Environmental Health and Safety – October 14, 2020

Page 1 of 4

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY POLICY

Policy Type:

Management

Initially

Approved:

February 22,

2016

Policy Sponsor:

Office of General

Council and

University

Secretariat

Last

Revised:

October 14,

2020

Primary Contact:

Chief Safety, Risk

and Employee

Wellness Officer

Review

Scheduled:

October 14,

2025

Approver:

Board of Governors

OVERVIEW

Mount Royal University is committed to providing, promoting and maintaining a safe and healthy

learning, teaching, research and work environment for all employees and other members of the

university community.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this Policy is to create a collaborative and supportive health and safety culture by

integrating legislated and best practice Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) requirements into

all University operations, both academic and administrative.

SCOPE

This Policy applies to all Members of the University Community,

POLICY STATEMENT

GENERAL

1.1

The University is committed to providing, promoting and maintaining a safe and

healthy work environment, including physical, psychological and social wellbeing of

all Employees.

1.2

Health and safety are the responsibility of all Members of the University Community,

though the University has ultimate responsibility.

1.3

All Members of the University Community must take reasonable care to preserve

and protect the health and safety of themselves and others on campus or at any

other site where work is being performed on behalf of the University.

1.4

The University will establish and maintain an EH&S Management System that

includes the necessary organizational structures, roles and responsibilities,

Environmental Health and Safety – October 14, 2020

Page 2 of 4

standards, guidelines, and protocols to meet or exceed all applicable laws including

compliance with the Alberta Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act, Regulation

and Code. The authority to approve revisions to the EH&S Management System

rests with the Vice-President, Finance and Administration, upon consultation with

Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee (“JOHSC”).

1.5

All Employees at the University have an obligation to fulfill their health and safety

responsibilities as outlined in the EH&S Management System Manual. This includes

participating in

health and safety training and education as required for their position

and integrating health and safety practices into their tasks and activities.

1.6

The JOHSC is established to receive and advise the University on concerns and

complaints regarding the health and safety of Employees; participate in hazard

assessments and safety incident investigations; and make recommendations to the

University on health and safety matters. Additional duties and responsibilities are laid

out in the JOHSC Terms of Reference, as approved by the Vice-President, Finance

& Administration.

1.7

Safety Advisory Groups (“SAG”) will be established through EH&S at the

departmental and inter-departmental level to engage Members of the University

Community on workplace health and safety issues. SAGs will report Employee

concerns and provide workplace inspection reports to the JOHSC. Additional duties

and responsibilities are laid out in each of the SAGs Terms of Reference, as

approved by the EH&S Team Lead.

1.8

EH&S will work with JOHSC and SAGs to ensure that the Alberta OHS legislation

and the EHS Management System are implemented and integrated into University

activities.

1.9

Prime contractors hired by the University are required to maintain a health and safety

program that meets or exceeds Alberta OHS regulations, and any subcontractors

working on their projects will fall under prime contractor responsibility. Contractors

directly employed by the University where the University is acting as the prime

contractor must follow Alberta OHS legislation and the EH&S Management System

Additional information on the responsibilities of contractors and their University

project managers can be found in the EH&S Third Party Contractor Management

Program.

SAFETY RECORD MANAGEMENT

2.1

Safety records will be retained in a central repository managed by EH&S. EH&S will

develop guidelines for managers on the types of documentation required and how it

will be filed and controlled. All information will be managed as per the requirements

of Alberta OHS legislation, the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act

and any other applicable legislation.

DEFINITIONS

(1)

Contractor:

means an independent legal entity that is engaged in the

business of providing work in exchange for payment. An

independent legal entity includes an individual, sole

proprietorship, partnership or a corporation.

Environmental Health and Safety – October 14, 2020

Page 3 of 4

(2)

EH&S:

means Environmental, Health & Safety department

(3)

EH&S Management

System (EHSMS):

means this Policy, its Programs, Procedures, guidelines,

manuals, educational & training materials and records created

in accordance with this Policy

(4)

Employee:

includes volunteers or individuals who are engaged to work for

the University under an employment or apprenticeship contract,

including Faculty, Staff, exempt Employees, Management

Employees, and Undergraduate, Graduate or Postgraduate

students carrying out work for the University are also called

“workers” under Alberta OHS legislation

(5)

Health and Safety:

as defined by the OHS Act, includes physical, psychological,

and social well-being

(6)

Internal

Responsibility

System:

is the philosophy that every individual working for an

organization has a responsibility for health and safety as an

integral part of their job.

(7)

JOHSC:

The Joint Occupational Health and Safety

Committee is an

advisory group that provides policy oversight and guidance for

the EHSMS, as outlined in the Alberta OHS Act

(8)

Member of the

University

Community:

means any individual who teaches, studies, conducts research;

all Employees, contractors, volunteers, and visitors to the

University; and any other individual acting on behalf of the

University.

(9)

OHS:

means Occupational Health and Safety

(10)

Policy:

means the Environmental Health and Safety Policy

(11)

SAG:

A Safety Advisory Group

is a group of Employees acting as

health and safety champions at a department or inter-

department level

(12)

Supervisor:

as defined by the OHS Act, a person who has charge of a

worksite or authority over a worker. At the University, this

includes Supervisors, Chairs, Team Leads, and all other

Management Employees.

(13)

System:

refers to the EH&S Management System

(14)

University:

means Mount Royal University

RELATED POLICIES

•

Biosafety Policy

•

Emergency Management Policy

•

Off-campus Activity Safety Policy

•

Workplace Violence and Harassment Policy

Environmental Health and Safety – October 14, 2020

Page 4 of 4

RELATED LEGISLATION

•

Occupational Health and Safety Act, Alberta

•

Occupational Health and Safety Code, Alberta

RELATED DOCUMENTS

•

Environmental Health & Safety Management System Manual

REVISION HISTORY

Date

(mm/dd/yyyy)

Description of

Change

Sections

Person who

Entered Revision

(Position Title)

Person who

Authorized

Revision

(Position Title)

10/14/2020

Comprehensive

Revision

All sections

Board of Governors