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 Health and SafetyANNOUNCEMENT Trinity College has been awarded one of the Education Safety Association President's Safety Achievement Awards. The President's Safety Achievement Award recognizes ESAO clients who manage an exemplary health and safety program and demonstrate outstanding commitment to creating a workplace culture that makes safety a top priority. By focusing on client's achievements, we are emphasizing the importance of continuous improvement and encouraging the development of innovative solutions to health and safety issues. UNIVERSITY OF TRINITY COLLEGEHEALTH AND SAFETY POLICY
Health and Safety Committee Members 2010-2011
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| Year | Lost time accidents | Lost Days |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 1 | 3 |
| 2009 | 1 | 27.25 |
| 2010 | 2 | 16 |
WSIB PREMIUMS
WSIB premiums consist of a base rate for each industry sector, plus an “experience adjustment” that reflects accident rates of the individual institution over a rolling three-year period. In addition, there is a penalty for any accident resulting in costs over $5,000. Our individual experience adjustment has improved again this year due to our accident statistics and the dropping off of claims in excess of $500 and one claim over $5,000 filed in earlier years.
| Base rate per $100 of monthly salary | Trinity experience adjustment | Trinity premium | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | $.34 | 46% | $.50 |
| 2009 | $.34 | 16% | $.39 |
| 2010 | $.34 | 3% | $.35 |
MINISTRY OF LABOUR (MOL) INSPECTIONS AND ORDERS
There were no visits from or orders issued by the Ministry of Labour in 2010.
JOINT HEALTH AND SAFETY COMMITTEE
The JH&SC met seven times in 2010 (four times being the minimum required). As required by the Act, the College’s Health and Safety Policy was reviewed, signed and posted, the duties and responsibilities of the employer, supervisors and workers were reviewed and sent to all staff members, and First Aid Stations were inspected.
The Act requires that at least one member of the JH&SC representing the employer and at least one member representing workers be Certified Members (e.g., having successfully completed Certification 1 and 2 training). In 2010, the Director, Facility Services (Tim Connelly) became fully certified to replace Jill Willard as the employer representative. The certified worker member is Mirek Grochowski.
WORKPLACE INSPECTIONS
The Act requires employers to control workplace hazards. The JH&SC assists in identifying and controlling hazards by conducting workplace inspections, and the entire workplace must be inspected once each year. Hazards are classified according to severity as follows: “A”- may result in death or permanent disability (dealt with immediately); “B”- may result in serious, but not fatal injuries and “C”- may result in minor injuries, “D” - housekeeping.
The entire workplace was inspected during the year. At the beginning of the year there were 12 unresolved concerns carried forward from 2009. Forty-four 44 new concerns were identified through inspections in 2010. By year-end, 54 had been resolved, leaving 2 going forward (1 C-classed hazard (resolution in progress) and 1 potential hazard under review).
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
Professional development opportunities and in-house safety chats were offered throughout the year. In-house training focused on workplace violence and harassment, personal protective equipment, slips, trips and falls, back and machine safety.
Five new full-time staff members received Health and Safety orientation training on arrival, in addition to training for part-time student workers in the Library, the Copy Centre, cleaning department and the George Ignatieff Theatre. Four staff members received or updated their emergency First Aid training in 2010. Safety is also part of the Dons’ orientation training.
SPECIAL INITIATIVES
Workplace Violence and Harassment
Amendments to Bill 168 (the Ontario Health and Safety Act violence and harassment legislation) require employers to develop and communicate workplace violence and harassment prevention policies and programs and to conduct a workplace risk assessment by June 15, 2010. The College conducted the required assessment which reviewed the physical premises, security, reception, signage and work situations.
Risks were based on the following criteria:
- HIGH – potential risk that regularly places the employee at risk or the risk is severe and may result in a fatal or critical injury
- MEDIUM - potential risk that occasionally places the employee at risk that may result in lost time/medical aid required, or
- LOW – potential risks that rarely place the employee at risk and/or the risk is minimal or not a normal part of the work routine.
All of our risks were deemed low to medium in severity. Several were due, in part, to the nature of the open university. The Committee identified many controls already in place to reduce these hazards (e.g., policies and procedures, security systems and patrols, increased lighting, limited access to residential floors, alcohol training, cash handling procedures, video surveillance). A new Working Alone Policy was also developed as a companion to these documents. The JH&SC reviewed one violent incident in 2010.
Tripping Hazards
Tripping hazards (pavement upheaval, stairway deficiencies) that had been identified during an earlier assessment were addressed again in a systematic way as part of the summer maintenance program. This summer a new walkway was completed on the south side of Rowlinson Wing (St. Hilda’s), the GIT entrance walkway was leveled, trip hazards and broken stones in the Larkin stoa were replaced, the broken stairs on the south side of Cosgrave House were rebuilt, the north entrance walkway from the parking lot to the Larkin Building was repaired, and the patio stones at the exit from the Buttery were relaid. All asphalt surfaces were repaired as needed.
