FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

WHAT'S INCLUDED WITH MY SAFETY PROGRAM / PLAN TEMPLATE?

You will receive your safety program / plan template in electronic MS Word format only. All documents are created in Microsoft Word so you can edit them to suite your specific requirements. The templates are delivered to your provided email address immediately upon purchase. Our custom safety programs / plans are sent to you via email or a download link depending on the size of your program.
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Each safety program / plan template we offer has been developed in accordance with each provincial health and safety regulations across Canada. for example, if you purchase the BC safety manual / plan template then that template has been designed to meet with BC occupational health and safety regulations. If you purchase the Alberta safety manual / plan template then that template has been designed to meet with Alberta occupational health and safety regulations, and so on for each particular province. You will receive your safety program / plan template in MS WORD .doc format; which means you can make edits, changes or additions to your program at anytime.
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You will receive customization instructions in PDF format which will clearly outline how to insert your company logo to each page, how to change your title page picture and how to insert your company name into the entire document in just a few clicks of a button (YOU DO NOT NEED TO MANUALLY INSERT YOUR COMPANY NAME PAGE BY PAGE) - our instructions will outline how to do this for the entire document; very quickly. 

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOUR GENERAL INDUSTRY AND CONSTRUCTION FOCUS SAFETY MANUAL TEMPLATES?

Our General Industry focus OHS safety manual template is ideal for any type of industry (except for construction) and for businesses looking for a basic but solid safety program foundation. If you are in the construction industry then you will want to purchase our Construction focus OHS  Manual Template. Our templates have been designed for small to mid-size businesses. Remember, if WorkSafeBC inspects your worksite, you want to be prepared and it is better to have something in place, rather than nothing. 

Is it more cost effective for me to purchase a safety program template rather than a custom safety program?
Yes, our safety program templates are priced much lower than our custom programs but do differ in content. Our safety manual templates are a basic foundation which include the minimum WorkSafeBC requirements for all businesses in BC. However, these templates have been developed and made cost effective for small businesses and as a basic foundation for your business to start from. Eventually you will have to build on the templates to make the manual more specific to your businesses activities. Our custom program pricing ranges from $2000.00 to $3500.00 depending upon your industry and the size of your business. Our custom programs are much more elaborate in content and are developed specific to your company's activities. Learn more about our custom safety programs HERE.

What's included with my custom safety program if I decide to go this route?
As the custom safety program is much more elaborate in content, you will receive the following elements:
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• OHS Policies (up to 40 different elements as per worksafebc and your industry)
• Safe Work Procedures (up to 40 procedures specific to your industry)
• New and Young Employee Safety Orientation Package
• Sub-contractor Safety Orientation Package
• COVID-19 Safety Plan
• Forms Package

​During the development of your custom program we will contact you with a series of basic questions we will need answers to in order to learn more about your business. We will then have a draft copy of your program ready for you within 2 weeks for your review. We allow 30 days for you to review your program in detail and then let us know if you require any changes/edits/additions. We will conduct up to three major edits to your program from our end within this time period. Your absolute satisfaction is our main goal.

WHAT IS YOUR RETURN POLICY ON ONLINE TRAINING OR TEMPLATE PURCHASES?

As all of our products are digital software, delivered instantly once payment is received, it is impossible for you to return a product to us for a refund. However, we do allow our customers to review their provided programs for a period of 30 days, and if within these 30 days they find any errors in our documents, we will do our utmost best to correct the situation for you. We will make all required corrections to your program, within 5 business days, at no extra cost to our client.

Our main objective here at Empire Safety Solutions is your absolute satisfaction with our product, and to ensure this we will take every possible step to correct the situation for you until you are 100% satisfied. Any errors found in our documents can be immediately reported to (604) 800-9930 or [email protected] and one of our representatives will do their utmost best to ensure your complete satisfaction. If during your online or over the phone purchase order, you do not receive your digital products on time by email, we will gladly refund your purchase amount in full.

DOES EMPIRE SAFETY SOLUTIONS PROVIDE ITS SERVICES IN BC AND ACROSS ALL OF CANADA?

Yes. Although we are situated in British Columbia, BC, we have many clients across Canada also. For over 15 years Empire Safety Solutions has been providing quality health and safety consulting services to clients throughout the following areas across Canada:

Vancouver, British Columbia. BC
Victoria, British Columbia, BC
Calgary & Edmonton, Alberta, AB
Toronto & Ottawa, Ontario
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
​Montreal, Quebec

WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN HIRING A HEALTH AND SAFETY CONSULTANT IN BC?

When hiring a professional health and safety consultant in BC it is important to not only look at the safety consultants work experience in the field of Occupational Health and Safety, but to also look at their credentials. A few years in the OHS field and a few certificates later does not make you a qualified health and safety consultant. Hiring a experienced and educated health and safety consultant is a wise investment with numerous benefits.

