Health and Safety
Introduction
The University of Regina, as a core value, is committed to the health, safety and well-being of all members of the University community. The University is dedicated to maintaining a safe and healthy work and learning environment, and to preventing injuries and illnesses. With respect to health, safety, and well-being, all employees and students have the following three rights:
Right to Know
You have the right to information about hazards associated with your workplace or learning activities. Hazards are anything that has the potential to cause an injury or illness.
Right to Participate
You have the right to become involved in health and safety at the university.
Right to Refuse
You have the right to refuse to do any specific job or learning activity which you have reasonable grounds to believe is unusually dangerous. The danger may be to you or to any other person. An unusual danger could include:
- A danger that is not normal for the work or learning activity;
- A danger that would normally stop the work or learning activity;
- A situation for which you are not properly trained, equipped, or experienced to do the work or learning activity assigned.
This policy and the related procedures and programs apply to anyone who is an employee, contractor or student of the University community, and who is engaged in duties or activities connected to the University.
This policy provides guidance and authority to the following health and safety related services, policies, procedures and programs:
- Biosafety Program
- Electrical Safety Program
- Emergency Management Policy, Plan and Closure Procedure
- Chemical and Laboratory Safety
- Contractor Safety Procedures
- Laser Safety Program
- Radiation Safety Policy and Program
- Respectful University Policy
- Sexual Violence/Misconduct Policy
- Smoke-Free Campus Policy
- Travel and Field Work Safety
- Violence Prevention Policy
Policy
The Board of Governors will work in consultation and cooperation with University faculty and staff, occupational health and safety committees, students, contractors and visitors to ensure that the health and safety requirements of The Saskatchewan Employment Act and The Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, other applicable legislation with supporting guidelines and procedures, and the University’s Health and Safety Management System (HSMS) are fully implemented and integrated into all University work and learning activities. The Board of Governors will acheive this through the assignment of duties and responsibilities to the President, Vice-Presidents, Associate Vice-Presidents, Deans, Associate Deans, Department Heads, Heads of Administrative Units, Principal Investigators, Managers, Supervisors, and all other employees in positions of authority.
The University considers the following guiding principles related to health, safety, and well-being:
Guiding Principles
Prevention First: Proactive identification and mitigation of hazards.
Inclusive Safety: Consideration of diverse needs, including those of Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, and international students.
Transparency and Accountability: Regular reporting, audits, and sharing of safety performance metrics, with the goal of continous improvement.
Engagement and Empowerment: Shared responsibility for health and safety at every level of the organization.
Where reasonable, the University will strive to exceed the legislated requirements by adopting the current leading practices to protect the University community and to promote a positive health, safety and well-being culture. The University will work towards continuous improvement of its health and safety programs and HSMS.
Roles and Responsibilities
The Board of Governors will:
- establish an occupational health and safety policy consistent with applicable law.
Administrators will:
- be responsible and accountable for the health and safety of employees and students under their direction, and for the work and study areas under their responsibility
- identify and communicate potential or actual hazards, and ensure that individuals work and learn safely in accordance with applicable legislation, University policies, procedures, and the HSMS
- take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances for the protection of their employees and students
- provide the support and leadership necessary to ensure a safe and healthy work and learning environment
- ensure that adequate resources are available to implement effective health and safety measures
- require compliance with legislative requirements (Federal/Provincial acts, regulations, standards and guidelines and Municipal bylaws pertaining to health, safety and the environment)
- provide any information, instruction, training or supervision that is necessary to protect the health and safety of employees and students
- stop all unsafe work or learning activities
- integrate health and safety considerations into the planning, design, construction, procurement, and maintenance of all equipment, buildings and activities
- require that all health and safety policies, procedures and programs, and the University’s HSMS are implemented and enforced
- in partnership with Health & Safety, monitor and evaluate health and safety performance, and recommend measures to eliminate injury and illness
- require that all incidents and near-miss incidents are reported and investigated, take action to prevent a recurrence where it is within their authority, participate in hazard identification, and take action to correct unsafe conditions and unsafe acts
Supervisors will:
- be responsible and accountable for the health and safety of employees and students under their direction, and for the work and study areas under their responsibility
