Department Responsibilities for Health and Safety

The Employer, i.e. departments, are responsible for occupational health and safety within their jurisdiction.  It is their responsibility to:

  1. Establish and review at least annually a written departmental occupational health and safety program in accordance with section 23 of the Act.
  2. Organize joint occupational health and safety committees or provide access to an occupational health and safety representative established in accordance with the Act.
  3. Develop, implement and enforce safety rules, regulations, standards and procedures appropriate to the operations of the department.
  4. Remedy safety concerns identified at the workplace.
  5. Conduct accident investigations, where possible in conjunction with the OHS committees or representatives.
  6. Establish health and safety objectives appropriate to the requirements and experience of the department.
  7. Provide healthy and safe workplaces including such things as safe tools, equipment, materials, procedures, etc.
  8. Develop, by educational programs and example, an attitude conducive to safety awareness.
  9. Ensure that workers are familiar with the proper use of all devices, equipment and clothing required for their protection.   
  10. Ensure workers are not exposed to health or safety hazards as a result of their work duties.
  11. Provide appropriate training to:
      - Identify accident causes;
      - Conduct workplace safety inspections;
      - Serve on  joint occupational health and safety committees or as representatives;
      - Educate workers to their duties and responsibilities under the Act, and
      - Ensure that workers and particularly the supervisors are aware of the hazards associated with their work and are able to carry out their duties safely.
  12. Record and evaluate costs of occupational accidents, injuries and illnesses.
  13. Advise an OHS committee or representative on the actions the employer will take to comply with a recommendation from the committee or representative within 30 days of receipt of that recommendation.
  14. Ensure that all workers who work with a controlled product or are in proximity to a controlled product are informed about the proper use and handling of those products according to the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS).
  15. Comply with other duties as may be detailed in the Act and Regulations.