Safety consultants in BC can be extremely helpful in getting an Occupational Health and Safety Program off the ground without adding duties to your busy staff’s current workload. Some key questions a company should ask before hiring a health and safety consulting firm, are:

1. What education and professional certifications do you have in the field of Occupational Health and Safety?
2. What experience do you have in the field of Occupational Health and Safety, Safety Management Systems and Safety Training?
3. What industry experience do you have?
4. Do you have liability insurance, errors and omissions insurance and WorkSafeBC insurance?
5. How do you keep up with current OHS legislation and industry best safety practices?
6. Will you provide the scope of work, timelines and deliverables in writing? What due diligence documentation do you provide?

​Empire Safety Solutions is more than happy to answer any of your questions. We will prove to you that we are the right fit for your need because of our experience in the field and our recognized credentials. Let us turn your complicated health and issues into simple solutions. Please contact us for more information on our health and safety consulting firm.

WHAT ARE SOME BENEFITS OF HIRING A HEALTH AND SAFETY CONSULTING COMPANY?

Health and Safety Consultants are third party entities that come into your facility to gain an understanding of how your health and safety program is preforming in your everyday workplace operations. Here are some benefits for your company when hiring a health and safety consulting firm in BC:

1. You are hiring a certified health and safety consulting firm which is recognized with provincial and federal legislative bodies.
2. Your health and safety consultant is guaranteed to be up to date on all WorkSafeBC Regulations.
3. Health and Safety Consultants work independently and therefore can see any health and safety issues in an objective manner. 
4. You get years of special health and safety experience which just cannot be found by hiring somebody.
5. You can utilize health and safety consultants when and as needed, which can be very cost effective for your organization.
6. Health and Safety Consultants can develop you a site specific health and safety program which is in compliance with current legislation.
7. Health and Safety Consultants can provide your employees with certified safety training accreditation when needed.
8. Perhaps an organization’s safety culture is in need of significant improvement, but the culture is reluctant to change.  A health and safety consultant can be called in to validate the importance of the desired changes and help guide the organization to a new and better safety culture, providing not only verification, but cover for the organization to make crucial changes.

Contact us to discover why Empire Safety Solutions would be the ideal health and safety consulting firm to hire for your company in BC.

IS MY BUSINESS IN COMPLIANCE WITH WORKSAFEBC REGULATION?

The Occupational Health & Safety Regulation and the Workers Compensation Act has thousands of written regulations and guidelines which, depending upon the industry you work in, employers must follow here in BC. At times, these regulations can be hard to find and sometimes even difficult to understand. So, to know if your in compliance with these regulations is no easy task. 

However, we at Empire Safety Solutions can definitely make this task a little easier for you.

Typically, we will start off by conducting a site safety inspection which will then follow up with a more detailed safety audit of your work site. With this compiled information we can then determine which areas of your business is either in compliance or non-compliance. We will then supply your organization with a detailed, but easy-to-read, report that will help you understand what steps you need to take to ensure you are in compliance with the OHSR & WCA (WorkSafeBC). We will also take the time to verbally go over our written report, step-by-step, with your team to ensure you fully understand the contents of the report and that you are comfortable in taking the next steps towards achieving safety excellence in your workplace. 

HOW DO I REDUCE MY WORKSAFEBC (WCB) PREMIUMS?

A commitment to health and safety can create a better work environment, help businesses retain good workers, and lead to greater productivity and better customer service from workers who are trained to do their jobs safely. Fewer workplace accidents can also reduce business costs such as those incurred in training temporary employees, repairing property damage, or paying WorkSafeBC fines and increased WorkSafeBC premiums.

A well run business not only values its customers, but also values its employees. We at Empire Safety Solutions educate employers on how a proper implemented safety program not only prevents injuries and disease in the workplace, but also ensures you are in compliance with the OHSR Regulation (WorkSafeBC) and in the long run - can save you money. Yes read that correctly, a good safety program can save you money. High injury rates at your workplace result in your premium rates to increase rapidly. Thus, forcing you to pay more in premiums on a yearly basis. However, these costs can be reduced considerably by preventing injuries and ensuring a proper health and safety program has been implemented at your workplace.

HOW DO I KNOW IF MY BUSINESS NEEDS A HEALTH & SAFETY PROGRAM?

​All B.C. workplaces, regardless of the type of industry you work in or the size of your business, are required to have either a FORMAL or INFORMAL occupational health and safety program. 

The Occupational Health & Safety Regulation (WorkSafeBC) states that an FORMAL occupational health and safety program must be initiated and maintained by each employer that has a workforce of 20 or more workers, and at least one workplace that is determined to create a moderate or high risk of injury, or by each employer that has a workforce of 50 or more workers. If this applies to the employer, the occupational health and safety program applies to the whole of the employer's operations. Also, an occupational health and safety program may be required in any workplace when, in the opinion of an WorkSafeBC officer, such a program is necessary. Click here (Part 3 Section 3.1) to read the legislation on formal Occupational Health and Safety Programs.

