News Aug 24, 2023

Basic Assessment View

Q1: Do you have a current, documented Health & Safety Policy? You answered: [461] [if 461 show=”value” equals=”Yes”] That’s a great start! If you want to learn more about Health & Safety Policies, see the resources below: WorkSafeBC CCOHS [/if 461] [if 461 show=”value” equals=”No OR Not Sure”] A Health & Safety Policy sets out… Continue reading Basic Assessment View

3 min read

Q1: Do you have a current, documented Health & Safety Policy?

You answered: [461] [if 461 show=”value” equals=”Yes”]

That’s a great start! If you want to learn more about Health & Safety Policies, see the resources below:

[/if 461] [if 461 show=”value” equals=”No OR Not Sure”]

A Health & Safety Policy sets out an organization’s general approach to workplace health, defines workplace responsibilities, and provides clear guidance to staff regarding OHS program goals. Use the resources below to help you develop a Health & Safety Policy:

[/if 461]

Q2: Do all levels within your organization know what their responsibilities are with regard to the Health & Safety Program?

You answered: [462] [if 462 show=”value” equals=”Yes”]

Way to go! Communicating the health & safety responsibilities of all levels of staff is key to ensuring a safe and healthy workplace. If you want to learn more about health & safety responsibilities, see the resources below:

[/if 462] [if 462 show=”value” equals=”No OR Not Sure”]

There are specific safety-related responsibilities that need to be assigned to different positions in an organization. Ensuring all your employees know and understand what is expected of them sets them and your company up for success. Use the resources below to help you formalize the health & safety roles and responsibilities:

[/if 462]

Q3: Do you conduct regular workplace inspections?

You answered: [463] [if 463 show=”value” equals=”Yes”]

Good job! You already recognize the importance of inspections in proactively managing health & safety in your workplace. If you want to learn more about inspections, see the resources below:

[/if 463] [if 463 show=”value” equals=”No OR Not Sure”]

Inspections are key to proactively identifying workplace hazards. Between workplace inspections, equipment inspections, and special inspections, ensure you are covering all your bases by using the resources below:

[/if 463]

Q4: Have you carried out health & safety risk assessments for your business?

You answered: [464] [if 464 show=”value” equals=”Yes”]

Well done! The risk assessment process is one of the more technical tasks of building a Health & Safety Program and it can take some time to ensure all risks are identified and appropriately managed. If you want to learn more about the hazard identification and risk assessment process, see the resources below:

[/if 464] [if 464 show=”value” equals=”No OR Not Sure”]

The risk assessment process is one of the more technical tasks of building a Health & Safety Program. It can take some time to ensure all risks are identified and appropriately managed. Use the resources listed below to ensure all safety hazards in the workplace are identified and controlled:

[/if 464]

Q5: Have you developed safe work procedures for your business?

You answered: [465] [if 465 show=”value” equals=”Yes”]

Super! You understand that safe work procedures (SWPs) play a crucial part in reinforcing how to perform a task safely. They also make a great training tool and can be really effective if displayed in appropriate areas within the workplace. Keep in mind that emergency procedures can be included in this section. If you want to learn more about safe work procedures, see the resources below:

[/if 465] [if 465 show=”value” equals=”No OR Not Sure”]

Safe work procedures (SWPs) play a crucial part in reinforcing how to perform a task safely. They also make a great training tool and can be really effective if displayed in appropriate areas within the workplace. Keep in mind that emergency procedures can be included in this section. Use the resources below to get started on developing practical safe work procedures:

[/if 465]

Q6: Do you have an orientation, training and supervision program for new and young workers?

You answered: [466] [if 466 show=”value” equals=”Yes”]

That’s great! You prioritize worker orientation and training and set workers up for success. Use this Orientation Checklist to ensure that your orientation includes all necessary topics. If you want to learn more about orientation, training and supervision, see the resources below:

[/if 466] [if 466 show=”value” equals=”No OR Not Sure”]

Ensuring workers are oriented and trained properly is key to their job success and helps prevent injuries from occurring. Use the resources below to learn more about how to develop a thorough and robust orientation, training and supervision program:

[/if 466]

Q7: Do you have a worker safety representative or a joint health & safety committee?

You answered: [500] [if 500 show=”value” equals=”Yes”]

Fantastic! You understand the value that a worker safety representative or effective joint health & safety committee can bring to your workplace. If you want to learn more about worker safety representatives and joint committees, see the resources below:

Just a reminder, there are specific training requirements for both worker safety representatives as well as joint health & safety committee members. If you want to learn more about the required training, see the resources below:

Also, did you know that an evaluation of the joint health & safety committee is required annually? Use this evaluation tool to assess how your committee could be more effective.

[/if 500] [if 500 show=”value” equals=”No OR Not Sure”]

Workplaces with fewer than 10 workers are not required to have a worker safety representative or safety committee. Workplaces with 10-19 staff are required to have a worker safety representative. Workplaces with 20 or more staff are required to have a formal joint health & safety committee (JHSC). Worker safety representatives and joint health & safety committees are very beneficial to the workplace when implemented effectively. Use the resources below to learn more about worker safety representatives and joint health & safety committees:

[/if 500]

Q8: Do you hold regular meetings where health & safety matters are discussed?

