An organization’s commitment to health and safety involves more than meeting legislative requirements. As part of your Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) management system, it’s about creating a culture where physical and psychosocial hazards are proactively identified and addressed, workers are empowered to speak up, and everyone takes responsibility for maintaining a safe environment. It’s a belief that all incidents are preventable and that every person has the right to return home safe and healthy at the end of their workday.
There’s a lot to consider when creating your organizational commitment. Check out our templates and resources, created with social service workers in mind, to help your process.
Program Builder: Psychological Health and Safety Policy Statement Template
Program Builder: WorkSafeBC – Responsibilities for workplace health and safety
WorkSafeBC Requirements
Organizational commitment is a requirement of the WorkSafeBC Occupational Health & Safety (OHS) Regulations. Everyone in the workplace has distinct responsibilities and it’s important that your organization’s policy is in alignment with WorkSafeBC’s Act and OHS Regulation.
Learn more:
What Employers Need to Know
Policies and Procedures
- Employers must have a corporate or organizational commitment policy for health and safety that includes the responsibilities of employer and management, supervisors, and employees. It should be signed by the senior leader and reviewed annually.
- All managers and supervisors must know their duties. Tip: Check out our free OHS for Leaders training course.
- Identify the prime contractor (if more than two employers in a workplace) who is responsible for:
- Coordinating health and safety activities of all parties in the workplace.
- Establishing and maintaining procedures to ensure all parties follow all safety requirements.
- The policy must be posted at all work locations and readily available to all workers.
- All employees must be knowledgeable about the health and safety policy.
- A formal Occupational Health and Safety program tailored to the workplace’s size and hazards presented must be established and maintained.
- A Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee (JOHSC) must be established if the organization has 20 or more employees. If the organization has nine to 19 employees, a worker representative must be appointed.
Best Practices
Take Safety Seriously
- All reasonable precautions to protect the safety and well-being of all parties in the workplace must be taken.
- Allocate and invest in dedicated safety resources such as equipment, training, and education beyond what is required to ensure workers can perform their duties safely.
- Leaders and managers lead by example by consistently modeling safe behaviors and participating in safety initiatives and share safety information with their employees and contractors.
- Ensure safety is a standing agenda item at senior management meetings.
- Consider the health and safety impact when planning all business decisions.
Communicate and Celebrate
- Implement employee recognition programs for safe performance.
- Communicate and celebrate the results and successes of continuous improvement.
- Conduct annual health and safety culture surveys to measure engagement and perceptions of safety commitment from the organization.
- Safety information should be posted on safety board(s) at the workplace
Disclaimer: This resource is intended to help community social service organizations understand the requirements of different aspects developing of health and safety programs. It provides information on key concepts and directs users to relevant resources. The content above is not a substitute for professional legal advice. Please refer to the included links or consult official legislation and resources for current and accurate information.