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OTTAWA POLICE SERVICES BOARD COMMISSION DE SERVICES POLICIERS D’OTTAWA
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Working together for a safer community La sécurité de notre communauté, un travail d’équipe |
REPORT RAPPORT |
DATE 22 October 2012
TO/DEST. Chair and Members, Ottawa Police Services Board
FROM/EXP. Policy and Governance Committee
SUBJECT/OBJET BOARD POLICY ON OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY
That the Ottawa Police Services Board approve the Occupational Health and Safety Policy attached at Annex A.
The Government of Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act, R.S.O. 1990, c O.1 has been in place for some time and the Ottawa Police Service already has a policy that is compliant with the legislation. In the process of working on another policy earlier this year it came to light that the Ottawa Police Services Board does not have an Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) policy in place. As an employer, the Board has obligations under the Act that should be reflected in policy.
The Board is responsible for ensuring all workplace parties work together in compliance with Occupational Health and Safety legislation and related policies and procedures. To achieve that and its obligations under the Act, the proposed Board policy attached at Annex A sets out the following directions to the Chief of Police:
The Chief of Police shall:
1. Establish, maintain and support occupational health and safety programs aimed at minimizing or eliminating the risk of workplace accidents, injuries and/or illnesses.
2. Ensure that all employees are aware of and work in compliance with the provisions of Occupational Health and Safety legislation and established policies and procedures.
3. Ensure that members with supervisory responsibilities are held accountable for promoting and implementing available health and safety programs, for complying with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and for ensuring that workplaces under their supervision are maintained in a healthy and safe condition.
4. Ensure that a copy of the Police Service’s Occupational Health and Safety policy is posted at a conspicuous location in all Ottawa Police Service facilities.
Committee Review
The Policy & Governance Committee met on 4 October 2012 to review the draft policy on Occupational Health and Safety and is pleased to submit Policy CR-15 to the Board for approval.
Other large police services boards in Ontario and the City of Ottawa were consulted as to their policies. Prior to the draft policy being considered by the Policy & Governance Committee, staff in the Police Service’s Human Resources Unit reviewed the policy to ensure it was in harmony with the OPS policy already in place.
There is no direct financial impact associated with the Board’s policy.
As an employer, the Police Services Board is required to have a policy in place that reflects its obligations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. The policy attached as Annex A has been developed in consultation with OPS staff and has been reviewed by the Policy & Governance Committee. The Committee recommends that the Board adopt the Occupational Health and Safety Policy.
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Submitted by the Policy & Governance Committee:
Carl Nicholson, Chair
Adriana Doyle
Jim Durrell
Attach. (1)