1.0 ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

 

Management and Supervisory Personnel

Management and Supervisory Personnel are responsible for ensuring that:

• Periodic meetings of management personnel are held for the purpose of reviewing health and safety activities and accident trends and determining necessary courses of corrective actions.
• Support and direction necessary for the effective implementation of the health and safety program are provided and Company Name health and safety policies, procedures and WCB requirements are enforced.
• Workers are informed of any potential or actual dangers to their health and safety, are instructed in the safe work practices, rules and WCB requirements and policies.
• Employees are not permitted to work when their actions indicate that the work would jeopardize themselves or others.
• Appropriate records and statistics are maintained and made available, where required, to inspectors, investigators or other regulatory personnel.
• Where required by WorkSafeBC, a Notice of Project is completed and submitted at least 24 hours prior to workers commencing work and a copy is posted at the construction site.
• Where required by the WorkSafeBC, a qualified coordinator/person is designated to be responsible for project health and safety activities.
• Where practicable, new work areas are inspected prior to commencement of work.
• Daily informal inspections are undertaken and, for jobs anticipated to last more than two weeks, bi-weekly planned inspections of work areas, equipment, tools, work methods and practices are undertaken.
• Completed inspection reports are submitted to management at the earliest opportunity.
• Immediate action, as authorized by management, is undertaken to correct substandard safety practices and conditions identified through inspections or reported to management / supervisory personnel.
• All accidents required to be investigated by the WCB regulation, are investigated for the purpose of identifying causes and necessary corrective actions.
• Accident investigation reports are reviewed and necessary courses of corrective action are implemented through directives to appropriate personnel.
• A company representative accompanies WorkSafeBC officers performing inspections and is shown complete cooperation.
• Copies of the WCB Regulation and company Health and Safety Program are made readily available on the job site.
• Copies of all WorkSafeBC Inspection Reports, received at the job site, are forwarded to head office at the earliest opportunity and posted on the job in a conspicuous place.
• If regulatory infractions are noted on a WCB inspection report, necessary corrective actions are authorized and implemented at the earliest practicable opportunity.
• Job site health and safety activities are coordinated with subcontractors and the principal contractor or owner.
• Where there is a workforce of twenty or more workers, company representatives are provided to participate in the project health and safety committee.
• An adequate supply of appropriate personal protective equipment is provided, used and maintained on the job site as required.
• Required first aid and emergency facilities are maintained on the job.
• Weekly tool-box safety meetings are held for personnel to:
• a) discuss observed unsafe work practices and conditions,
• b) review and implement corrective action to eliminate unsafe practices and conditions, and
• c) encourage safety suggestions from workers.
• WHMIS-controlled products are identified and labelled and appropriate Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) are readily available.
• A procedure is developed for periodically checking the well-being of workers assigned to work alone under conditions that present a risk of disabling injury.
• A good example is set for all workers.

 

Worker / Employee Responsibilities

We expect all workers and/or employees to take an active part in the Occupational Health and Safety Program. This can be accomplished by, but is not limited to the following:

The worker/employee must:

• Undergo safety orientation and familiarize themselves with and comply with all applicable requirements of the company Health and Safety Program and the WorkSafeBC Regulation. (see Appendix A)
• They report all unsafe conditions and practices to their immediate supervisor and take corrective action, when practicable, to eliminate such hazards.
• They do not operate equipment unless they are authorized and trained to do so, all safeguards are in place and functional, and no person will be endangered.
• They immediately report to a company supervisor and the first aid attendant all work-related injuries and health problems and cooperate in the investigation of such incidents.
• If they have a physical or mental impairment which may affect their ability to work safely (e.g.: back problems, epilepsy), they inform their supervisor of the impairment and do not work where the impairment may create an undue risk to themselves or anyone else.
• They do not enter or remain at the workplace if under the influence of alcohol, prescription or illegal drugs which may impair their ability to do their job safely.
• They do not engage in any improper activity or behaviour (horseplay, scuffling, fighting, practical jokes or similar conduct) that may endanger themselves or others.
• They maintain good housekeeping and enter/leave their work area using safe routes.
• They wear appropriate personal protective equipment and maintain it in good working order.
• They do not carry out or cause to be carried out any work process or operate or cause to be operated any tool, appliance or equipment if there is reasonable cause to believe that to do so would create an undue hazard to the health or safety of any person.
• They use WHMIS-controlled materials in accordance with WHMIS recommendations.
• They actively participate in tool-box safety meetings to help maintain safe conditions on site.
• They set a safe example for all other workers.

 

Contractor/Subcontractor Responsibilities

All contractors/subcontractors shall be made aware of our Occupational Health and Safety Program rules and regulations. The Contractor Supervisors and/or Foreman shall be responsible for the direct supervision and safety of their crew. They are accountable to the Project Superintendent for the performance of personnel through the safe work practices and procedures as well as any other applicable Acts and Regulations. It is the contractor/subcontractor’s responsibility to perform the job in compliance with our safety standards or other applicable legislation.

Any infractions not immediately corrected as directed by City Elevator Ltd. will result in the contractors/ subcontractors being advised of the breach of contract and the action that will be taken as a result of the breach according to company policy. It must be firmly established that our safety program protects all workers on the job, including all subcontractor’s employees.

