Ch 1-3

Question 1

Definition of OH&S.

Answer 1

The study of identification, evaluation, and control of hazards associated with the work environment.

Question 2

Definition of hazard.

Answer 2

Any source of potential adverse health effect, damage, or harm on something or someone under certain conditions at work, including chemical, biological, physical, and psychological agents.

Question 3

What is the goal of OH&S programs?

Answer 3

To reduce occupational injury and illness.

Question 4

What are occupational injuries, occupational illnesses, and lost-time injuries?

Answer 4

1. Any cut, fracture, sprain, or amputation resulting from a workplace incident.
2. Any abnormal condition or disorder caused by exposure to environmental factors associated with employment.
3. A workplace injury that results in the employee missing time from work.

Question 5

What happened in the Rail Disaster at Lac-Megantic?

Answer 5

In July 2013, railway cars filled with crude oil derailed and destroyed downtown Lac-Megantic, killing 47 people. The TSB found 18 contributing factors.

Question 6

Describe the “Assumption of Risk” and when it was the prevailing model.

Answer 6

The belief that a worker accepted the risks of employment when they accepted the job. Injured workers were considered careless. Before the early 20th century.

Question 7

When did Canadian jurisdictions pass factor laws to regulate heating, lighting, accident reporting, etc.?

Answer 7

Early 20th Century.

Question 8

What are the three principal rights of workers?

Answer 8

1. The right to REFUSE (dangerous work without penalty)
2. The right to PARTICIPATE (in identifying and correcting health and safety problems)
3. The right to KNOW (about hazards in the workplace)
   RPK - Refuse, Participate, Know

Question 9

What does WHMIS stand for and what does it do?

Answer 9

Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System
It reflects the fundamental right of workers to know about potential hazards in the workplace. It’s Canada’s national hazard communication standard.

Question 10

What are the imperatives for effective OH&S programs?

Answer 10

Economic, legal, and moral implications.

Question 11

Why are estimates of direct and indirect costs of workplace injuries and illnesses underestimated?

Answer 11

• In Canada, workplace injury stats are typically tracked via workers’ comp boards, and therefore do not include injuries experienced by those not covered by workers’ comp
• Stats do not adequately capture illnesses

Question 12

What is due diligence in this context?

Answer 12

An expected standard of conduct that requires employers to take every reasonable precaution to ensure safety.

Question 13

What is an IRS?

Answer 13

An Internal Responsibility System - the system of shared responsibility for health and safety that is the basis for most Canadian OH&S legislation, where each actor/stakeholder takes personal responsibility for safety.

Question 14

What is the government responsible for in an IRS?

Answer 14

1. Establish legislations (OH&S Acts, Workers’ Comp Acts)
2. Support knowledge sharing and research on OH&S (Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety - CCOHS)

Question 15

What are employers responsible for in an IRS?

Answer 15

1. Prep OH&S policy and display it prominently.
2. Provide and maintain equipment, materials, and protective devices.
3. Ensure the manner in which the work is performed is safe, and environment is free from hazards and serious risks.
4. Monitor workplace and report minor, critical, disabling, and fatal injuries, as well as occupational illnesses and toxic substances.
5. Establish health and safety committees with strong employee representation.
6. Alert employees to any known or perceived risks and hazards in the workplace.
7. Provide health and safety training.

1) OH&S policy 2) Provide/maintain equipment etc. 3) Safe environment 4) Monitor and report 5) Establish committees 6) Alert employees 7) Provide training

Question 16

What are employees responsible for in an IRS?

Answer 16

1. Perform duties and tasks in a safe and responsible manner.
2. Wear protective equipment in compliance with company and legislative regulations.
3. Report defective equipment and other workplace hazards.

Question 17

What is the Union responsible for in an IRS?

Answer 17

1. Take part in the joint OH&S committee.
2. Bring emerging problems and issues in health and safety to attention of government and employees.
3. Pressure other stakeholders to take corrective action.
4. Use collective bargaining process to incorporate health and safety provisions in many contracts.

Question 18

What is CRSP?

