Occupational Health & Safety
The Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) aspect of the ORM provides technical expertise and support to ensure compliance with the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act and its Regulations by staff and students at the University of Ottawa. The Assistant Director of OHS oversees many activities such as:
- Promoting health and safety priciples and prevention strategies
- Interprets the Occupational Health and Safety Act and its Regulations
- Oversees activities of the health and safety management system
- Conducts safety assessments and evaluations
- Investigates incidents / accidents, and other safety-related concerns and complaints
- Supervises the sectoral and University Health and Safety Committees
- Provides applicable training
- Reports to Ministry of Labour regarding areas of non-compliance, critical injuries, work stoppages, etc.
- Reviews, oversees and updates the Non-Smoking (58) and Health and Safety (77) policies as needed
- Oversees and manages the University First-Aid program
- Conducts Designated Substances assessments
- Investigates work refusals and reports to the Ministry of Labour
- Liaises with safety groups and organizations
The University has created a variety of work guides for various situations.
See Job Specific Training for more information.
Contents:
Asbestos
Bulletin Boards
Committees
Confined Spaces
First Aid
Hot Work
Occupational Health & Safety News
Resource Links
Regulatory
Safety Sheets
University Policies and Guidelines
Work Refusal
Young Workers
Asbestos
The inhalation of asbestos fibres by workers can cause serious diseases of the lungs and other organs. These effects may not appear until years after the exposure has occurred. Asbestos fibers associated with these health risks are too small to be seen with the naked eye, which can make identification difficult. The University recognizes the risk and follows the appropriate procedures for work when asbestos may be involved in a project. For information on asbestos, contact your supervisor and / or the Office of Risk Management.
Asbestos Reports
Asbestos Information Sheet (Nov. 1/07)
Additional Asbestos Information:
Ministry of Labour
http://www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/hs/reg_asbestos.html
Health Canada
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/iyh-vsv/environ/asbestos-amiante-eng.php
Bulletin Boards
There are approximately thirty Occupational Health & Safety bulletin boards strategically located throughout the University of Ottawa campus (including Roger Guindon). This section is designed to bring all of those documents together in an interactive format.
Committees
At the University of Ottawa, there exists a single joint occupational health and safety committee known as the University Occupational Health and Safety Committee (UOHSC) which includes representation from the 5 Sectoral Occupational Health and Safety Committees (SOHSC). The five sectoral committees represented are Northern, Central, Science & Engineering, Protection & Physical Resources, and Smyth Road / Roger Guindon
| Terms of Reference for H&S Committees | Meeting Minutes (password protected) |
| List of H&S Committee Members | Building Management Agents |
| Workplace Inspection Process | CSAO Accident Follow-up |
Confined Spaces
As defined by the Ontario Occupational Health & Safety Act, a confined space means a fully or partially enclosed space
(i) that is not both designed and constructed for continuous human occupancy, and
(ii) in which atmospheric hazards may occur because of its construction, location or contents or because of work that is done in it
Confined Space Program
More
First Aid
Find the most current documents pertaining to First Aid & Designated First Aiders
Hot Work
"Hot work" is work that could produce a source of ignition, such as a spark or open flame. Examples of hot work include welding, cutting, grinding and the use of non-explosion proof electrical equipment (Ministry of Labour)
Procedure - Flowchart - Permit - Tag
Occupational Health & Safety News and Events (updated 06-06-2011)
Take Our Kids to Work Day
The "Take Our Kids to Work" program illustrates the importance of education, skills development and training while giving students the opportunity to experience the world of work and the variety of career opportunities that await them. The program, including the University of Ottawa, continues to emphasize safe and healthy workplaces.
Home Safety
Safety does not just cover workplaces, it is a central figure in the home as well. For more information on home safety, visit the Canada Safety Council and TSSA
Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)
Stay up to date on the latest food recalls and allergy alerts from the Government of Canada
Day of Mourning
April 28, Day of Mourning, is dedicated to honouring the memory of those who have been injured or killed at work. For these workers, their families and friends, life will never be the same.
Nano-technology
http://www.nature.com/nnano/journal/v3/n7/abs/nnano.2008.111.html
http://www.irsst.qc.ca/files/documents/PubIRSST/R-599.pdf
Vehicle Safety - Driver Distraction: A Simulation http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/news/statements/stat081028-video.shtml
Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSD)
These disorders account for 42% of all lost-time claims in Ontario workplaces; what can you do to help prevent MSDs in your workplace? Also, click here for an interactive activity examining basic workplace ergonomics.
