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THE CORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF NEWCASTLE
REPORT
Meeting:
File#~
GENERAL PURPOSE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE Res. # c;:., PA--I5"l--q~
Date:
March 2, 1998
File#:
By-Law #
Report #:
Subject:
ADMIN-5-98
HEALTH & SAFETVITRAINING OFFICER
Recommendations:
It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and Administration Committee
recommend to Council the following:
1. THAT Report Admin-5-gB be received;
~ THAT Council appoint the position of Property Manager as the official Health &
~afetyfTraining Officer in addition to the regular duties of the position; and
3. THAT all departments be provided notice of the above appointment.
Background
1.0 The Joint Health & Safety Committee
1.1 The Municipality of Clarington, because it does not have a Human Resources
Department, has come across a number of issues that would normally be handled
through that office. One of the issues was a Health and SafetyfTraining Officer
who would be responsible for the co-ordination of programs and directives
coming from the Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC).
1 .2 The Municipality of Clarington does have an active and productive JHSC with two
co-chairs, F. Horvath, Property Manager and K. Groen, Building Services. The
recommendations from the Committee as it relates to the Occupational Health
and Safety Act are directed to the Department Heads for their implementation.
There is currently not a consistent application and/or implementation of the
recommendations, particularly relating to training. Consequently there have been
occasions when the training and/or problem solutions might have been available
to more than one department if they were centrally administered or co-ordinated.
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.AP'A~AECVCLE
Tl<1S "' PAM1:DON ""CVa..ED PAPER
1201
1 .3 The Fire Department currently does their training in-house with their regular
officers. Their training is specific to their duties, and although they would be able
to assist in providing some of the training that is fire related, they are not in a
position to redirect one of their officers to fulfil the role on a regular or consistent
basis.
2.0 Health & Safety Officer Appointment
2.1 Mr. Horvath, as Property Manager and as Co-chair of the JHSC, has had
extensive experience of issues at all facilities, is familiar with the Occupational
Health and Safety Act, and is considered to be an appropriate choice for the
position. He has expressed his willingness to take on the additional
responsibilities in addition to his current duties, and as such there is not expected
to be any budgetary impact.
2.2 The recommendation has the support of the Department Heads, who will work
with Mr. Horvath to ensure compliance with legislation and recommendations of
the Joint Health & Safety Committee.
2.3 The local area municipalities of Oshawa, Ajax and Pickering, as well as the Region
of Durham, have designated Health & Safety Officers who perform the function
as part of their regular duties. Therefore the appointment would be in keeping
with the trend within the municipal sector.
3.0 Roles & Responsibilities
3.1 The position is not an established one, and as such the development of the roles
and responsibilities will be an evolutionary one, however, the general guidelines
are outlined below:
1. To provide assistance to Department Heads as it relates to the
Corporate Health and Safety Program.
2. To co-ordinate all health and safety training with the Municipality,
with the exception of the fire department functional training, and
maintain all training records.
3. Provide safety perception surveys which will provide the tools for
senior management to assess and determine level of success.
3.2 As stated above, all departments will assist in fulfilling all related
recommendations from the JHSC and in general will follow the following
guidelines:
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1 . Be responsible for health and safety by complying with the OHSA
and appropriate legislation regulations and with the assistance of
the Health & Safety/Training Officer.
2. Support and implement the Corporate Safety Program in all
applicable issues that relate to the department.
4.0 Conclusion
The Municipality has a comprehensive corporate Health and Safety Program
which is critical in providing a safe work place as set out in the OHSA. The
appointment of one individual to be responsible for the health and safety
initiatives and compliance to various legislation is critical to the protection of
workers, and the Corporation.
Respectfully submitted,
~Ws-t/'--
W. H. Stockwell,
Chief Administrative Officer
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