The document discusses developing an occupational health and safety program for small businesses. It outlines that an effective program takes a systematic approach and includes developing a policy, identifying workplace hazards, conducting risk assessments, establishing a joint health and safety committee, implementing prevention strategies, and regularly reviewing and improving the program. It provides examples of key elements to include, such as safe work procedures, incident reporting processes, and training. It also offers resources for small businesses to develop their programs, such as templates from the Fisheries Safety Association of Nova Scotia or the Nova Scotia Department of Labour and Advanced Education.

1. Is Your Health and Safety
Program Dead?
Cape Breton Partnership Safety Symposium 2016
OH&S Program Development for Small Business
Amanda Dedrick, Health and Safety Coordinator
Fisheries Safety Association of NS
1

2.  Founded, led and funded
BY Industry, FOR Industry
 Began operating in January 2010
 Not-for-profit
 Volunteer Board of Directors
• Representing all sectors of the industry
• Advisors from various government depts
2
Fisheries Safety Association of NS

3. MISSION
To Enhance Safety through prevention programs,
education, advocacy, communication
and awareness.
3

4. MANDATE / VISION
enhancing safety,
making the industry more
attractive for new employees
and keeping existing employees
safe and healthy;
resulting in fewer injuries,
helping to reduce workers compensation rates
for the fishing industry.
4

5. On-Going Activities
 Man Overboard Drills
 Wharf-side presence
 OHS program development
 Primarily processing and aquaculture
 Prevention Committee
 PFD research and new product releases
 Poster campaign, calendars
5

6. The reasons why…
FSN Video
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7. The NS Fishing/Seafood Industry...
• One of the most dangerous industries,
• More than 800 injuries/year, (over 2 each day)
7

8. Is Your Health and Safety Program
Dead?
Do you have one?
8

9. If you do have a H&S Program?
9
Is it easily located? Is it used?

10. Is Your Health and Safety Program
Dead?
• What shape is it in?
• When was it last reviewed?
• Who is responsible?
• Who is involved?
NOT a one person or
one department function!
10

11. • Serves as your CHARTER and defines how
the organisation will manage
– Hazards
– Processes
– People
– Risk exposure
– Safety performance…
11
Your H&S Program

12. A Program Approach...
• Know the legislation and how it applies
• Develop an OH&S Policy
• Identify hazards in your workplace
• Conduct a risk assessment
– What could go wrong? Problems, Issues,
Opportunities
• Create an H&S Program
• Establish a Joint OH&S Committee
– (or Representative)
• Implement prevention strategies
• Review and improve
12

13. A Program Approach...the law
• Know the legislation:
– OHS Act Section 28 (3)
• Copy available
–to Committee or representative
–on request, to an employee
13

14. A Program Approach...the law
• Know the legislation:
– OHS Regulations (a few of many)
• Fall Protection and Scaffolding Regulations
• Occupational Diving Regulations
• Handling and Storage of Material
• Lock-out
• Confined Space
• JOHSC...
14

15. A Program Approach...Policy
• Statement of principles
and general rules
• Senior management
commitment
• Objectives of the program
• Philosophy
• Accountability
• Responsibilities
• Order of operations
• Expectations
• Discipline
• Clear
• Signed by senior official
• Kept current, reviewed
annually
• Posted and communicated
• FOLLOWED!
15

16. A Program Approach...Hazards
• What equipment, environment, processes might
result in
serious injury?
• Risk assessment is VITAL to the program
– What IF? Problems, Issues
– Prioritise your hazards according to risk
16

17. Strategy for improving health and
safety in the NS Fisheries Industry
• Hazard Identification Process
• Hazard Observation Program
• Strategic planning
• Risk Assessment Process
• Program Development
– Relative to Risk Assessment
• Program Implementation
• Culture Change
17

18. OH&S Act & Regulations
Really? Must we?
Keep it simple and relevant:
3Rs + IRS
Remember: Don’t give safety a bad name

19. 19
One pager!

20. Internal Responsibility System
 A system of legal duties and responsibilities
 USE IT to enhance a Workplace Partnership!
 Everyone has a role to play, and a duty to
actively ensure workers are safe
 Problems reported, investigated, eliminated
 The foundation of OHS in Nova Scotia
 Correction without intervention
20

21. A Program Approach...JOHSC
• Establish a Joint OH&S Committee or
Representative
– Training is essential
– Terms of Reference
– Duties and functions
– Schedule of meetings and inspection
– Chart the course
21

22. • Individual responsibility
• Joint OH&S committee
• H&S rules and rights
• Correct work
procedures
• Employee orientation
• Training
• Workplace inspections
Sample from ccohs.ca/oshanswers
• Reporting and
investigating accidents
• Emergency procedures
• Medical and first aid
• H&S promotion
• Workplace specific
items
• Performance
management
22
Your H&S Program Elements

23. Safe Work Procedures (sample)
• Incident/Injury Reporting
• Investigations
• Lockout and tagout
• Machine Guarding
• Confined spaces policy
• Fall protection
• WHMIS
• Training
• Return to work
• Housekeeping
• Fire prevention, fuels
• PPE
• Emergency response
• First Aid
• Blood Borne Pathogens
• Violence, harassment
• Working alone
23

24. Safe Work Procedures
24

25. Getting it Done...
• Safety Toolkit
• FSANS Template
• In-house resources
• External resources
• Off the shelf
• Internet resources, e.g. www.ccohs.ca
25

26. 26
Getting it done…NS DOLAE & WCB

27. 27
Getting it done…industry, FSANS template

28. 28
Getting it done…in house
 Often the BEST approach
 Labour/time intensive
 Good ROI
 Involve all departments and functions
 Share the load and responsibilities
 Identify Champions
 Get buy-in

29. 29
Getting it done…outside help
 Adapt and ADOPT…OWN it!

30. 30
Getting it done…
 In ANY case…
PLANNING is key
“Begin with the end in mind”
Stephen Covey
 And that end is?

31. Precautions, tips…
• Keep it short and simple
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32. Precautions, tips…
• Don’t strangle your company
• Consider needs of the
organisation
• Integrate/dovetail with
neighbour firms, sector
– Show and share
– Accept advise  opportunity
32

33. Precautions, tips…
• Take time to do it right
FIVE elements per year?
• Don’t give management and
workers a reason to hate safety!
33

34. Review and improve
• Specified in program
• Open it up, share,
communicate
• JOHSC activity
• Goal-setting – Raise the bar
• Calendar reminders
– E.g. Outlook, Google
• Role of automated management systems
34

35. A Little Bit of…
OHS-101

36. Accident and Injury Reduction
Why should accidents and injuries be reduced?
1.
2.
3.
36

37. Accident and Injury Reduction
List humanitarian reasons for reducing accidents
and injuries:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
37

39. Penalties
• Enforcement
• Fines
• Administrative penalties
• Imprisonment
• Creative Sentencing

40. SAFETY = GOOD BUSINESS
• Humanitarian
• Costs
• Legal

41. Wrap up
• A program approach: inputs and ingredients
• H&S Program elements and content
• How to get it Done: What does DONE mean?
• Resources
• Strategies to keep your Program fresh and alive
• Exceed compliance
41

42. Let’s ALL Make Safety a Habit, and
Make Safety YOUR
New Tradition

43. If you had a Question…
What would it be?
Contact me:
Amanda Dedrick, H&S Coordinator
Queens Place Emera Centre
50 Queens Place Drive
Liverpool, NS B0T 1K0
(902) 354-6001