and Infectious Materials
Class D2 - Other Toxic Effects
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Class D Poisonous and Infectious Materials
Class D3 - Biohazardous and Infectious
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Class E
Corrosives
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Class FDangerously Reactive Materials
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Material Safety Data Sheets

• Material Safety Data Sheets are required for all
  hazardous substances.
• Valid for 3 years
• They contain technical product- specific
  information for hazardous products.
• At least 9 sections of information required

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MSDS Contd

1. Product Information (Product Name Supplier,
   Manufacturer)
2. Hazardous Ingredients (concentration/toxicity)
3. Physical Data (solid/liquid/gas.)
4. Fire or Explosion Hazard (conditions for
   ignition/explosion)
5. Reactivity Data (stability/ other chemicals..)
6. Toxicological Properties (short and long-term
   effects.)
7. Preventive Measures (ventilation, ppe emergency
   measures)
8. First Aid (treatment for overexposed individuals
   - all routes of exposure)
9. Preparation Information (Name, date and contact
   number(s) for person or group who prepared the
   msds)

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WHMIS Labels

• Product Name
• Hazard Symbols
• Refer to Material Safety Data Sheet

Labels are required on essentially all containers
of controlled product.
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WHMIS Labels Contd

• Cross hatched border
• Hazard Symbols
• Risk Phrase
• Precautionary Measures
• Supplier name

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Workers Right To Refuse Unsafe Work

• One of the basic worker rights under the OHS Act
  is the Right to Refuse Unsafe Work. The process
  is straightforward and is illustrated in the
  following flow chart
• Worker must remain in a safe place during the
  investigation but can be assigned other work
  until refusal resolved
• Workers cannot be penalized for exercising their
  right to refuse.

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Work Refusal Procedure
Immediately notify your supervisor and Safety
representative
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Stage 2 Work Refusal
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WSIA

• Workplace Safety Insurance Act

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WSIA First Aid Regulation

• Regulation applies to all employers covered
• by WSIB.
• Requires all employers to have first aid
• equipment, facilities and trained personnel
• Employees required to seek first aid in event of
  an accident

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Reporting an Accident

• If you have an accident.
• Report all accidents to your supervisor
• Get first aid or medical aid immediately
• Medical aid accidents must be reported to the
  WSIB Employer Accident Report (Form 7) for
  benefits

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WSIB Accident Claims

• In event of an accident requiring medical
  attention
• Employer must notify the WSIB (72 hrs).
• Form 7 (Report of Accident)
• Employer must work with employee (and medical
  professionals) to safely return them to work
• May require modified duties or other workplace
  accommodations
• Duty to accommodate

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Adjudication and Benefits

• Claims are reviewed by WSIB to determine
• workplace relationship.
• If allowed, worker entitled to benefits
• Health care
• Loss of earnings (85 net income) if applicable.
• Non-economic loss (ca. pain and suffering)
• Future economic loss (offset future loss of
  earnings if applicable).

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Adjudication and Benefits

• Claims (and benefits) can be denied by the WSIB
  if
• Claim is not supported by facts
• Late notification (employee to employer)
• Too long to seek medical attention.
• Lack of cooperation
• Lack of documentation
• Condition not considered related to workplace
  activities.

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Adjudication and Benefits

• Claims and/or decisions can be challenged
• By the employer
• By the employee

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Safety Resources

• Ministry of Ontario Regulations (All Ministries)
• www.gov.on.ca
• Publications Ontario
• Legislation Online
• E-Laws
• Acts and Regulations of Ontario
• Consolidated Law (Statutes and associated
  Regulations)
• Alphabetical Index (look under O Occupational
  HS to see list of relevant Regulations
  Asbestos WHMIS etc..)
• Ministry of Labour Website
• Acts/Regulations
• Guides
• JHSCS
• Workplace Hazards

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Safety Resources

• Employment Standards Act
• Minimum age
• Working hours
• Vacation entitlement
• Emergency leave
• Termination
• Canadian Centre for Occupational Health Safety
  (CCOHS) www.ccohs.ca
• National Institute Occupational Safety Health
  (NIOSH) www.cdc.gov/niosh
• Workplace Safety Insurance Board (WSIB)
  www.wsib.on.ca

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Questions????