Policy 6.4 - Occupational Health and Safety Policy

Effective Date: 11-April-06
Responsible Branch: Human Resources Branch

Management Services Volume Table of Contents | Amendment Log

The Ministry of Forests and Range has a culture where all staff fully participate and ensure a safe and healthy workplace.

The management of each ministry workplace shall develop, implement and maintain an Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Program for the prevention of injuries and occupational diseases to employees. Each program shall comply with the requirements of the Workers' Compensation (WC) Act, OHS Regulation and applicable Collective Agreements.

The OHS Program at each ministry workplace must consist of the following components:

• Statement of Employer's Aims and the responsibilities of the employer, supervisors and workers
• Workplace Inspections
• Written Instructions/Safe Work Procedures
• Periodic Management Meetings
• Incident Investigations
• Records and Statistics
• Instruction and Supervision of Workers

In addition to establishing an OHS Program, each ministry workplace shall also develop, implement and maintain specific program elements designed to mitigate specific hazards/conditions in the workplace. These program elements shall include but not be limited to:

• First Aid
• Prevention of Violence in the Workplace
• Workplace conduct
• Working Alone
• Ergonomics
• Indoor Air Quality
• Emergency Preparedness and Response

Each workplace management team will identify line Manager(s) to be responsible for the development, implementation and maintenance of an OHS Program including other specific program elements needed to mitigate specific hazards/conditions in the workplace. One effective way of establishing safety in the workplace is to incorporate it into the business and Employee Performance and Development Plan process.

Where and as required by the WC Act and the Collective Agreement, the management of a workplace shall ensure the establishment and maintenance of a Joint Health and Safety Committee and/or Worker Health and Safety Representative at their workplace. Management shall ensure that the Joint Health and Safety Committee or Health and Safety Representative shall function in accordance with their duties and functions as prescribed by the WC Act.

BC Public Service Agency OHS Specialists have been assigned to provide consultative services to workplaces around the province. These specialists are available to assist line Managers with the development, implementation and maintenance of their OHS Program and applicable program elements for their workplace.

Strategic Human Resources shall provide and maintain generic resource materials and templates to assist local management in the development and maintenance of workplace safety programs and shall assist ministry executive in establishing any ministry-wide OHS performance targets/objectives and yearly corporate program review.