Introduction to Workplace Health and Safety_An Overview.pdfVIP专享VIP免费原创优质

IntroductiontoWorkplaceHealthandSafety:AnOverviewIntroductiontoWorkplaceHealthandSafety:AnOverviewThisintroductionisintendedtogiveyouanoverviewoftheeightkeyaspectsofworkplacehealthandsafetyinNovaScotiaworkplaces,including:TheInternalResponsibilitySystem,Workerandemployerrights&responsibilities,Workplacehealthandsafetypolicyandprograms,Health&safetycommitteesandrepresentatives,Hazardidentificationandcontrol,Investigatingincidents,andSafetytraining.Moreinformationisavailablebyvisitingworksafeforlife.caandtheNSOHSDivision.TheInternalResponsibilitySystemOccupationalhealthandsafetyinNovaScotiaworkplacesisoperationalizedthroughthepracticeoftheinternalresponsibilitysystem,whichunderpinsmostfederalandprovincialsafetylaw.Thefollowingisanexcerptfromthebrochure“YourRightsandResponsibilities,andtheOccupationalHealthandSafetyAct”apublicationoftheOHSDivisionoftheNSDepartmentofLabourandWorkforceDevelopment.WhatistheInternalResponsibilitySystem?TheInternalResponsibilitySystem(IRS)isthefoundationoftheOccupationalHealthandSafetyAct.UndertheIRS,sinceall“workplaceparties”influencewhataworkplaceislike,theymustallshareresponsibilityformakingtheworkplacesaferandhealthier.TheActsetsouttheresponsibilitiesanddutiesofallparties.‘Workplaceparties’meansanyoneconnectedwithaparticularworkplace.Thiscanincludeemployers,contractors,constructors,employeesandtheself-employed,aswellasownersandsuppliers.Doallworkplacepartiesshareresponsibilityequally?TheActstatesthatallworkplacepartiesshareresponsibilityforsafetytotheextentoftheirauthorityandabilitytodoso.Anemployer,forexample,wouldordinarilyhavemoreresponsibilityforworkplacehealthandsafetythanwouldasupplierofgoods.Asanemployee,ifIshareintheresponsibilityforhealthandsafetyatmyworkplace,I’dliketohavemore“say”inhowthingsaredone.UndertheAct,allworkershavethreebasicrights.Therighttoknowabouthazardsandissuesthataffectyourhealthandsafety.TherighttorefuseworkthatyoufeelisunsafeorunhealthyforyouorsomeoneelseTherighttoparticipateinyourownsafety,eg.onhealthandsafetycommitteesorasaHealthandSafetyRepresentative.Youalsohavetherighttoreportunsafeconditions,andvoiceyourconcernsoropinionsonanyissuethataffectsyourhealthandsafety,orthehealthandsafetyofanyoneattheworkplace.IntroductiontoWorkplaceHealthandSafety:AnOverviewExercisingourworkplacesafetyrightsandresponsibilitiescanfeeluncomfortableanddifficultbutspeakingupinaprofessionalandcourteousmannerisaskillthatcanbepracticedandlearned,forexample:dorole-playswithyourinstructors,friendsandfamily,practiceinfrontofthemirrorintheprivacyofyourhome,ortalktoatrustedinstructor,familyorfriendabouthowtohandleasituation.Speakingupmayalsobedifficultbecauseofchallengingconditionsatwork,suchas:unsafethingsorsituationsthateveryoneseemsawareof,butneverseemtogetfixed,lackofworkplacesafetyrules,orsafetyrulesthatareneverfollowed,supervisorsthatbrushaside,ordon’tfollowuponhazardreports,disrespectfulbehaviourandlanguage,workersandsupervisorswhodon’tseemtocareabouttheworktheydo,takingsafety“shortcuts”toimprovelengthoftimespentonatask,oractionsreflectingdiscriminatoryandbullyingattitudes.Inthesesituations,how,whenandwhotospeakuptowillbedifferentfromworkertoworker.Dependingonlifeexperiencesandcareerpaths,someworkerswillremaininchallengingworksettingsandotherswillmakethedecisiontoleave.Itisimportan...