You answered: [508] [if 508 show=”value” equals=”Yes”]

Great job! You recognize that discussing health & safety topics as a group provides an excellent opportunity to get everyone involved in the safety process in your workplace and encourages worker participation. Promoting open communication, at all levels, is crucial to the success of a Health & Safety Program.

Safety discussion topics could include: upcoming initiatives, incident stats and trends, and reviewing formal or informal recommendations put forward by the joint health & safety committee.

Remember, it’s important to document health & safety discussions to track the progress of ongoing issues and solutions. [/if 508] [if 508 show=”value” equals=”No OR Not Sure”]

Discussing health & safety topics as a group provides an excellent opportunity to get everyone involved in the safety process in your workplace. Promoting open communication, at all levels, is crucial to the success of a Health & Safety Program.

Health & safety discussion topics could include: upcoming initiatives, incident stats and trends, and reviewing formal or informal recommendations put forward by the joint health & safety committee.

Remember, it’s important to document health & safety discussions to track the progress of ongoing issues and solutions.

[/if 508]

Q9: Have you implemented a first aid program including a first aid assessment and applicable procedures?

You answered: [513] [if 513 show=”value” equals=”Yes”]

That’s awesome! Preventing injuries is key, however it is also important to be ready to provide first aid if a worker gets injured on the job. If you want to elarn more about workplace first aid programs, see the resources below:

Note: You must update your First Aid Program by November 1, 2024 to meet the new Regulation. Click here to learn more and access additional resources. [/if 513] [if 513 show=”value” equals=”No OR Not Sure”]

Preventing injuries should be your first priority. However, being prepared to provide first aid can also help to reduce the impacts of the injury of the worker and the workplace. Use the resources below to learn more about the first aid requirements for your business, and set yourself up for success should a workplace injury happen.

Note: You must update your First Aid Program by November 1, 2024 to meet the new Regulation. Click here to learn more and access additional resources. [/if 513]

Q10: Do you report workplace incidents to WorkSafeBC, when required?

You answered: [518] [if 518 show=”value” equals=”Yes”]

Nice work! It’s really important that reporting workplace incidents is not delayed. Proper reporting means workers get the coverage they need while also ensuring your employer responsibilities are being met. If you want to learn more about reporting workplace incidents, see the resources below:

[/if 518] [if 518 show=”value” equals=”No OR Not Sure”]

Proper reporting means that workers get the coverage they need while also ensuring your employer responsibilities are being met. There are specific reporting requirements that should be implemented in the workplace. Use the resources below to ensure that you know the requirements and mandatory timelines for reporting.

[/if 518]

Q11: Do you conduct incident investigations?

You answered: [523] [if 523 show=”value” equals=”Yes”]

Well done! You recognize the benefits of conducting investigations for minor, major, and near miss incidents. Thoroughly conducted investigations help employers to determine why an incident happened and to identify appropriate action to prevent similar situations in the future. If you want to learn more about investigations, see the resources below:

[/if 523] [if 523 show=”value” equals=”No OR Not Sure”]

Conducting incident investigations is not only required by regulation, it allows you to discover what contributing factors and root causes led to the incident and identify ways to prevent similar situations in the future. Use the resources below to ensure you’re getting the most out of your investigation efforts.

[/if 523]

Q12: Do you keep records to support your health & safety efforts?

You answered: [528] [if 528 show=”value” equals=”Yes”]

Super! Keeping records to support your program is a key part of demonstrating due diligence and you already know this. Beyond just keeping them, reviewing records, such as first aid treatment and incident investigations, can help you to identify trends or unsafe activities, which you can then take steps to remedy. If you want to learn more about record keeping, see the resource below:

[/if 528] [if 528 show=”value” equals=”No OR Not Sure”]

Keeping appropriate records is a key part of demonstrating due diligence. Going one step further, reviewing records, such as first aid reports, incident investigations, and joint health & safety committee meeting minutes can help you to identify trends and hazards that may need further attention. For a list of health & safety records that should be maintained and their corresponding timelines, see the resource below:

[/if 528]

Q13: Do you keep your Health & Safety Program current?

You answered: [533] [if 533 show=”value” equals=”Yes”]

Good work! A regular review of your program is critical in order to keep it relevant and fresh. If you don’t already, start involving your team in discussing ways to improve the program and be receptive to their views about better ways of working safely. This is a great way to encourage worker participation in health & safety. Be sure to document details of your review including any discussions around health & safety improvements to the program.

[/if 533] [if 533 show=”value” equals=”No OR Not Sure”]

A review of your Health & Safety Program should take place at least annually, or throughout the year when information needs to be added or changed. It’s best practice to involve your team in discussing ways to improve the program. Be receptive to their views about better ways of working safely, and communicate with them about any relevant changes in the workplace, new and emerging hazards, and better procedures for doing jobs safely and more efficiently. Be sure to document details of your review including any discussions around Health & Safety Program improvements. [/if 533]