Health and Safety
Introduction
The University of Regina, as a core value, is committed to the health, safety and well-being of all members of the University community, to the provision of a safe and healthy work and learning environment, and to the prevention of injuries and illnesses. With respect to health, safety, and well-being all employees and students have the following three rights:
Right to Know
You have the right to obtain information about hazards associated with your workplace or learning activities. Hazards are anything that has the potential to cause an injury or illness.
Right to Participate
You have the right to become involved in health and safety at the university.
Right to Refuse
You have the right to refuse to do any specific job or learning activity which you have reasonable grounds to believe is unusually dangerous. The danger may be to you or to any other person. An unusual danger could include:
- A danger that is not normal for the work or learning activity;
- A danger that would normally stop the work or learning activity;
- A situation for which you are not properly trained, equipped, or experienced to do the work or learning activity assigned.
This policy and the related procedures and programs apply to anyone who is an employee, contractor or student of the University community, and who is engaged in duties or activities connected to the University.
This policy provides guidance and authority to the following health and safety related policies, procedures and programs:
- Automatic External Defibrillator Program
- Biosafety Program
- Electrical Safety Program
- Emergency Management Policy, Plan and Closure Procedure
- Ergonomics Program
- Contractor Code of Practice
- Radiation Safety Policy and associated Programs
- Respectful University Policy
- Smoke-Free Campus Policy
- Travel and Field Work Procedure
- Violence Prevention Policy
- U of R Mental Health Strategy
- Sexual Violence/Misconduct Policy
Policy
The Board of Governors will work in consultation and cooperation with University faculty and staff, occupational health and safety committees, students, contractors and visitors to ensure that the health and safety requirements of The Saskatchewan Employment Act and The Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, other applicable legislation with supporting guidelines and procedures, and the University’s Health and Safety Management System (HSMS) are fully implemented and integrated into all University work and learning activities. The Board of Governors will acheive this through the assignment of duties and responsibilities to the President, Vice-Presidents, Associate Vice-Presidents, Deans, Associate Deans, Department Heads, Heads of Administrative Units, Principal Investigators, Managers, Supervisors, and all other employees in positions of authority.
Where reasonable, the University will strive to exceed the legislated requirements by adopting the current leading practices available to protect the University community and to promote a positive health, safety and well-being culture. The University will work towards continuous improvement of its health and safety programs and HSMS.
Administrators and supervisors, whether academic or administrative, will take responsibility and accountability for the health and safety of those employees and students under their direction and those work and study areas under their charge. They will advise their employees and students of the existence of potential or actual hazards, and will ensure that they work/learn safely and in accordance with The Saskatchewan Employment Act and The Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, and all applicable University policies, procedures, HSMS, and programs. They will take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances for the protection of their employees and students.
Roles and Responsibilities
The Board of Governors will:
- establish an occupational health and safety policy consistent with applicable law.
Administrators will:
- provide the support and leadership necessary to ensure a safe and healthy work and learning environment
- ensure that adequate resources are available to implement appropriate health and safety measures
- require compliance with legislative requirements (Federal/Provincial acts, regulations, standards and guidelines and Municipal bylaws pertaining to health, safety and the environment)
- provide any information, instruction, training or supervision that is necessary to protect the health and safety of employees and students
- stop all unsafe work or learning activities
- require that health and safety considerations form an integral part of the planning, design, construction, purchase and maintenance of all equipment, work activities, buildings and study activities
- require that all health and safety policies, procedures and programs, and the University’s HSMS are implemented and enforced
- in partnership with Health & Safety, monitor and evaluate health and safety performance, and recommend measures to eliminate injury and illness
- require that all incidents and near-miss incidents are reported and investigated, take action to prevent a recurrence where it is within their authority, participate in hazard identification, and take action to correct unsafe conditions and unsafe acts
Supervisors will:
- plan and execute all activities in a manner that promotes compliance with this policy
- formulate applicable specific safety rules and safe work procedures for their areas of supervision
- ensure that employees and students in their areas of responsibilities have been given adequate direction, training and instruction, and are competent in the safe performance of their work and learning activities, and that it is performed without undue risk
- ensure that work and study areas under their control are regularly inspected to prevent the development of unsafe conditions or practices
- report on substandard conditions or procedures to their immediate academic or administrative authority as necessary, and correct such conditions where it is within their authority to do so
- stop all unsafe work or learning activities
- ensure that all incidents and near-miss incidents are reported and investigated, take action to prevent a recurrence where it is within their authority, participate in hazard identification, and take action to correct unsafe conditions
- assess safety performance of students and employees as a part of their regular academic and work performance appraisal process
Employees and Students will:
- refuse to do unusually dangerous work or learning activities
- plan and execute all activities in a manner that promotes compliance with this policy
- practice safe work and learning habits, and observe all safety rules and procedures established in their work and learning areas
- promptly report hazardous or unsafe equipment, conditions, procedures or behavior to a supervisor or H&S, and make suggestions for their correction or take corrective action where authorized
- immediately report to a supervisor or H&S all work/learning-related injuries, or near-miss situations, and obtain medical treatment if necessary without delay
- be fit for duty, which means in a physical, mental and emotional state that enables the employee or student to perform the essential tasks of their work or learning activity in a manner that does not threaten the safety or health of oneself, coworkers, fellow students, property or the public at large.
Contractors, subcontractors, suppliers and others providing a service for the University of Regina will:
- as part of their contracts, agree to comply with all relevant health and safety legislation and University policies, procedures and programs
The University Occupational Health and Safety Committee (OHC) will:
- assist in the development and maintenance of University policies on health and safety matters
- consult to resolve health and safety matters that cannot be resolved at the local Safety Committee level
- provide advice and recommend actions to ensure the health and safety of all members of the University community
- promote health and safety awareness
- assist in ensuring that this policy is kept current and receive suggestions and recommend actions for policy/program improvements
Local Safety Committees will:
- assist the University OHC in the fulfillment of their duties and as outlined within the Local Committee Terms of Reference
- assist in the development and maintenance of University policies and programs on health and safety matters
- consult to resolve health and safety matters within their area of jurisdiction
- provide advice and recommend actions to ensure the health and safety of all members within their area of jurisdiction
- promote health and safety awareness
Health & Safety Unit (H&S) will:
- be the focal point to assist all stakeholders in the coordinated administration of University health and safety policies, procedures, programs and the HSMS
- be the University’s representative in contacts dealing with the health and safety of students, employees, and with regulatory bodies and agencies administering Federal, Provincial and Municipal health and safety related requirements
- advise and support the University OHC and Local Safety Committees in fulfilling their duties
- advise and recommend actions to improve the health and safety of the University community
- research, develop, provide and/or coordinate education and training on health and safety policies, programs, procedures and initiatives
- have the authority to stop any work, learning and/or research activity, or close any facility when conditions or practices pose an immediate danger to a member or members of the University community in accordance with the legislation, policies, procedures and programs
- ensure that this policy, and all related policies, procedures and programs are kept current, and receive suggestions for policy/program improvements
- promote health and safety programs, practices and research
Consequences for Noncompliance
All members of the University community are subject to the requirements of this policy. Violations are subject to the University's administrative processes and discipline systems. Disciplinary action may be taken up to and including termination of the member’s position with the University, or in the case of a student, a penalty as determined under the Regulations Governing Discipline for Academic and Non-Academic Misconduct (up to and including expulsion from the University). Legal penalties may also be assessed under The Saskatchewan Employment Act and The Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 2020.
