Risk Management Services recommends that every building, area or department on campus has its own local health and safety program to cover, at a minimum, the following eight basic elements:

• Safety policy and responsibilities
• Management meetings
• Orientations, training and supervision of workers
• Safe work rules and procedures
• Hazard assessments and work site inspections
• Accident/incident investigations
• First aid and emergency services
• Records, documents and statistics.

Other elements that should be included to ensure a comprehensive health and safety program are:

• Local health and safety committee
• Return to work
• Personal security and public safety
• Hazardous materials
• Environmental protection
• Contractor safety
• Program review

Departmental manuals and related health and safety materials must be readily available to all workers, supervisors and Local Safety Committee members on the intranet, a shared drive and/or in hard copy form.

We have developed a Health and Safety Program Manual template for departments to use as a foundation for developing their safety program. Departments may modify this manual to best fit their needs.

For assistance with developing a Health and Safety Program for your department, contact the Management Systems group at 604.822.6513.