- advise their employees and students of the existence of potential or actual hazards, and will ensure that they work/learn safely and in accordance with The Saskatchewan Employment Act and The Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, and all applicable University policies, procedures, HSMS, and programs
- take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances for the protection of their employees and students
- plan and execute all activities in a manner that ensures compliance with this policy
- develop and implement specific safety rules and safe work procedures relevant to their areas of responsibility
- ensure that individuals under their responsibility have been given adequate direction, training and instruction, and are competent to perform their tasks safely and without undue risk
- conduct regular inspections of work and study areas under their responsibility to identify and prevent unsafe conditions or practices
- report on unsafe conditions or procedures to their immediate academic or administrative authority as necessary, and correct such conditions where it is within their authority to do so
- stop all unsafe work or learning activities
- ensure that all incidents and near-miss incidents are reported and investigated, take action to prevent a recurrence where it is within their authority, participate in hazard identification, and take action to correct unsafe conditions
- assess safety performance of students and employees as a part of their regular academic and work performance appraisal process
Employees and Students will:
- refuse to perform work or learning activities they believe to be unusually dangerous
- plan and execute all activities in a manner that promotes compliance with this policy
- practice safe work and learning habits, and observe all safety rules and procedures applicable to their environment
- promptly report hazardous or unsafe equipment, conditions, procedures or behavior to a supervisor or H&S, and make suggestions for their correction or take corrective action where authorized
- immediately report to a supervisor or H&S all work/learning-related incidents, or near-miss situations, and obtain medical treatment without delay if needed
- be fit for duty, which means in a physical, mental and emotional state that enables the employee or student to perform the essential tasks of their work or learning activity in a manner that does not threaten the safety or health of oneself, coworkers, fellow students, property or the public at large.
Contractors, subcontractors, suppliers and others providing a service for the University of Regina will:
- as part of their contracts, agree to comply with all relevant health and safety legislation and University policies, procedures and programs
The University Occupational Health and Safety Committee (OHC) will:
- assist in the development and maintenance of University policies on health and safety matters
- perform the duties set out for OHCs in The Saskatchewan Employment Act and The Occupational Health and Safety Regulations
- consult to resolve health and safety matters that cannot be resolved at the Local Safety Committee level
- provide advice and recommend actions to ensure the health and safety of all members of the University community
- promote health and safety awareness
- assist in ensuring that this policy is kept current and receive suggestions and recommend actions for policy/program improvements
Local Safety Committees will:
- assist the University OHC in the fulfillment of their duties and as outlined within the Local Committee Terms of Reference
- assist in the development and maintenance of University policies and programs on health and safety matters
- consult to resolve health and safety matters within their area of jurisdiction
- provide advice and recommend actions to ensure the health and safety of all members within their area of jurisdiction
- promote health and safety awareness
Health & Safety Unit (H&S) will:
- be the focal point to assist all stakeholders in the coordinated administration of University health and safety policies, procedures, programs and the HSMS
- be the University’s representative in contacts dealing with the health and safety of students, employees, and with regulatory bodies and agencies administering Federal, Provincial and Municipal health and safety related requirements
- advise and support the University OHC and Local Safety Committees in fulfilling their duties
- advise and recommend actions to improve the health and safety of the University community
- research, develop, provide and/or coordinate education and training on health and safety policies, programs, procedures and initiatives
- have the authority to stop any work, learning and/or research activity, or close any facility when conditions or practices pose an immediate danger to a member or members of the University community in accordance with the legislation, policies, procedures and programs
- ensure that this policy, and all related policies, procedures and programs are kept current, and receive suggestions for policy/program improvements
- promote health and safety programs, practices and research
Consequences for Noncompliance
All members of the University community are subject to the requirements of this policy. Violations are subject to the University's administrative processes and discipline systems. Disciplinary action may be taken up to and including termination of the member’s position with the University, or in the case of a student, a penalty as determined under the Regulations Governing Discipline for Academic and Non-Academic Misconduct (up to and including expulsion from the University). Legal penalties may also be assessed under The Saskatchewan Employment Act and The Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 2020.
