Health and Safety A- Z
Topic: Policy
Summary
A policy can be described as a statement of general rules or principles intended to guide further action. The Occupational Health and Safety Act (s. 26) requires that employers establish a health and safety policy, annually review the policy and develop programs to implement the policy. The Act has similar requirements for Workplace Violence and Harassment (s. 31.0.1, 31.0.2, 31.0.6)
Trent University’s Health and Safety Policies are reviewed annually by the Joint Health and Safety Committee, Senior Administration, and the University’s Board of Governors. Both policies establish responsibilities. The H&S policy includes a detailed responsibility framework through which programs are developed, resourced, implemented and maintained.
Health and Safety Policies can be found in the University’s policy library (University Secretariat website), the Health and Safety website and portal. They are also posted on the green H&S bulletin boards found in every building.
Recently introduced legislation (Bill 132), intended to target sexual violence and workplace harassment, proposes amendments to both the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities Act. At this point is seems likely that both H&S policies will be amended to reflect these new requirements.
For information see:
Trent University Policy library
Occupational Health and Safety Act, elaws
Additional Resources:
Ministry of Labour, How to Prepare an OH&SPolicy
Last Revised: November 20, 2015