Health and Safety in the Workplace
By Dawn Robson
As an employer, you play a critical role in ensuring that there is a safe working environment for your staff, and this can lead to great productivity. While everyone has a responsibility for health and safety and all of your staff are covered by WorkSafeBC, your commitment will help to create the right environment for them to flourish.
WorkSafeBC is a provincial insurance program which covers employees when they are working. This program is paid for by the employer with rates based on the industry and the organization’s experience rating. The WorkSafeBC website is a great resource for employers (www.worksafebc.com/en/for-employers) and summarizes the following employer responsibilities:
- Establish a valid occupational health and safety program.
- Train your employees to do their work safely and provide proper supervision.
- Provide supervisors with the necessary support and training to carry out health and safety responsibilities.
- Ensure adequate first aid equipment, supplies, and trained attendants are on site to handle injuries.
- Regularly inspect your workplace to make sure everything is working properly.
- Fix problems reported by workers.
- Transport injured workers to the nearest location for medical treatment.
- Report all injuries to WorkSafeBC that required medical attention.
- Investigate incidents where workers are injured or equipment is damaged.
- Submit the necessary forms to WorkSafeBC.
Many organizations will establish Health and Safety Committees and ensure there is both management and staff level representation. At Chemistry Consulting/GT Hiring Solutions, we have one employee from each office participate in monthly meetings and act as the local go-to person for any health and safety concerns. These members provide the following support for their team:
- Key contact for identification of hazardous items or unsafe procedures.
- Document meetings to ensure issues are addressed appropriately and provide a pro-active focus to Health and Safety.
- Coordinator for fire drills/ earthquake drills.
- Maintain employee contact lists for emergencies.
- Maintain all emergency kits and WHMIS documentation
- Communicate issues that may be affecting the team – send out help line info, etc.
- Establish and promote monthly H&S themes so that it is top of mind for staff.
- Put together seminars or bring in applicable speakers for learning.
- First aid support – to ensure people are properly qualified and supplies are well-stocked.
- Support the reporting of WorkSafeBC accidents/injuries.
First Aid coverage is also important and you should have properly stocked first aid supplies and facilities (as applicable). Check out the requirements here: www.worksafebc.com/en/health-safety/create-manage/first-aid-requirements. Encouraging your staff to take on this responsibility, and covering the cost and time for them to attend the classes, is a great opportunity to provide training and encourage engagement of these key personnel.
We need to do whatever we can to make a safe work environment for everyone.
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