In any operation where the workforce is less than 20 employees the employer must initiate and maintain a less formal (INFORMAL) program based on regular monthly meetings with workers for discussion of health and safety matters, ensure that meetings are directed to matters concerning the correction of unsafe conditions and practices and the maintenance of cooperative interest in the health and safety of the workforce, and maintain a record of the meetings and the matters discussed. Click here (Part 3 Section 3.2) to read the legislation on informal Occupational Health and Safety Programs.

We can help you develop an formal or informal health and safety program which will help you maintain your excellent safety record.

WHAT NEEDS TO BE INCLUDED ON YOUR OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY PROGRAM IN BC?

The different types of health and safety policies and procedures which need to be included in your OHS program depends upon the nature of your work, the hazard rating of your industry and how large your organization is. However, WorkSafeBC does state that your Occupational health and Safety Program in BC needs to be designed a certain way as per the OHSR Regulations. 

WorkSafeBC OHSR Section 3.3 - Contents of Program

The occupational health and safety program must be designed to prevent injuries and occupational diseases, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the program must include:
(a) a statement of the employer's aims and the responsibilities of the employer, supervisors and workers,
(b) provision for the regular inspection of premises, equipment, work methods and work practices, at appropriate intervals, to ensure that prompt action is undertaken to correct any hazardous conditions found,
(c) appropriate written instructions, available for reference by all workers, to supplement this Occupational Health and Safety Regulation,
(d) provision for holding periodic management meetings for the purpose of reviewing health and safety activities and incident trends, and for the determination of necessary courses of action,
(e) provision for the prompt investigation of incidents to determine the action necessary to prevent their recurrence,
(f) the maintenance of records and statistics, including reports of inspections and incident investigations, with provision for making this information available to the joint committee or worker health and safety representative, as applicable and, upon request, to an officer, the union representing the workers at the workplace or, if there is no union, the workers at the workplace, and
(g) provision by the employer for the instruction and supervision of workers in the safe performance of their work.

Learn more on how Empire Safety Solutions can assist your company in developing your own Occupational Health and Safety Program.

AS AN EMPLOYER WHAT ARE MY LEGAL HEALTH AND SAFETY RESPONSIBILITIES IN BC?

Whether your business is large or small in BC, the WorkSafeBC OHS Regulations and the Worker's Compensation Act requires that it be a safe and healthy place to work. If you are an employer, it is your responsibility to ensure a healthy and safe workplace.

Employer responsibilities:
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• Establish a valid occupational health and safety program.
• Train your employees to do their work safely and provide proper supervision.
• Provide supervisors with the necessary support and training to carry out health and safety responsibilities.
• Ensure adequate first aid equipment, supplies, and trained attendants are on site to handle injuries.
• Regularly inspect your workplace to make sure everything is working properly.
• Fix problems reported by workers.
• Transport injured workers to the nearest location for medical treatment.
• Report all injuries to WorkSafeBC that required medical attention.
• Investigate incidents where workers are injured or equipment is damaged.
• Submit the necessary forms to WorkSafeBC.

Contact us for information.

AS A SUPERVISOR OR MANAGER WHAT ARE MY LEGAL HEALTH AND SAFETY RESPONSIBILITIES IN BC?

Supervisors in BC play a key role with very specific health and safety responsibilities that need to be understood. 

A supervisor is a person who instructs, directs, and controls workers in the performance of their duties. A supervisor can be any worker, management or staff  who meets this definition, whether or not he or she has the supervisor title. If someone in the workplace has a supervisor's responsibilities, that person is responsible for worker health and safety.

Supervisor Responsibilities:
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• Ensure the health and safety of all workers under your direct supervision.
• Know the WorkSafeBC requirements that apply to the work under your supervision and make sure those requirements are met.
• Ensure workers under your supervision are aware of all known hazards.
• Ensure workers under your supervision have the appropriate personal protective equipment, which is being used properly, regularly inspected, and maintained.

​Contact us for information.

AS A PRIME CONTRACTOR WHAT ARE MY LEGAL HEALTH AND SAFETY RESPONSIBILITIES IN BC ?

In a workplace where there are two or more employers working at the same time, a written agreement should identify a prime contractor. If there is no written agreement, the owner is considered to be the prime contractor.

While prime contractors in BC have overall responsibility for health and safety on a work site, employers still retain responsibility for the health and safety of their own workers.

Prime Contractor Responsibilities:
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• Coordinate the occupational health and safety activities of all employers, workers, and anyone else at the workplace.
• Establish and maintain procedures to ensure occupational health and safety requirements at the workplace are followed by all parties.

​​​Contact us for information.

CONTACT US FOR A FREE CONSULTATION

WE OFFER THE FOLLOWING HEALTH AND SAFETY CONSULTING SERVICES IN BC

Health and Safety Programs Development

Workplace Safety Audits & Inspections

WCB Inspection Report Compliance

Health and Safety Training Courses

Safety Management Systems & COR Consulting

Health and Safety Consulting