2016 OH&S Steward Training

Occupational health and safety is important to HSA members. Safety stewards and representatives on joint OH&S committees play a vital role in promoting a safe work environment and preventing injuries.
 
HSA is offering the following OH&S workshops in the New Westminster office. These workshops are participatory and discussion-oriented, providing an opportunity to examine examples from your own workplace.

Registration is through My Events Registration and you will need your HSA member ID number in order to create a login. Please call the HSA office at 604.517.0994 or 1.800.663.2017 to receive your HSA member ID number. Once you have created a login the workshops will be listed under Steward Education Events.

In addition to the courses described below, Basic OH&S Steward Training workshops will also be scheduled in Victoria (April 4/5) and Kelowna (May 30/31) with the HSA Provincial OH&S Conference scheduled for June 6 & 7 in Richmond. More information about these events and the registration process will be sent out shortly.

Members of joint occupational health and safety (JOHS) committees are entitled to at least 8 hours of employer paid OH&S training annually. If your employer has not yet provided you with this year’s training opportunity, please try to arrange (through your JOHS Committee) to have one of the days below treated as employer paid time. More information about this is contained in Section 135 of the Workers’ Compensation Act or by calling the HSA office.
  
1. OH&S Steward Training – Basic (2 days)
 
Dates:
February 29 & March 1, 2016
November 14 & 15, 2016
 
Location:
HSA Office, 180 East Columbia Street, New Westminster
 
Workshop participants will discuss:

• rights and responsibilities of safety stewards
• role of the Workers’ Compensation Board
• occupational health and safety regulations, policies and guidelines
• hazard identification
• incident investigations
• worksite inspections
• role of a steward/worker rep on the joint occupational health & safety committee
• violence in the workplace
• musculoskeletal injuries
• harassment & bullying as workplace hazards
• making recommendations

 Priority for this course will be given to new HSA OH&S stewards and representatives on joint occupational health and safety (JOHS) committees who have not previously attended HSA OH&S workshops.
 
2. OH&S Steward Training – Understanding & Conducting Risk Assessments (1 day)
 
Dates:
April 14, 2016
November 21, 2016
 
Location:
HSA Office, 180 East Columbia Street, New Westminster
 
Provincial OH&S legislation requires all employers to assess risk in the workplace in a variety of situations. This course will cover when a risk assessment must be completed and will give participants hands on experience in a variety of different methods of conducting risk assessments.
 
In this course participants will:

• Learn about the risk assessment process specific to hazard identification, analyze and evaluate the risk associated with the hazard and determine appropriate ways to eliminate or control the hazard.
• Learn in practical terms that a risk assessment is a thorough look at your workplace specific to things that may cause harm to workers.
• Summarize hazard prioritization and precautionary principles.
• Learn how to generate awareness of hazards and risks.
• Learn how to implement controlled measures, as a result of conducting a risk assessment.
• Discuss the requirements, who is responsible for meeting them and consequences of non-compliance.

This course is presented in partnership with the BC Federation of Labour Health and Safety Centre.
 
Audience: Joint OH&S Committee Members and Supervisors.
Prerequisite: HSA Basic OH&S Steward Training workshop or BCFed OH&S Part 1 course is required before taking this course.
 
3. OH&S Steward Training – Supervisors’ OH&S Level 1 (1 day)
 
Dates:
April 15, 2016
November 22, 2016
 
Location:
HSA Office, 180 East Columbia Street, New Westminster
 
Supervisors play a critical role in the workplace because they have the authority to oversee the work of others. As such, supervisors have considerable responsibilities under Occupational Health & Safety Legislation. A supervisor is required to be qualified by knowledge, training and experience in the work they oversee, be familiar with the legislation that applies to their workplace and knowledgeable about actual or potential workplace hazards, so they can in turn advise workers about these hazards.
 
In this course participants will:

• Discuss legal requirements and responsibilities (see Duties of Supervisors).
• State the supervisor’s role in addressing work refusals and conducting investigations.
• Identify the supervisor’s role in conducting workplace inspections.
• Learn the principles of demonstration of “due diligence”.

This program also reviews relevant case law and provisions of the Criminal Code of Canada (Bill C-45) to help participants better identify types of work that are supervisory in nature and their related legal duties, and understand the consequences of non-compliance.
 
Audience: HSA Supervisors 
 
This course is presented in partnership with the BC Federation of Labour Health and Safety Centre.