NIPAWIN — A new occupational health and safety program will allow the Town of Nipawin to fulfill a legal requirement it should have met 20 years ago.
In November, the town received a notice of contravention from their occupational health officer. The order was given for the town to develop a health occupational health and safety program for the town’s employees. This is a requirement under the Saskatchewan Employment Act, and has been mandatory since 1999.
“It’s a very comprehensive program. It should have been in place since 1999 and there hasn’t been one,” said Barry Elliott, Nipawin's town administrator.
The orientation of the staff will begin on the week starting with June 3.
“We’re jumping in this program with both feet and we’re going to ensure the staff are familiar with it and know their roles and responsibilities within the program and that the proper reporting is incorporated.”
The program starts with orientation and from there different tasks are reviewed and risk assessments done.
Elliott said the goal for the program is to ensure everyone is working safely and understands how to do their job safely.
“In the review we’ve done in the program itself the town was already doing many, many tasks to an excellent standard and the town has been diligent in ensuring safety training and use of personal protective equipment is in place,” Elliott said.
Elliott said this new policy adds clearer responsibilities and firmer definitions.
“It won’t change the work that’s being done, but it will ensure the work that whatever work is being done has been carefully thought out and is being done in a manner that best ensures the safety of the employees.”
An example of this would be a confined space entry procedure, such as an employee entering a manhole to do work.
In this instance the program would make sure they are properly informed about how to do it correctly and that they have the correct equipment to ensure safety.
In addition, the program requires regular meetings of the health and safety committee, as well as regular reporting back to the town’s administrator and council on the progress. Incidents and inspections would also be reported to ensure they are being kept to code.
