POLICY FOR THE STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF THE JOINT OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY COMMITTEE

Transcription

1 POLICY FOR THE STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF THE JOINT OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY COMMITTEE As Agreed Between The Corporation of the Municipality of Thames Centre -and- The Joint Occupational Health & Safety Committee 4305 Hamilton Road Dorchester, Ontario, N0L 1G0

2 1. PREAMBLE a) The Occupational Health & Safety Act, R.S.O (OHSA), requires the establishment of Joint Workplace Occupational Health and Safety Committees where twenty or more workers are regularly employed at a workplace and to hold Joint Committee meetings on a regular basis. b) The Council of the Township of North Dorchester adopted a Safety Policy on December 17, 1991 (Resolution No ). On February 16, 2004, a revised policy was adopted by the Council of the Municipality of Thames Centre which states the following: The Municipality of Thames Centre is committed to protection against accidental loss to its employees and property. Our objective is for management to develop a keen sense of health and safety awareness in each and every employee and thereby prevent personal injury and damage to property and equipment. The Municipality is committed to the prevention of Harassment and Bullying and the prevention of Violence in the workplace from all sources. In fulfilling this commitment, we will provide and maintain a safe and healthful work environment as indicated by acceptable work practices and compliance with legislative requirements. We will strive to eliminate any foreseeable hazards which may result in security losses, damage to property and personal injuries/illness. We will take whatever steps are reasonable to protect our workers from workplace harassment and bullying and workplace violence from all sources. Accidental loss can be controlled through good management in combination with active employee involvement. Loss prevention is the direct responsibility of all supervisors and workers alike. Council will be kept advised of all requirements for safe design, operations and maintenance of facilities and equipment. All employees of the Municipality of Thames Centre will be knowledgeable with the guidelines established by the employer and shall work within them, with equal concern for themselves, co-workers and the public. 2

3 All employees are asked to join in a personal commitment to loss prevention as a way of life. c) It is the parties firm belief that, through joint education programs, joint investigations of problems, and joint resolution of those problems, the workplace will be made safe and healthy for all employees. d) The parties acknowledge that the proper functioning of the Joint Health and Safety Committee can only be carried out where the representatives of the employer and of the workers are committed to these responsibilities. To this effect, the undersigned undertake to make decisions that will be carried out by their respective organizations. e) The parties hereto are committed to the safety of the Employees of the Municipality of Thames Centre, and endorse and adopt the attached Health & Safety Guidelines. f) The parties hereto adopt this Policy for the Structure and Function of the Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee in good faith and agree to promote and assist the Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee. For the Employer: For the Workers: Jim Maudsley, Mayor Corporation of the Municipality of Thames Centre Stewart Findlater, Chief Administrative Officer Corporation of the Municipality of Thames Centre Dave Murray, Co-Chair Health & Safety Committee Tammy Hunter, Co-Chair, Health & Safety Committee Signed at Dorchester this day of, STRUCTURE OF THE COMMITTEE a) The Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee (referred to hereafter as "the Joint Committee") shall consist of a minimum of six members; three members selected by the employer and three members selected by the employees. Alternatives may be allowed, however, they shall only be used in emergency conditions and with the approval of the Co-chairpersons. b) The Joint Committee shall meet on a regularly established schedule. c) There shall be two Co-Chairpersons, one (1) from the employer and one (1) from the 3

4 workers; appointed for a definite period of twelve months commencing January of each year. d) A Co-Chairperson may, with the consent of his/her counterpart, invite any additional person(s) to attend the meeting to provide additional information and comment, but they shall not participate in the regular business of the meeting. 3. FUNCTIONS OF THE JOINT COMMITTEE a) To attain the spirit of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, R.S.O., 1990, the functions of the Joint Committee shall be: I. to identify, evaluate and recommend a resolution of all matters pertaining to health and safety in the workplace to appropriate senior management; II. to encourage adequate education and training programs in order that all employees are knowledgeable in their rights, restrictions, responsibilities and duties under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, R.S.O. 1990; III. the Joint Committee will address matters related to Hazardous/Designated Substance Regulations and WHMIS where applicable; IV. to receive and evaluate Form 7's (WCB) and to make appropriate recommendations; V. to deal with any other health and safety matter that the Committee deems appropriate. 4. INSPECTIONS a) The members of the Committee shall designate members to inspect the physical condition of the workplaces, as follows: Operations Centre, 4475 Trafalgar Rd., Dorchester Landfill, 2015 Crampton Drive, Mossley Nilestown MTO Garage, 78 Cromarty Dr., Dorchester Cemetery Building, 2251 Dorchester Rd., Dorchester Cemetery Grounds, 2251 Dorchester Rd., Dorchester Flightexec Centre, Parks and Pool, 2066 Dorchester Rd., Dorchester Thorndale Lions Community Centre, 265 Upper Queen St., Thorndale Thorndale Progress Building and Park, 265 Upper Queen St., Thorndale Outdoor Recreation Complex, 3245 Hamilton Rd., Dorchester Harrietsville Garage and Park, 5245 Elgin Road, Harrietsville Seniors Centre, 2066 Dorchester Rd., Dorchester Municipal Office, 4305 Hamilton Rd., Dorchester Mill Pond Garage, 32 Mill Rd., Dorchester Thorndale Municipal Building, 160 King St., Thorndale Thorndale Splash Pad Building, 160 King St., Thorndale Dorchester Water Pollution Control Plant, 4835 Hamilton Rd., Dorchester Well 2PW-1, 2458 Dorchester Rd., Dorchester Dorchester Elevated Water Tower, 39 Clara St., Dorchester 4

