Purpose

To demonstrate a commitment to developing, maintaining, implementing and continuously improving a safe and healthy work, teaching and learning environment at Memorial University.

Scope

Members of the University Community

Definitions

Contractor — A person, partnership, or corporation bound under a contract to execute work on behalf of the University or at a University facility.

ERMC — Enterprise Risk Management Committee. A strategic oversight committee of the President's Executive Council (PEC) on matters pertaining to the Risk Management program and the Health and Safety Management System (HSMS). This committee has approval authority for the HSMS.

HSMS — Health and Safety Management System. The University's system used to control, document, plan and measure the performance of a health and safety program aimed at continuous improvement, in accordance with section 12 of the Province's Occupational Health and Safety Regulations.

Member of the University Community — Any person who teaches, studies, conducts research; Workers at the University; any other person while they are acting on behalf of or at the request of the University; and visitors to the University.

Supervisor — As per the provincial Occupational Health and Safety Act, a person authorized or designated by the University to exercise direction and control over Workers.

UHSC — University Health and Safety Committee. An advisory group which provides policy oversight and guidance for the University wide HSMS.

University — Memorial University of Newfoundland.

WHSC(s) — Workplace Health and Safety Committees. As per the provincial Occupational Health and Safety Act, are advisory bodies that address health and safety issues that affect Members of the University community. These committees are composed of representation from both management and employees, with at least half of the members of a committee being persons representing employees. Together they are committed to improving health and safety in the Workplace.

Worker — As per the provincial Occupational Health and Safety Act, a person engaged in an occupation with either the University or a Contractor.

Workplace — As per the provincial Occupational Health and Safety Act, a place where a Worker or self-employed person is engaged in an occupation and includes a vehicle or mobile equipment used by a worker in an occupation.

Policy

1. The University is subject to the provincial Occupational Health  and  Safety Act and Occupational Health and Safety Regulations.

2. Health and safety are shared responsibilities, although ultimately, the University, is responsible for the health and safety of Members of the University Community.

3. The President will ensure that the University’s HSMS is in compliance with health and safety legislation, is documented, shared, implemented and maintained and that it incorporates industry best practices and uses audits to measure performances for improvement.

4. Members of the University Community will participate in education and training pertaining to health and safety, integrate health and safety practices into their daily activities and fulfill the applicable requirements of the HSMS. Members of the University Community are also required to take reasonable care to protect their own health and safety and that of other persons at or near the Workplace.

5. The UHSC will inform and advise the President on matters relating to health and safety and review the Health and Safety Management System of the University based on input from the WHSCs representatives and subcommittees.

6. WHSCs are established to stimulate discussion on workplace health and safety issues, to recognize and evaluate workplace risk and to make recommendations for improvement.

7. Supervisors are responsible for fulfilling the applicable requirements of the University's HSMS. They are also responsible for taking every reasonable precaution to protect and promote the health and safety of those Workers under their supervision.

8. Contractors are required to perform their work in accordance with the Occupational Health andSafety Act and are required to follow the HSMS.

9.  The University, through the Office of the Chief Risk Officer, will cooperate with established WHSCs and Members of the University Community to ensure that the requirements of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the University's HSMS are implemented and integrated into University activities.

10. The HSMS, as administered by the Office of the Chief Risk Officer, will be a systematic approach to managing health and safety and will include the necessary organizational structures, roles and responsibilities, standards, guidelines, and protocols, as required by the Province’s Occupational Health and Safety Regulations. It may be revised after appropriate consultation with the UHSC and the applicable WHSCs and where necessary, others within the University. The authority to approve additions and revisions rests with the ERMC.

Related Documents

Occupational Health and Safety Act
Occupational Health and Safety Regulations
Health and Safety Management System

Procedures:

There are no procedures associated with this policy.