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According to the Workers Compensation Act and the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation in BC, it’s the employer’s responsibility to implement an occupational health and safety (OHS) program to prevent employee workplace injury and disease. OHS programs in British Columbia BC must meet certain safety standards. The employer must exercise due diligence in taking steps to meet those standards.
You must have a 'formal' health and safety program if you have either a workforce of 20 or more workers and at least one workplace where there is a moderate or high risk of injury and when you have a workforce of 50 or more workers. Small businesses or employers with fewer than 20 workers need a health and safety program too. These programs can be simpler. We refer to them as "informal" health and safety programs. Health and safety programs in BC are aimed at ensuring workers are protected, risks are minimized, and a healthy and safe workplace is maintained. All employers must establish some form of health and safety program at the workplace. The type of program you need depends on the number of workers you have and the risks associated with their work. Though every workplace and every occupational health and safety (OHS) program are different, there are some key elements common to all programs. For over 20 years, Empire Safety Solutions has been providing clients with professional occupational health and safety consulting services, ohs safety audits, ohs safety inspections and safety training courses in: VICTORIA BC, VANCOUVER ISLAND BC, VANCOUVER BC, NORTH VANCOUVER BC, WEST VANCOUVER BC, BURNABY BC, NEW WESTMINSTER BC, RICHMOND BC, SURREY BC, DELTA BC, LANGLEY BC, FORT LANGLEY BC, MAPLE RIDGE BC, COQUITLAM BC, PORT COQUITLAM BC, PORT MOODY BC, PITT MEADOWS BC, ABBOTSFORD BC and MISSION BC.
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 Fall Protection Training in BC
Falls from heights, even relatively low elevations, can result in serious injuries. The proper use of fall protection equipment — in addition to planning, supervision, and training — can reduce or eliminate the risk of falling. The Occupational Health and Safety Regulation in BC requires workers to use fall protection systems when they could fall from a height of 3 m (10 ft.) or more, or where a fall from a lesser height could result in serious injury. Employers in BC are required to ensure all their employees working at heights are adequately provided with certified fall protection training in BC. Fall Protection Hierarchy The fall protection hierarchy in BC must be used when choosing methods to eliminate or control fall hazards. The steps are listed in the order in which they should be considered.
Empire Safety Solutions has been providing Fall Protection Training, OHS Safety Consulting Services, OHS Safety Audits, OHS Safety Inspections, OHS Safety Program in BC since 2002: SERVING VICTORIA BC (VANCOUVER ISLAND), VANCOUVER BC, NORTH VANCOUVER BC, WEST VANCOUVER BC, BURNABY BC, NEW WESTMINSTER BC, RICHMOND BC, SURREY BC, LANGLEY BC, FORT LANGLEY BC, MAPLE RIDGE BC, COQUITLAM BC, PORT COQUITLAM BC, PORT MOODY BC, PITT MEADOWS BC, MISSION BC & ABBOTSFORD BC Employer’s Responsibilities
Employers have both general and specific responsibilities related to hazard control and worker health and safety in BC. In carrying out these duties, management—from the chief executive officer through to the first-level supervisor—can demonstrate their commitment to health and safety in the workplace. General Responsibilities • Ensure the health and safety of the employer’s workers and other workers present at the workplace. • Establish occupational health and safety policies and an OHS program in BC. • Provide general direction to management, supervisors, and workers about their responsibilities and roles in providing a safe and healthy workplace. • Provide specific direction and delegate authority to those responsible for health and safety. • Consult and cooperate with individuals carrying out occupational health and safety duties (including joint committee members, worker health and safety representatives, and WorkSafeBC prevention officers). • Provide workers with the information, instruction, training, and supervision necessary to protect their health and safety. • Provide supervisors with the support and training necessary to carry out their health and safety responsibilities. • Provide and maintain protective equipment, devices, and clothing, and ensure that they are used. • Make a copy of the Workers Compensation Act and the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation readily available for review by workers. Contact Empire Safety Solutions for more information! For over 20 years, Empire Safety Solutions has been providing clients with professional occupational health and safety consulting services in: VICTORIA BC, VANCOUVER ISLAND BC, VANCOUVER BC, NORTH VANCOUVER BC, WEST VANCOUVER BC, BURNABY BC, NEW WESTMINSTER BC, RICHMOND BC, SURREY BC, DELTA BC, LANGLEY BC, FORT LANGLEY BC, MAPLE RIDGE BC, COQUITLAM BC, PORT COQUITLAM BC, PORT MOODY BC, PITT MEADOWS BC, ABBOTSFORD BC and MISSION BC. WORKPLACE SAFETY AUDITS
