Internal Responsibility Internal Responsibility SystemSystem

Agenda

History of Safety Legislation What is IRS? How does IRS work? Who monitors IRS? So what is Due Diligence? NS Occ H&S Legislation Why does it matter?

“Lunch atop a Skyscraper” , 1930’s

Eliott Lake Mine, 1970

What is IRS?

The internal responsibility system is the underlying philosophy of the occupational health and safety legislation in all Canadian jurisdictions. Its foundation is that everyone in the workplace - both employees and employers - is responsible for his or her own safety and for the safety of co-workers.

IRS is an employee-employer partnership

Anyone and Everyone

“Anyone can cause an accident” “Anyone can prevent an accident” “Everyone should be preventing

exposures”

Dr. Peter Strahlendorf, BSc., B.E.S., LL.B., LL.M., S.J.D., CRSP

Everyone – no exceptions – is personally, directly responsible for health and safety as part of their job and are doing it ALL the time.

Authority, Responsibility, Accountability

How does IRS work?

• When workers see a hazard or a contravention, they can usually FIX it

• If they can’t fix it themselves, they MUST report it to their Supervisor and that person becomes accountable to fix it

• If the Supervisor does not have the resources then the issues gets moved up again.

What does IRS look like?

Why does IRS work?

Internal driven motivation - do health and safety because you want to do your job more safely

A person comes up with an idea, shares it with others and must persuade them it’s good.

Provide workers with the resources to test ideas (time, money etc.) Workers getting credit and satisfaction for implementing ideas provides additional motivation.

How do you monitor IRS?

Work Refusals H&S Reps. / H&S Committees External Inspections

Work refusal

Health & Safety Committee

Legislation enforcement

Employee Rights

Three basic rights: Right to know Right to participate Right to refuse unsafe work

So what is Due Diligence?

NS Occupational Health & Safety Act

Applies to all workplaces under provincial jurisdiction For Home Care/ Home Support this not only

includes the agency office but the worker’ car and the clients home

Administered by the NS Labour and Advanced Education Outlines functions of the Division

NS OHS Legislative Structure & Hierarchy of Laws

THE WHAT

THE HOW

Best/Leading Practice

Employer Responsibilities

Establish and maintain a joint health and safety committee, or cause workers to select at least one health and safety representative

Take every reasonable precaution to ensure the workplace is safe

Train employees about any potential hazards and in how to safely use, handle, store and dispose of hazardous substances and how to handle emergencies

Supply personal protective equipment and ensure workers know how to use the equipment safely and properly

Appoint a competent supervisor who sets the standards for performance, and who ensures safe working conditions are always observed.

Employee Responsibilities

Responsibility to work in compliance with OH&S acts and regulations

Responsibility to use personal protective equipment and clothing as directed by the employer

Responsibility to report workplace hazards and dangers

Responsibility to work in a manner as required by the employer and use the prescribed safety equipment.

  Blasting Safety Regulations

  Disclosure of Information Regulations

Regulations

WHMIS First Aid Sanitation and

Accommodations Personal Protective

Equipment Handling and Storage of

Materials Tools Mechanical Safety and

Robotics Cranes, Hoists and Mobile

Equipment Lock-out Violence in the Workplace Administrative Penalties

Premises and Building SafetyConstruction and DemolitionExcavations and TrenchesElectrical SafetyWelding, Cutting, Burning and SolderingEquipment for FirefightersBlasting SafetyConfined SpacesSurface Mine WorkingsFall ProtectionTemporary Workplaces on Highways

Standards

OH&S legislation cite standards (e.g., CSA, ANSI, ACGIH)

These standards cover equipment, manufacturing, end-user, processes, training requirements, etc.

Each organization needs to know what standards are being referenced in the regulations that apply to their workplace

What is Minimum Compliance? Meeting the minimum requirements of:

The NS OH&S Act Regulations Codes of Practice Standards cited in law

Minimum requirements do not ensure a safe workplace

Is Minimum Compliance Enough? Do you accept meeting a minimum score as

success for: Client safety? Client outcomes? Customer satisfaction?

Would you feel safe using the following services if they strived to meet a minimum safety standard only? Meat processing company? Tire manufacturing company? Airline company?

Why Should I be Concerned?

Human Toll Pain and suffering, impact on families,

impact on organization Ethical

It is the right thing to do Financial Impacts

Insurance rates, productivity, retention and recruitment, overtime, etc.

Legal Impacts Prosecution, fines, imprisonment

Video

http://www.worksafeforlife.ca/Home/ProgramsAwards/whatmattersmost.aspx

Consider

What key points do you think your front-line workers need to know about IRS

Thank you