5 Thorndale Water Treatment Facility, Thorndale Rd., Thorndale Thorndale Elevated Water Tower, Thorndale Rd., Thorndale Thorndale Sewage Treatment Plant, 1135 Ideal Drive, Thorndale Dorchester Water Treatment Facility, 2620 Dorchester Rd., Dorchester Dorchester Fire Hall, 2156 Dorchester Rd., Dorchester Thorndale Fire Hall, 160 King St., Thorndale The workplace inspections on the above locations shall be conducted monthly and handed in at the meetings. A group will be assigned yearly to additionally inspect all facilities. b) All health and safety concerns raised during the physical inspection will be recorded on an appropriate workplace inspection form and signed by the member designated to that area. c) The workplace inspection form will be filed with the Joint Committee for review at their Regular Meeting. 5. RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE JOINT COMMITTEE a) Recommendations of the Committee shall be submitted to Council and the Clerk will report back within 21 days to the Committee with respect to action taken, along with a reasonable time-frame in which the matter will be resolved. 6. ACCIDENTS AND ACCOMPANIMENT a) The Joint Committee will designate annually two members (J. Craven & A. Jans) to investigate all serious workplace accidents, and incidents that have the potential for a serious accident. One member from management and one member from workers, and the worker member is designated by the worker members. The employer will be responsible for overseeing that the requirements prescribed in Section (51), Notice of death or injury/preservation of wreckage; and (52), Notices of accidents/occupational illness, of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, R.S.O. 1990, are carried out. b) The two designated members chosen by those they represent, will accompany the Ministry of Labour Inspector while carrying out Ministry inspection of the workplace. c) The members of the Committee representing workers shall designate two worker members to investigate work refusals. 7. MINUTES OF MEETINGS a) The Executive Assistant to Council, CAO and Clerk will be the Secretary to the Committee to take minutes and be responsible for having the minutes typed, circulated and filed with the Committee and Council. The Executive Assistant will 5

6 circulate the Minutes to other appropriate departments. 8. QUORUM a) The Joint Committee shall have a quorum of four members present in order to conduct business. One Co-Chairperson must be present in order to conduct business. If a Co-Chairperson is absent, the other Co-Chairperson will chair the meeting. The number of employer members shall not be greater than the number of worker members. 9. PAYMENT FOR ATTENDANCE AT MEETINGS a) All time spent in attendance at Committee meetings or in activities relating to the function of the Joint Committee will be paid for at the member's current rate of pay for performing work, and the time spent is to be considered as time at work. 10. MEETING AGENDA a) The Secretary and Co-Chairpersons will prepare an agenda and forward a copy of the agenda to all Committee members at least one day in advance of the meeting. b) The Committee may accept any item pertaining to Health & Safety for discussion and resolution, except to amend, alter, subtract from or add to, any terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. All items raised from the agenda in meetings will be dealt with on the basis of consensus. c) All items that are resolved or not will be reported in the Minutes. Unresolved items will be placed on the agenda for the next meeting. 11. GENERAL a) All employees will be encouraged to discuss their problems with their immediate supervisor before bringing it to the attention of the Committee. b) Committee members will thoroughly investigate all complaints to get all the facts and will exchange these facts when searching for a resolution of the problem. All problem resolutions will be reported in the minutes. c) Medical or trade secret information will be kept confidential by all Committee members. 12. AMENDMENTS TO THESE GUIDELINES a) Any amendments, deletions or additions to these Guidelines must have 2/3 support of the Committee and shall be set out in writing and attached as an Appendix to these Guidelines. 6

7 13. JOINT COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Management: Workers: D.Murray, (Co-Chair), Building Department T. Hunter (Co-Chair), Administration J. Craven, Environmental Services A. Jans, Parks/Recreation/Cemetery M. LeBlanc, Director of Operations S. Presswood, Transportation Services K. Armstrong, Fire Department J. Carsey, Environmental Services D. Van Dyk, Fire Department J. Hunter, Landfill J. Fuller, (Secretary) 7