Asbestos Survey
In 2009 the College engaged a consultant to conduct an asbestos survey and assessment to ensure conformity with new asbestos regulations. The survey is updated each year to ensure continual progress is made in abatement. In 2010 remedial work took place to address specific incidences of asbestos. Further work remains to be done, but removal is not required immediately. The College is in full compliance with regulatory requirements.
Safety Improvement Partnership Program (SIPP)
The management Co-Chair continued to participate in the SIPP which is facilitated by the Health and Safety Association for Government Services. Workplace Safety Coordinators from the Federated Universities, TST, ROM, Knox, St. Augustine’s Seminary, Art Gallery of Ontario and the Michener Institute meet approximately every six weeks to review safety matters or engage in safety training. The SIPP is a long-term approach to safety improvements and is viewed as a complement to the MOL’s Provincial Intervention Strategy to reduce workplace injuries and enhance the institution’s in-house safety program.
OBJECTIVES FOR THE YEAR AHEAD
The primary objective of the Health and Safety program is to provide and maintain a healthy and safety-conscious environment for all staff, students and visitors. Education and accident prevention will remain a focus in 2011, and to that end safety training will be held bi-monthly and health and safety issues will appear on the agenda of the Quarterly Staff Meeting and the Provost’s Advisory Committee. The College will continue with its systematic approach to deferred maintenance issues and funding has been approved for building consulting work related to the fire safety system and the ongoing preventative maintenance
OTHER SAFETY ISSUES
In addition to the College’s occupational health and safety program as prescribed by the Act, the following significant health and safety issues were addressed:
FIRE SAFETY
Each September, every new Trinity resident is required to attend a fire safety briefing. In 2010, 95% of current residents (424/446) had attended such a briefing. The fire safety system is maintained and tested annually, and residents who tamper with the system are subject to demerit points under the Student Discipline Code. The system meets the requirements of the Building Code, but in several of the buildings is based on older design and technology. The College intends to engage a consultant to conduct a full review of the life safety system in the near future.
FOOD PREMISES INSPECTIONS/SODEXO CANADA
The Food Service Director for Sodexo, the College’s longstanding food service provider, attends meetings of the College’s JH&SC, forwards safety concerns that arise from Sodexo’s own workplace inspections, provides information on any accidents or incidents involving kitchen staff and gives reports on the delivery of Sodexo’s health and safety programs. Municipal regulations require an annual inspection of all food facilities by the Toronto Public Health Department. All three College facilities (Strachan Hall, Melinda Seaman and the Buttery) passed inspection in 2010. Sodexo also underwent an independent National Safety audit and received the Superior – GOLD status in all locations.
ELEVATOR/LIFT INSPECTIONS
Effective July 1, 2005, College elevators were upgraded to new Code requirements. The Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) inspects the College’s 11 elevators annually and, as required under applicable regulations, the College’s elevator maintenance contractors conduct monthly inspections and address deficiencies.
PERSONAL INJURY INSURANCE CLAIMS
Unlike accidents/injuries involving workers that are handled under the Act and the WSIB, injuries sustained by students, guests and visitors may result in a claim against the College, covered under the College’s General Liability insurance policy, issued by CURIE, the Canadian Universities Reciprocal Insurance Exchange. There were 2 such injuries during the year but no claims have been filed to date. Steps taken to minimize risk include maintenance repairs, frequent salting of exterior stairs and pathways in snow or ice conditions, leveling and repair of flagstones, and warning signs in appropriate situations.
OUTGOING CO-CHAIR
The Committee said goodbye to Jill Willard, Management Co-Chair and Workplace Safety Coordinator, who retired at the end of 2010. Until her successor is in place, Geoffrey Seaborn will act as interim management Co-chair and Workplace Safety Coordinator.
Respectfully submitted,
Geoffrey Seaborn, January 27, 2011 Acting Management Co-Chair, JH&SC and Acting Workplace Safety Coordinator.
Members of the 2010 Joint Health and Safety Committee
Members-at-large:
Alan Coode, Quain Buchanan, Brenda Duchesne, Anne Fleming, Mirek Grochowski, Mike Heslip (worker Co-Chair), Marty Hilliard, Marilyn Laville, Jonathan Steels, Jill Willard (management Co-Chair).
Alternates:
Elsie Del Bianco, Sergio Martinez, Geoffrey Seaborn.
Assessors:
Tim Connelly (Director, Facility Services) and Kevin McKay (Sodexo, Food Service Director) attend each meeting as resource personnel and the Provost is kept informed of the Committee’s activities through receipt of the agenda and minutes of each meeting.
Minutes of the Health and Safety Committee meeting #140, February 17, 2011