Our team of experienced health and safety auditors (health and safety audits in BC) work with you and your employees to measure and assess your occupational health and safety program and provide clear guidance on how you can improve and streamline your safety processes. We use a formal document process that has been approved by WorkSafeBC (WCB). OUR AUDITS Safety Systems Audits WorkSafeBC Compliance Audit – Provincial and Federal Acts & OHSR Regulations Providing Hazard Assessments and Workplace Safety Inspections WHY ORGANIZATIONS RECEIVE AN AUDIT It is part of their Continuous Improvement System towards safety excellence It provides an independent and unbiased examination of their health and safety processes It will ensure good standing with WorkSafeBC OHSR and WCA Regulations and provide proof of Due Diligence It is part of the ‘Safety Certification Training in BC' program Empire Safety Solutions provides occupational health and safety consulting, health and safety training, health and safety consultants in Vancouver BC, Surrey BC, Langley BC, Delta BC, Richmond BC, Burnaby BC, Victoria BC and Abbotsord BC. A comprehensive workplace safety inspection program in BC may include daily inspections of equipment, initial startup inspections, walk-arounds of mobile equipment before use, daily and/or weekly supervisor inspections, and weekly and/or monthly departmental inspections. In addition to regularly scheduled inspections, you need to inspect your workplace after an incident or when you have added a new work process or new equipment.
Conducting an inspection During an inspection, identify unsafe conditions and activities that may cause injury or illness, so you can take corrective measures. Follow these guidelines:
What to focus on There are different ways to approach safety inspections. Looking at the components of your health and safety program will help. For example, you can focus on the most common tasks your workers perform or on specific issues addressed by your program, such as material handling, confined space entry, or workplace violence. You may wish to break up the worksite into specific segments with focused checklists to look at specific hazards and activities in each area. Here are some examples of things to look for:
For more information on conducting a safety inspection. After the inspection Follow these guidelines to address issues and conclude the inspection:
According to the Workers Compensation Act and the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation in BC, it’s the employer’s responsibility to implement an occupational health and safety (OHS) program to prevent employee workplace injury and disease. OHS programs in British Columbia BC must meet certain safety standards. The employer must exercise due diligence in taking steps to meet those standards.
You must have a 'formal' health and safety program if you have either a workforce of 20 or more workers and at least one workplace where there is a moderate or high risk of injury and when you have a workforce of 50 or more workers. Small businesses or employers with fewer than 20 workers need a health and safety program too. These programs can be simpler. We refer to them as "informal" health and safety programs. Health and safety programs in BC are aimed at ensuring workers are protected, risks are minimized, and a healthy and safe workplace is maintained. All employers must establish some form of health and safety program at the workplace. The type of program you need depends on the number of workers you have and the risks associated with their work. Though every workplace and every occupational health and safety (OHS) program are different, there are some key elements common to all programs. Active Health & Safety Management
Active health and safety management in BC is an essential first step toward improving your organization's health and safety culture. There are two aspects of managing health and safety performance for continual improvement:
An active health and safety management approach encompasses the health and safety program approach and builds upon it. Standards for Active Health & Safety Management The two aspects of actively managing health and safety, mentioned above, are combined in the framework of occupational health and safety management system (OHSMS) canadian standards such as CSA Z1000-14. OHSMS standards outline the principles and processes to follow for continual health and safety improvement. OHSMS standards can be applied to any industry. They do not make reference to specific hazards, but they indicate the need for specific health and safety processes and proactive management processes. Within these standards are components of an effective health and safety program, including:
Adopting an OHSMS standard for your organization is voluntary, but it is very beneficial. Using these standards of active health and safety management can steer you towards best practice. Actively managing health and safety is a key step to improving your organization's health and safety culture. |
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