 

All contractor/subcontractors must:

• Read and understand our company Health & Safety Program. Must be knowledgeable of and comply with all regulations, laws and codes.
• Ensure all his/her employees complete a company orientation when/where required prior to his/her employees working on site (Appendix A).
• Enforce all established safety regulations and work methods. Take disciplinary action necessary to ensure compliance with the rules.
• Ensure that a trade safety representative will attend regular Site Safety Meetings.
• Hold regular “Tool Box Talk” meetings with his/her crew, record the meeting, and submit a copy to the project supervisor for review.
• Conduct regular inspections for unsafe practices and conditions and ensure prompt corrective action to eliminate causes of accidents and “near misses”.
• Complete an accident/incident report ensuring all accidents/incidents are investigated and corrective action is taken to prevent re-occurrence.  Copies of the report are given to the project supervisor.
• Inform each employee of the hazards associated with his/her job and provides the training in the safe work practices required to perform his/her job safely.
• Impart to each employee an understanding that violation of established safety rules will not be tolerated.
• Ensure that required safety equipment and PPE are provided and used for each job.
• Observe new hire employees closely until confident of workers ability to perform assigned duties safely.

 

Visitor Responsibilities 

Each visitor is responsible for safe guarding his/her own health and safety.

All visitors must:

• Report to the project office and obtain permission for entry onto the project site.
• Wear approved personal protective equipment. (Approved boots, hardhat, & high visibility vests).
• Comply with Local Government Safety Legislation and Safety Program Requirements.
• Report any unsafe acts or conditions to the Project Superintendent.
• Report any injuries sustained on the site to the Project Superintendent.

 

First Aid Attendant Responsibilities

The first aid attendant shall assist in the ongoing safety efforts in the workplace through efforts in promoting safety amongst all employees and subcontractors. This basic responsibility includes, but is not limited to the following:

The First Aid Attendant must:

• Administer First Aid as required.
• Ensuring that adequate first aid equipment is available, first aid room in neat, clean, and properly stocked and meets all WCB requirements.
• Providing general induction and orientation to new workers.
• Reporting hazards to the site supervisor.
• Ensure workers who wear respirators are fit-tested and trained in the proper usage, care and maintenance of their respirators.
• Ensure the First Aid Log book is completed accurately and kept confidential.
• Coordinate the transportation of injured workers to a physician’s office or hospital.
• Check with workers as to who holds a valid first aid certificate and maintenance of own first aid qualifications as required
• Assist the Site Safety Officer when necessary.
• Implement and post a site safety plan.
• Setting a good example.

 

Construction Safety Officer Responsibilities (CSO)

 

The site superintendent is the individual who is responsible for prioritizing the following responsibilities. The CSO is an extension of the superintendent’s authority with respect to health and safety but cannot supersede it. All health and safety occurrences must be reported back to the supervisor.

The Site Safety Officer is responsible for the daily administration of the Safety Program on site, and must:

• Ensure all aspects of the company Safety Program have been implemented as required.
• Post all company Safety Bulletins, WorkSafeBC inspection reports, and safety rules and requirements.
• Record the name and phone number of the CSO, TSC or designated safety person for each sub-trade.
• Report all hazards to the Project Supervisor and if possible, eliminate the hazard immediately.
• Conduct and document a minimum of 2 daily site inspections and follow up on these inspections to ensure that any corrective action required has been completed. (Appendix B).
• Ensure that weekly toolbox talks are conducted and documented by each trade.
• Record WorkSafeBC and company regulation infractions including any fines on appropriate forms.
• Record safety / regulation infractions by visitors, delivery people or inspectors.
• Assist contractors to conduct frequent hazard assessments and collect appropriate documentation.
• Arrange Site Safety Meetings every month and have workers sign in. The WorkSafeBC Safety Officer for the site should be invited to the first meeting, if possible. 
• Update and maintain current Material Safety Data Sheets for all hazardous substances on site.
• Ensure sub-trades are holding Trade Tool Box Talks when they change activities and before jobs with risk of injury are started.
• Assist Project Supervisor(s) in accident investigation, analysis and preparation of accident reports and summaries.

 

Safety Coordination Responsibilities (Owner)

The site owner is responsible for ensuring that City Elevator Ltd. personnel are informed of any hazards related to owner operations or site conditions, and the procedures to be used to address those hazards.

The Prime Contractor, or in the absence of a Prime Contractor, the Owner is responsible for co-ordinating site health and safety activities on a construction site that has two or more employers , and the site has overlapping or adjoining work activities that create a hazard to workers.  In these situations the owner, or if the owner engages a prime contractor, the prime contractor, will: 

Appoint a qualified coordinator to:

• ensure coordination of health and safety activities for the location
• inform employers and workers of hazards created
• ensure hazards are addressed throughout the duration of the work activities, and;

Post:

• the name of the qualified coordinator
• a site drawing showing project layout, first aid location, emergency transportation provisions, and the evacuation head-count location
• a set of construction procedures designed to protect the health and safety of workers at the workplace, developed in accordance with the requirements of the Workers Compensation Act (WCA) and Occupational Health & Safety Regulation (OHSR)

 

For multi-employer worksites, as described above, each employer must:

• Give the Prime Contractor’s Qualified Coordinator the name of a Qualified Person designated to be responsible for their site health and safety activities, and;
• Notify the owner, or the prime contractor if one has been engaged, in advance of any undertaking likely to create a hazard for a worker of another employer.