Construction Safety Orientation

Orientation to Occupational Health and Safety



Why Health & Safety is important
• Workplaces can be dangerous places
• Injuries happen in all kinds of workplaces
• Injuries can be very costly



Why workers and students get hurt
• No training in area
• No experience in area
• Do not know their legal rights
• Afraid to ask questions
• Trying to balance several responsibilities
• Distracted by other or even internally



Costs of injury or illness
• May miss a special event and family function
• Hard to see someone you love in pain
• Loss of productivity
• Impact on co-workers, friends, family
You have rights and responsibilities for workplace health and safety

• When you start a new job or a new skill do you know what your role is in the company or school’s health and safety program?
• Are you familiar with the types of hazards you may encounter?
Here’s the risk
• A significant number of workplace injuries occur in the first few days of employment or after a change in duties
• Getting oriented when you start a new job with a new employer or even with the same employer helps you prevent being injured


What is OHS orientation?
• Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) orientation involves getting employees and others familiar with the workplace’s health and safety program and the hazards people may be exposed to
• Orientation ensures that individuals are familiar with the company’s, school or teacher’s expectations for health and safety, the role that the individuals have in the health and safety program and the hazards of the particular worksite


Who needs to be orientated?
• Circumstances vary from workplace to workplace, but OHS orientation could be given to:
– New hires, temporary, seasonal or full-time returning employees
– Students
– Outside contractors
– Visitors and others
• Orientation may also be needed for employees that are assigned new or unfamiliar work, and/or equipment





Who is responsible for orientation?

• The Occupational Health and Safety Act requires employers, teachers and supervisors train workers or students to know the hazards in their workplace and the procedures for doing the job
• Beyond this legal requirement, many people have a role to play in making sure that individuals are properly prepared for entry into the workplace

Who is responsible for orientation?

• Different people could be responsible for different parts of an orientation program

• For example:
– the Health and Safety coordinator
– Supervisor
– Teacher/Instructor


What topics are usually covered
in OHS Orientation?

• Health and safety policies
• Roles and responsibilities
• Safe work procedures
• Work refusal procedures
• Accident/incident/hazard reporting
• Specific hazard information





What topics are usually covered
in OHS Orientation?

• Emergency procedures
• Discipline policy
• Personal protective equipment

Here’s what you need to know whenever you start a new job
• Hazards
– every workplace has hazards
– there are different types and you need to be aware of the ones in your workplace
• Learn how to protect yourself
-there are a few key parts of your workplace’s or schools health and safety program you should know about that will help protect you

Rights & Responsibilities

• Worker Rights
– You have the right to
• Know about hazards in your workplace or school
• Participate in keeping the workplace or school healthy and safe
• Refuse unsafe work

Rights & Responsibilities

• Worker Responsibilities
– Always practice safe work procedures
– Report unsafe conditions as quickly as possible to your supervisor or employer
– Properly wear any protective equipment the job requires
– Do not do anything on the job that will endanger yourself or others


Rights & Responsibilities

Employers must
-Take every reasonable precaution to protect a student or worker’s health and safety
– Make sure necessary safety equipment is provided, used properly and maintained
– Inform workers and supervisors of any hazards and how to handle them
– Ensure that safe procedures are followed in the workplace
– Provide information, instruction and competent supervision to protect the health and safety of workers

Rights & Responsibilities

• Supervisors or teachers must
– Take every reasonable precaution to protect a worker’s health and safety
– Inform workers of job hazards and ensure they are trained to do their jobs safely
– Ensure that workers work safely and use the equipment and protective devices properly where required

Why is the Safety, Housekeeping Improvement Program important?

• Work to solve occupational health and safety issues before someone is injured or made ill
• Conduct regular inspections of the workplace and report the findings to the committee
• Make recommendations to management and workers on how to make the workplace safer
• Investigate serious accidents

Hazards

A workplace hazard is any condition, practice, behaviour, or a combination of these that can cause injury or illness to a person or damage to property

Types of Hazards
• Biological
• Chemical
• Ergonomic
• Physical
• Psychosocial

Hazards
• Biological
– Blood and/or body fluids
– Insect bites
– Bird or animal droppings
• Chemical
– Paints, acids and solvents
– vapours and fumes
– Flammable materials

Hazards
• Ergonomic
– Poor lighting
– Constant lifting
– Poor workstation design and chairs
• Physical
– Unguarded machines
– Ladders / scaffolds
– Constant loud noises
– Long exposure to heat or cold

Hazards
• Psychosocial
– Stress from work
– Threat of violence at home or work
– Personality conflicts at home or work


Hazard Control

• Hazards should be eliminated or at least controlled to minimize exposure to risk
• Here are a variety of ways to control hazards:
– Substitution with a less hazardous material, process or equipment
– Re-engineering equipment or a work process
– Installing physical barriers like machine guarding
– Personal protective equipment (PPE)
– Ventilation

Learn how to protect yourself

• Personal protective equipment (PPE)
– You are responsible for properly wearing any special protective equipment that your job requires
– Using it will help protect you from injury and illness
– Be sure it fits right and meets approved standards

Learn how to protect yourself
• Here are some examples.
– Hard hats to protect your head
– Hair nets to keep your hair from becoming caught in machine parts
– Non-slip safety boots
– Gloves to protect your hands
– Hearing protection to block out dangerous levels of noise
– Safety glasses or goggles to protect your eyes

Learn how to protect yourself

• Safe Operating Procedures (SOPs)
– Knowing the SOPs for equipment you use will help you do your job properly and safely
– By following SOPs you will use your equipment the way it was intended



Learn how to protect yourself

• Emergency Procedures
– Every workplace should have emergency procedures and plans
– Get to know the emergency procedures at your workplace

Learn how to protect yourself
• First Aid
– First aid training should be given to all workers
– Certified first aiders should be present at all work places
– Emergency numbers should be known by all workers

Learn how to protect yourself
• Reporting an injury
– If you do get injured or feel ill, advise your supervisor
– If you receive first aid, it should be recorded in the company’s first aid record