TITLE: HEALTH AND SAFETY ORIENTATION POLICY
The policy pertains to the requirements as prescribed under s. 3. (1), s. 20. (1), and s. 25. (1) of O. Reg. 415/06.”
- Introduction
- Health and Safety orientation policy reflects RHI’s commitment to complying with the law and protecting the health and safety of RHI employees and students.
- Purpose
- This policy applies to all newly hired employees and admitted students, and anyone assigned new or unfamiliar jobs and/or equipment. Certain provisions of this policy also apply to volunteers, provided labor and contract employees.
- Provide health and safety training to staff and students as soon as possible after accepting employment or registration with RHI, and before assigning work or starting a course that may endanger their health or safety.
- Course-specific health and safety training is provided before employees and students begin a specific course that they have not done before that puts their health or safety at risk, such as the SPI course for operating an ultrasound machine.
- Course-specific health and safety training programs are integrated with course assessments, including written and/or laboratory evaluations that students must successfully complete.
- Definitions
- “Health and Safety Orientation” means familiarizing staff and students with RHI’s diagnostic medical ultrasound program and the hazards they may face, and with RHI’s expectations for occupational health and safety and the roles and responsibilities of workplace parties in RHI.
- “Course-specific health and safety training” refers to a formal training program for a specific course/task (such as entering a confined space or machine operation) that provides participants with the knowledge and skills needed to safely perform laboratory tasks.
- Roles, rights, and responsibilities
- Institute ResponsibilitiesEnsure that all newly hired staff and registered students have completed health and safety training and any required course-specific health and safety training before beginning tasks that put their health or safety at risk. Staff with a Canadian Certificate in Ultrasound and CMRITO registration may be required to attend orientation training without a comprehensive assessment.PLAR students need orientation training with policies/procedures/practices if different from the original training.If staff or students are absent from work for an extended period of time, their skills should be reassessed. Retraining or updating training must be mandatory when: (1) the employee or student fails to demonstrate safe operation of the equipment, or (2) new equipment is introduced during the employee’s absence.
- Health and Safety Orientation InstructorFollow the components of training outlined below for operation-specific orientation training. Attend and become familiar with all health and safety training programs. Monitor staff and student performance to ensure skills and knowledge are put into practice and modify training as needed.
- Human Resources ResponsibilitiesEstablish participant assessments, whether written and/or practical, when developing new training programs and modifying existing programs.Develop and regularly provide a general health and safety training program to assist the institute and programs in fulfilling their responsibilities under this policy. Consult with the respective joint health and safety committees in designing and/or delivering health and safety orientation and job-specific health and safety training programs in accordance with the accompanying training standards.
- Newly Employee and StudentNewly employees and students must read and understand Robert Health Institute (RHI) Health and Safety orientation policy and attend orientation training. The employee or student must be familiar with the policies and procedures as failure to meet the policy’s procedural deadlines will delay his/her entitlement to a formal course.Employees or students are expected to help each other and actively encourage others to follow health and safety orientation policy and procedures. The student has the right to present his/her own statement of the health and safety orientation policy to the faculty member.Students have the right to receive written notice within ten business days of a suspected violation of the Health and Safety Orientation Policy.
- Health & Safety Orientation Training shall include:Health & Safety PolicyEmployee and student roles, rights, and Responsibilities Injury/illness reporting standards and procedures Hazards reporting standards and procedures Emergency response standards and procedures Refusal to Work standards and proceduresWorkplace Violence and Harassment prevent standards and procedures
- Course – Specific Orientation Training shall include:
- Emergency equipment, exits, first aid stations, etc.
- Health & Safety Board and postings
- Introduction to designator Health & Safety Representative for the work area
- Review of assigned job activities
- Review of operating instructions for equipment
- Review of hazards and controls by following ALARA principle
- Time frames for training completion
- A qualified person should deliver the training
- Course – Specific Orientation Training shall include:
- COMMUNICATION
- This policy will be explained as needed to staff and students through orientation health & safety training or course-specific training.
- EVALUATION
- This policy will be evaluated on an annual basis through the Continuous Improvement Plan.