Answer 18

Canadian Registered Safety Professionals - recognized experts in OH&S. They have training in hazard identification and analysis, incident severity evaluation, and development and communication of hazard control policies.

Question 19

What did traditional safety views tend to emphasize?

Answer 19

The three e’s: engineering, education, and enforcement.

Question 20

What are some examples of a direct cost of injury?

Answer 20

Time investigating an incident, damaged equipment, finding/training a replacement.

Question 21

What are some examples of an indirect cost of injury?

Answer 21

Increase in Workers’ Comp Board assessment, fines, legal costs associated with allowing an unsafe condition in the workplace.

Question 22

Explain guidelines and policies, and standards and codes in the context of Acts and Regulations.

Answer 22

Guidelines and policies are more specific rules that are not legally enforceable unless referred to in a regulation or act.
Standards and codes provide practical guidance on the implementation of OH&S practices; often established by agencies such as the CSA or ILO.

Question 23

What elements do all OH&S legislation include?

Answer 23

1. An act
2. Powers of enforcement
3. The right of workers to refuse and do unsafe work
4. Protection of workers from reprisals
5. Duties and responsibilities assigned to employers and others

Question 24

What is the difference between a general duty and a prescribed duty?

Answer 24

A general duty is directly articualted in the OH&S act, and is similar across provincial legislations. For employers, to provide a safe work environment. A prescribed duty is a particular duty to be undertaken because of health and safety regulation.

Question 25

What are some general employer duties under the Act?

Answer 25

Take every reasonable precaution to ensure employee safety.
Appoint a competent supervisor.
Provide info in a medical emergency.
Inform supervisors and workers of possible hazards.
Post the OH&S act in the workplace.
Prep and maintain H&S policy and review annually.
Prep policies regarding workplace violence and workplace harassment.

Question 26

What are some specific duties a supervisor might have?

Answer 26

Ensure workers comply with regulations.
Ensure workers use or wear safety equipment, devices, or clothing.
Advise workers of possible hazards.

Question 27

What is the primary role of a Joint H&S Committee?

Answer 27

Provide peaceful atmosphere in which labour and management can work to create a safer and healthier workplace. Bring together knowledge of work tasks, recent incidents and company policies and procedures to improve health and safety.

Question 28

What are some duties of a JHSC?

Answer 28

Hazard recognition, risk assessments, maintenance and monitoring of records, and responding to employee concerns.

Question 29

When does a worker not have the right to refuse unsafe work?

Answer 29

That work is a normal condition of employment.
The refusal puts another person’s life in danger.

Question 30

Which professions does Ontario legislation specifically identify in regards to limited rights to refuse?

Answer 30

Police officers, firefighters, correctional workers, and health care workers.

Question 31

What is GHS?

Answer 31

Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals. An international standard for the classification and labelling of chemicals being adopted by countries around the world.

Question 32

What are some agencies that establish standards?

Answer 32

Canadian Standards Association (CSA), International Labour Organization (ILO), International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH)

Question 33

What is workers’ compensation?

Answer 33

A form of insurance governed by an act of Parliament to help workers inured on the job return to work.

Question 34

Who administers the insurance plan?

Answer 34

Generally a Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB), or Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) in Ontario.

Question 35

What are the three kinds of rehabilitiation regarding workers’ comp?

Answer 35

Vocational (helps injured workers return to their place of employment or find similar work elsewhere)
Physical (restore physical function)
Social (psychological and practical services to help workers with severe disabilities cope with daily life activities)

Question 36

What are the three groups of stress-related disabilities?

Answer 36

Physical injury/disease leading to mental disability.
Mental stress resulting in a physical disability, traumatic occurrence, or series of occurrences.
Mental stress resulting in a mental condition.

Question 37

What forms should the three parties file for WCB for a claim?

Answer 37

Employer: Form 7, Worker: Form 6, Health Care Provider: Form 8.

Question 38

What is collective liability?

Answer 38

Where all employers in a class or rate group are liable for the costs of any or all accidents and occupational diseases that occur in the operations of those employers.

Question 39

What information do you need to calculate a Worker’s Comp premium?

Answer 39

Classification and rate group
Premium rate
Reporting frequency
Annual insurable earnings