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HomeMy WebLinkAboutADMIN-11-01 \ ..,r,",- "! "'. : THE CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON REPORT Meeting General Purpose and Administration File# /)oq Res. # CI/}- 3S-;g--o! Date: June 4, 2001 Report #: ADMIN 11-01 File#: By-law # Subject Corporate Health and Safety Program Recommendations: It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and Administration Committee recommend to Council the following: 1. That the annual report of the Corporate Joint Health and Safety Committee Admin Report ADMIN 11-01 be received for information. 1. BACKGROUND 1.1 As set out in the Occupational Health and Safety Act, the Employer must prepare and review annually a written Occupational Health and Safety Policy and develop and maintain a program to implement that policy. 1.2 The Committee has reviewed the Corporate Health and Safety Policy and recommends no changes to the current policy (Schedule A - By-law 99-145). 1.3 The Committee is updating the detailed Corporate Health and Safety Program to incorporate minor changes to the various sections. 2.0 ACCOMPLISHMENTS Since the last report to Council, the Committee would like to report on the following activities: . Distribution of Corporate Health and Safety Policy and Program to all Supervisors. . Distribution of OI-iSA book to all Supervisors. . Regular meetings of the Committee with minutes circulated and posted. 1001 " REPORT ADMIN 11-01 PAGE 2 . Regular workplace inspections. . Completion of municipal ladder inventory. . Development of a Corporate ladder policy and procedure. . Development of a worker orientation report form. . Training for Committee members on Accident Investigation and Workplace Inspection. . Coordinated an information session with the Ontario Human Rights Commission on Workplace Harassment. . Organized a WHMIS training program for all clerical staff. . Provincial certification of four (4) additional Committee members. . Accident investigation and recommendation for incidents at the Garnet B. Rickard Centre and Hampton Operations Centre. . Indoor Air quality investigated at the Courtice Fire Hall. . Recommendation of a policy on the use of cell phones while driving. . Initiation and completion of a ten part training session on the Health and Safety Program for all Supervisors. . Coordinated session on changes with the OHSA affecting construction. . Recommendation of flu vaccine for workers. 3.0 ONGOING MATTERS These are some of the initiatives that the Committee is pursuing: 1. Mandatory Repetitive Strain Injury training session for all office employees 2. Mandatory general health and safety training program for all Supervisors 3. Circulating a wellness survey to all Employees 4. Review of all municipal procedures where there is a worker working alone 5, Update of the Corporate Health and Safety Program 6. Indoor air quality protocol for all buildings 4.0 CERTIFICATION Ten (10) members of the Joint Health and Safety Committee have received their Basic Core Certification which is a requirement under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (1990). The Workplace Safety Insurance Board has set a deadline of December 31,2001 to complete the second part of the certification training. This training is workplace specific in that it focuses on significant hazards in the workplace. 1002 6.1 . REPORT ADMIN 11-01 PAGE 3 The Joint Health and Safety Committee will be reporting back to the Employer in the near future on the significant hazards in our workplace. A training program for certified members will then be established to address these hazards and recommend ways to control or eliminate them. Some of the significant hazards in a municipal setting are as follows: . slips and falls ergonoll11cs indoor air quality electrical confined space entry trenching violence management fire and explosion work area protection/traffic control . . . . . . . . 5.0 CO-CHAIRS 5.1 As selected by the respective members of the Joint Health and Safety Committee the new Co-chairs for the Committee will be Lou Ann Birkett, representing the Non-Affiliated members and Ken Sherwood representing the Affiliated members. 6.0 AMENDMENTS TO THE OHSA REGULATIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS In June, 2000 there were changes to the Regulations affecting construction projects. A construction project includes erection, alteration, repair. dismantling, demolition, structural maintenance, grading, trenching, excavating. etc. These amendments affect the Municipality in the following way: 1. requirement for a Traffic Control Plan; 2. development of written procedures and implementation of mandatory fall arrest protection training by June 2002; 3. new rules for employer registration for construction projects; 4. added responsibilities to the role of supervisors as it relates to a project utilizing five or more persons; 6.2 Any Municipal Department that falls under the OHSA affecting Construction Regulation will take every precaution reasonable to ensure compliance with the various sections. The 1003 \ . . . - ltt:tH(QJIUMDMmll1001 HMnE44 Committee and the Municipal Health and Safety Association are available to assist with the responsibilities of the new Regulations and will coordinate training sessions if required. 7.0 ACCIDENT REPORTS Twenty-two (22) workplace accidents were reported in 2000. Of these, seven (7) required first aid, twelve (12) required medical aid and three (3) were lost time accidents resulting in 21 days lost. The Committee will continue to review accident reports and to make recommendations to the Chief Administrative Officer/Department Heads on training, prevention, etc. 8.0 SUMMARY 8.1 The Joint Health and Safety Committee has been functionally effective as an advisory committee to the Employer. The Committee continues to stimulate awareness, recognizes workplace risks and then assists in the resolution of those risks. The Committee is the mechanism for workers and management to work together to resolve issues internally. The Municipality of Clarington is fortunate to have employees who represent both the affiliated and non-affiliated workers who are committed to the health and safety in the workplace. Respectfully submitted, Kn. '\\. 0 ( rt">R " Kathe Groen Co-Chair, 2000-2001 -~~ - ----. Fre orvath Z:iiu4 Lou Ann Birkett Co-Chair, 2001-2002 Ken Sherwood Co-Chair, 2001-2002 Reviewed By, d f'~-= ~ Franklin Wu Chief Administrative Officer :"004