Occupational Health and Safety Training – Level 1

1. Occupational Health and Safety Training – Level 1 Occupational Health and Safety Committees – NWT Mine Health and Safety Act

2. Action Objective • This module will equip participants with an understanding of the duties of the occupational health and safety committee. Further, to use such knowledge to effectively perform those duties and to eliminate/reduce hazards.

3. Learning Objectives • Describe the purpose of the occupational health and safety committee and list the legal requirements for the committee under the NWT Mine Health and Safety Act. • Discuss the functions and responsibilities of the occupational health and safety committee.

4. Learning Objectives(cont’d) 3. Discuss the structure and operation of the occupational health and safety committee and the importance of effective communication. 4. Identify and discuss the organizational skills needed by the occupational health and safety committee members to perform their duties effectively.

5. Right to Participate • every employee has the right to be involved in everything that touches on questions of health and safety at work • the occupational health and safety committee is one vehicle to ensure that workers have input

6. Occupational Health and Safety Committee • an occupational health and safety committee is to be established at a mine where more than 15 persons are employed

7. Duties of an Occupational Health and Safety Committee (Section 12 of the Mine Health and Safety Act) • conduct inspections of work sites at the mine in accordance with the Regulations • identify conditions or practices that may be hazardous to employees or other persons • make recommendations to the manager and the employees in respect to occupational health and safety

8. Duties of Occupational Health and Safety Committee (cont’d)Part III of the Regulations • at any meeting of the Committee, raise any matter concerning health and safety at the mine • participate in the investigation of each reportable incident, as defined in section 16.01 of the Regulations, and each dangerous occurrence

9. Problems Encountered by Health and Safety Committees • Structural • Personal • Factual • Conflicts of Interest

10. Terms of Reference • joint statement of purpose by company and employee representatives (union) • signature page for all participants • structure of the committee • alternates (optional) • chairpersons • guests • meetings

11. Terms of Reference (Cont’d) • secretary • jurisdiction of committee • functions and powers (clarify the extent of participation) • minutes • unsafe work refusals (process) • payment for committee work • order of business

12. Terms of Reference (Cont’d) • annual reports • duties of members • amendments

13. Communications • Formal - flow according to an established plan • Informal – flow between individuals at all levels in a company • External – flow between people in the company with others who are outside the company

14. Communication Tools • e-mail, internet, electronic bulletin boards • letter writing • telephone • inter-office mail or memorandum • news media – television, radio, newspaper • bulletin boards

15. Communication Tools(cont’d) • company or union newsletters • leaflets • seminars • meetings • presentations

16. Common Sources of Information Some in-house sources of data could include: • safety and loss control department • maintenance and engineering departments • purchasing department • material safety data sheets • human resources department

17. External Resources for the Health and Safety Committee • other members of the workforce • other departments such as engineering, purchasing, maintenance, etc. • suppliers of equipment, materials and technical services • health and safety resource personnel • Workplace Safety and Compensation Commission

18. External Sources for Information • CSA Standards • Workplace Hazardous Material Information System (WHMIS) • Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) • Resource Centres and Clinics • University libraries