Click here for the new guide Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI's)
Heat Stress
Heat stress can range from heat rash to heat cramps to heat stroke; find out the cause, symptoms, treatment and prevention of these health hazards from the Ministry of Labour.
Cell Phone Towers
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ewh-semt/radiation/cons/stations/index-eng.php
Lab Safety Checklist
Checklist
Eyewash checklist
Resource Links
Physical Resources Service Links
Construction Site Safety Guide
EHS Management Manual
Fume Hood Maintenance Procedure
Lockout Procedure
Hot Work - Procedure - Flowchart - Permit - Tag
Additional Resources
Available H&S Videos from ORM
Ontario Ministry of Labour
Construction Safety Association of Ontario
Workplace Safety & Insurance Board
Work Smart Ontario
Health and Safety 101
Quebec Occupational Health and Safety Commission Note: This is provided as an information source only; the regulations this organization refers to are not applicable in Ontario.
Job Hazard Analysis
PPE checklist
Regulatory
Bill C-45
Since March 31, 2004, Bill C-45 has been in effect. This modification to the Criminal Code of Canada allows the prosecution of an individual or corporation in cases of criminal negligence.
For a penalty to be imposed, the court must determine if a person or corporation acted in a negligent manner or showed a reckless carelessness with regard to the security of others.
In general, for an organization to be found guilty of committing a crime of negligence, the Crown will have to show that employees of the organization committed the act and that a senior officer should have taken reasonable steps to prevent them from doing so. (Consult: http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/dept-min/pub/c45/)
Ontario Regulation 851
Regulation 851 was developed and subsequently implemented by the Ontario Government to address specific issues that are unique to many industrial establishments, such as factories, offices, and/or shops operating within the province of Ontario. To learn more, visit Ontario Regulation 851 (Industrial Establishments). Also, see the document on crane signals from CCOHS at http://www.ccohs.ca/products/posters/pdfs/handSignals.pdf
Safety Sheets
Safety Sheets are derived from applicable provincial legislation and suited to the workplace which houses the particular equipment, see below for a list of the current safety sheets.
| #1 Conveyor belts | #2 Ladders* |
| #3 Emergency Showers | #4 Eye Wash Stations |
| #5 Fall Arrest | #6 Cranes and Lifting Devices |
| #7 Painting | #8 Slips and Falls |
| #9 Saws (revision) | #10 Drill Press |
| #11 Grinder | #12 Utility Carts (revision) |
| #13 Machine Guarding | #14 Noise |
| #15 Office Hazards | #16 Loading Dock |
| Tips for Holiday Safety | #17 Compressed Gases (revision) |
* Each year countless people are injured while working with ladders, for more information, listen to the "Safety Smart" talk on ladders.
University Policies and Guidelines
By visiting the Administration and Governance section of the University of Ottawa web-site, you can view all the policies developed by the University, see below for the policy on Risk Management, Smoking, and Health & Safety
Work Refusal
Each worker has three rights at their work place – the right to know, the right to participate and the right to refuse unsafe work.
Young Workers
Every year, nearly 60 000 young Canadians suffer workplace injuries, many of them causing lasting undesirable effects. Furthermore, many of those inflicted were not even aware of their rights and responsibilities prior to the accident. Wanting to find a solution to this unfortunate, but avoidable issue, the nationwide safety awareness program, Passport to Safety was developed.
WorkSmart Campus can help provide workers and students with the basic health and safety knowledge that all workers must demonstrate. WorkSmart Campus is a joint project between the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board and the Ministry of Labour aimed at educating individuals about their rights as workers. WorkSmart Campus is 100% free and is available to any University staff member or student. This training serves as a foundation for future health and safety training. Find out more about WorkSmart Campus training.
In addition to the Passport to Safety program, the ORM also organizes the "Take Our Kids to Work Day", which illustrates the importance of education, skills development and training while giving students the opportunity to experience the world of work and the variety of career opportunities that await them. The program, including the University of Ottawa, continues to emphasize safe and healthy workplaces.
For more information, you can also visit www.youngworker.ca; a web site developed by the Workplace Safety & Insurance Board to increase safety knowledge of young workers.
The WSIB has also put out a guide for parents; this document provides parents with the tools they need to teach their children about safety. To view the guide click here; for more information about preventing workplace injuries, visit www.prevent-it.ca