Policy 77
Approved Administrative Committee 161.8OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY
INTERPRETATION AND APPLICATION
1. This Policy must be applied in conjunction with the applicable health and safety legislation and with the University’s administrative policies and procedures, in particular the University’s Internal Responsibility Procedure for Health and Safety Issues which further explains the responsibilities of individuals at the University and sets out the University’s accountability framework for health and safety matters.
2. This Policy applies to all members of the University of Ottawa community, including the University’s Board of Governors, employees, volunteers, students and visitors. Contractors hired by the University are also expected to observe and comply with this Policy where warranted.
POLICY STATEMENT
3. It is the University’s policy to maintain a safe work and study environment, to comply with health and safety legislation, regulations and orders. The University promotes and seeks to protect the health, safety and well-being of all members of the University community. The University is committed to
- a) continually seeking to better provide a safe and healthy work and study environment and to prevent occupational injuries and illnesses;
- b) addressing the health and safety issues of those University employees or students whose place of work or study is located at an another organization or beyond the geographical location of the University’s premises, by continuing to take reasonable steps to ensure such organizations have health and safety policies and procedures in place; and
- c) maintaining a learning and work environment that is free from violence and harassment, as required by the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
HEALTH AND SAFETY RESPONSIBILITIES
4. The University and every individual at all levels of its organizational structure have a legal responsibility to adhere to health and safety laws. (Consult the University’s University’s Internal Responsibility Procedure for Health and Safety Issues for further explanation and details on the roles and responsibilities of the University as an employer, and those of supervisors, including senior management, professors and principal investigators.)
5. The University’s legal obligations consist of a combination of duties, such as ensuring employee compliance with health and safety laws, informing employees about the existence of potential or actual workplace hazards and providing training and instruction on preventative procedures. The University must be able to demonstrate that it has taken reasonable precautions to ensure employees can work in a healthy and safe work environment, and that reasonable steps have been taken to ensure that employees are acquainted with the University’s health and safety policies, procedures, practices and guidelines.
6. All University employees must protect their own health and safety by working in compliance with the relevant legislation and with safe work practices and procedures established by the University. Employees must familiarize themselves with legislated and internal safety requirements, use or wear protective equipment or devices where required, and report safety hazards, accidents, incidents or near misses to their supervisors. Employees must support all initiatives for improving workplace health and safety conditions.
7. The University is also responsible for providing all of its students with a safe and healthy work and study environment. While students are not subject to provincial legislation on occupational health and safety, the University abides by the principles of this legislation in the case of students.
DISCIPLINARY MEASURES
8. Individuals who fail to meet their obligations concerning health and safety shall be subject to disciplinary measures, in accordance with the University policies, procedures and/or collective agreements governing their employment.
REPRISALS PROHIBITED
9. No individual shall be disciplined, penalized, coerced, dismissed, intimidated or suspended for complying with this policy, University procedures or directives, or the applicable occupational health and safety legislation.
POLICY REVIEW
10. This Policy shall be reviewed by the University annually and in accordance with the applicable health and safety legislation.
EXCEPTION
11. No exception or amendment may be made to this policy without the approval of the Administrative Committee.
Revised July 14, 2010.
(Office of Risk Management)