Occupational Health and Safety

This policy and the procedures related to it, apply to all members of the JIBC community including faculty, staff, students, contractors, subcontractors, and visitors.

OHS Roles and Responsibilities

Executive

The JIBC Board of Governors has delegated the responsibilities of an employer under the Workers Compensation Act to the Executive.

The Executive is responsible for:

• providing the management support and leadership necessary for the overall implementation and execution of the Occupational Health & Safety policy;
• promoting a positive attitude towards health and safety in the workplace;
• providing sufficient resources to implement the Occupational Health and Safety Program;
• complying with legislated regulations, standards and established safe work procedures; and
• co-operating with the Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee to identify hazards, assess risk and establish controls to eliminate or reduce the risk of injury or illness.

Deans/Directors

Deans and Directors are responsible for:

• implementing, visibly supporting, and maintaining the OHS Program in their divisions;
• meeting all regulatory and JIBC standards;
• ensuring all employees are adequately instructed and trained; and
• performing regular inspections and assessments of work practices, equipment and work areas, and taking corrective actions as required in order to manage risk.

Faculty, Supervisors and Managers

Faculty, Supervisors and Managers are responsible for:

• planning and executing all activities in a manner that achieves compliance with the JIBC safety policy and related procedures;
• providing all employees and students with appropriate safety instructions;
• demonstrating safe work practices and enforcing rules and procedures;
• ensuring that all incidents resulting in injury or equipment damage, and all near-loss incidents with significant potential, are reported and investigated, and action is taken to prevent reoccurrence;
• ensuring that First Aid and if required, medical treatment, is received for all injuries;
• ensuring that work areas and activities are inspected at regular intervals to prevent the development of unsafe conditions and practices;
• authorizing the action necessary to correct substandard conditions or procedures;
• ensuring that the Senior Manager, Health Safety and Emergency Management, and/or the appropriate Dean/Director, is notified of safety issues which require attention beyond their own authority; and
• listening to and investigating safety concerns or complaints.

Faculty, Staff and Students

Faculty, staff and students are responsible for:

• working safely, in accordance with established OHS policies, procedures, guidelines and all applicable safety regulations;
• immediately reporting to a supervisor all work-related incidents and near-loss events, and obtaining First Aid without delay;
• actively participating in making their environment safe, healthy and productive;
• promptly reporting hazardous or unsafe equipment, conditions, procedures or behaviors to a supervisor; making suggestions for their correction or taking corrective action where authorized;
• wearing/using required safety apparel and personal protective equipment in accordance with regulation and as per the instructions of the supervisor/instructor; and
• operating machinery or equipment only for which they are adequately trained and authorized.