Health and Safety

Purpose

The FFPL Board and CEO are committed to the establishment of a healthy and safe workplace and to the integration of health and safety practices in all areas of the workplace for our workers.

The FFPL Board and CEO will strive to ensure that all members are trained in their job duties, and have access to training and development opportunities to ensure safe work practices. It is the responsibility of all personnel to maintain a safe workplace.

Legislative Requirements

1. The Occupational Health and Safety Act requires those who have any degree of control over the workplace to ensure a safe and healthy work environment.
2. The requirements of the Occupational Health and Safety Act apply to every worker who is being paid, regardless of the location where the work is performed. If workers work at home and are being paid or are driving and being paid en route, they are covered under the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
3. If a paid worker suffers a critical injury, the Occupational Health and Safety Act requires that the employer must immediately notify the Ministry of Labour Health & Safety Contact Centre and the workplace Health and Safety Representative. The employer and the employee Health and Safety Representative (see Section 4) must prepare a report in writing, and forward within 48 hours to a director of the Ministry of Labour. See Ministry of Labour Health and Safety Contact Centre for Critical Injury.
4. The FFPLTC complies with the Occupational Health and Safety Act which sets out duties with respect to workplace safety, and materials and equipment in the workplace. The Occupational Health and Safety Act s.25(2) requires employers to prepare and review at least annually a written occupational health and safety policy and develop and maintain a program to implement that policy.
5. Individualized workplace emergency response information shall be made available to an employee once the FFPLTC becomes aware of a need for accommodation.

Rights of the Worker

A worker has the following rights:

1. to participate in the process of identifying and resolving workplace health and safety concerns
2. to know about potential hazards to which he or she may be exposed
3. to refuse work that he or she believes is hazardous to either his or her own health and safety or that of another worker, including circumstances that the worker believes may result in potential or actual violence
4. all other rights indicated in the Occupational Health and Safety Act

Responsibilities

1. The FFPL Board is responsible for complying with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and Regulations and for funding a health and safety program for FFPLTC Staff. They shall review this Health and Safety policy annually.
2. The FFPL Board delegates authority to administer and direct health and safety to the CEO.
3. The CEO or Designate is responsible for:
   1. developing and maintaining a Health and Safety Plan
   2. ensuring adherence to the principles of this policy
   3. ensuring compliance with all applicable health and safety legislation
   4. ensuring training and procedures for effective health and safety program management, including adequate allocation of funds and resources
   5. investigating all accidents involving personal injury and reporting incidents to proper authorities when required
   6. promptly addressing the safety concerns of FFPLTC Staff
   7. ensuring that health and safety infractions are addressed
   8. making sure that work is done safely
   9. ensuring employees are aware of hazards and how to protect themselves
   10. maintaining an orderly and uncluttered work area
   11. providing adequate training to employees in order to protect their health and safety
   12. investigating refusals to work in the presence of the employee health and safety representative or, in the event that he or she is not available, a fellow employee.
4. Staff members are responsible for:
   1. knowing procedures to follow in the case of accidents or sudden illnesses
   2. reporting any known hazards to their CEO or Designate
   3. reporting any accidents or injuries to their CEO or Designate
   4. understanding the hazards associated with any materials used by FFPLTC Staff and all relevant safety information regarding their use
   5. reporting any missing or defective equipment
   6. maintaining an orderly and uncluttered work area
   7. operating any equipment in a way that will not endanger any FFPLTC Staff member
   8. knowing the location of the First Aid Kit
   9. knowing the locations and use of the Fire Extinguishers as well as the location of Emergency Exits
   10. participating in fire drills and other emergency evacuation procedure

   Staff members are not responsible for transporting or accompanying patrons elsewhere.

5. Patrons are responsible for:
   1. Knowing and following the Code of Conduct as well as FFPLTC Policy
   2. Understanding that the use of rollerblades, skateboards, recreational scooters, and bikes are prohibited within the Library
   3. Not bringing animals, other than service animals, into the Library

Health and Safety Representative

1. The Occupational Health and Safety Act requires that a workplace with fewer than 20, but more than five employees, have a Health and Safety Representative. In accordance with Occupational Health and Safety Act s8:
   1. FFPLTC Staff will appoint one Health and Safety Representative from among the workers who does not exercise managerial functions and has powers as set out in the Occupational Health and Safety Act s.8(11)
   2. the FFPLTC will pay the representative while carrying out his or her duties
2. The Health and Safety Representative will:
   1. identify workplace hazards [Occupational Health and Safety Act s.8(10)]
   2. inspect the workplace at least once a month [Occupational Health and Safety Act s.8(6)]
   3. be consulted about workplace testing [Occupational Health and Safety Act s.8(11)]
   4. make recommendations to the CEO [Occupational Health and Safety Act s.8(10)]
   5. investigate work refusals [Occupational Health and Safety Act s.43(4)] and serious accidents [Occupational Health and Safety Act s.8(14)]
   6. maintain a health and safety bulletin board which will include but not be limited to:
      1. The most recent version of the Minister of Labour's poster, "What You Should Know About The Ontario Employment Standards Act"
      2. A copy of the Occupational Health and Safety Act
      3. The Prevention of Workplace Violence policy
      4. The Health and Safety policy
      5. The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board’s poster entitled "In Case of Injury - 1234"
   7. be trained in basic first aid by an accredited agency
   8. maintain the first aid box which meets the requirements of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act Regulation 1101. See Ministry of Labour Health and Safety Contact Centre for Critical Injury.