Developing Health & Safety Policies for your Library

Daryl NovakDirector of Operations

Southern Ontario Library Service

Michael AtkinsonField Consultant – GTA East

Education Safety Association of Ontario

Agenda

• Introductions• Provincial Library

Context• Security (violence)• Lunch• Safety (MSD)• Emergency Planning

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Health & Safety for:

• Staff• Patrons/Users• Other Public

(e.g. – room rentals)

• Assets(collection, building & equipment)

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Physical Environment

• The building

• Ergonomic issues

• Emergency readiness

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• Workplace Violence

• Harassment

• Psychological Stress

• Emergency readiness

Personal Safety

Our imperative for a healthy and safety work environment is driven by:

• Legislation– Occupational Health & Safety Act– Ontario Human Rights Code (duty to accommodate;

freedom from harassment)– Other specific legislation – Building Code, Fire Code, etc.

• Collective Agreement• Duty of Care concept• Risk Management principles• Ontario Public Library Guidelines

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Ministry of

Labour

WSIB Civil - Torts

Criminal

Staff Member Patron/User *

* - by implication

Responsibilities

• Board• CEO• Supervisors• Staff

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Good Policy Elements

• Clarity on what is policy, what is procedure

• Don’t pen yourself in with detailed specifications & standards

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Overview/Purpose/Intent

• What is the policy trying to achieve?

Policy Statement

• What is the policy?

Responsibilities / Procedures

• Who has to do what to meet the requirements

of the policy?9

MOL Direction

• Policies• Programs• Training

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MOL Orders

• Assessment• Policy & Program• Training• Evaluation

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Goal

• Define• Focus• Require

– Example

• Support

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Any action, conduct, threat, or gesture of a person towards another person that can

reasonably be expected to cause harm, injury or illness to that person and includes bullying, teasing, and any abusive or other

aggressive behaviour.

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What is Workplace Violence?

Type of Violence

• Difficult People• Harassment –Bully• In the Commission

of a Crime• In Special Education• Domestic Violence

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Focus

• MOL focus• WSIB focus

New Legislation

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When a MOL Inspector responds to a workplace violence situation, the MOL will issue orders to the employer to:

• Perform a risk assessment for the potential of workplace violence.

• Develop a prevention program to address any risks specific to the workplace.

• Train employees to recognize the risks and implement the program as required.

• Review the effectiveness of the program including incident investigation, follow-up and debriefing

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Requirements

• Assessment• Policy• Program• Training• Evaluation

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Support

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ESAO Products

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Workplace Violence Links

Ontario Ministry of Labourhttp://www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/hs/workplace_violence.html

Canadian Initiative on Workplace Violencehttp://www.workplace-violence.com/

OSH for Everyonehttp://www.oshforeveryone.org/wsib/spec_haz/safety/

violence.html

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Goal

• Define• Focus• Require

– Example

• Support

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What are Musculoskeletal Disorders?

Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) are injuries or conditions that develops over

time

MSDs can result from the poor

design of tasks, tools and

workspaces

There are several types of MSDs

Focus

• MOL focus• WSIB focus

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The MOL uses the “general duty clause” requirements to control MSD hazards in the workplace!

Requirements

• Assessment• Policy• Program• Training• Evaluation

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Establish a foundation for

success

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Recognize MSD hazards and risk factors

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Conduct a MSD risk assessment

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Choose and implement MSD hazard controls

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Follow-up and evaluate the success of implemented controls

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Communicate results and acknowledge success

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Support

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OHSCO’s - MSD Prevention Guidelines, Resources and Toolbox

Workplace MSD Links

Ontario Ministry of Labour – Pains & Strainshttp://www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/hs/pains/index.html

WSIB – Musculoskeletal Injury Prevention Program (MIPP)http://www.wsib.on.ca/wsib/wsibsite.nsf/public/MIPP

ESAO Prevention Initiative for MSD Preventionhttp://www.esao.on.ca/downloads/MSD.aspx

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Goal

• Define• Focus• Require

– Example

• Support

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Chaos To Calm

Actions taken in anticipation of an emergency to facilitate rapid, effective and appropriate response to the situation

(Inter-Agency Contingency Planning Guidelines for Humanitarian Assistance 2001)

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What is Emergency Preparedness?

Type of Emergencies

• Natural• Manmade

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Focus

• MOL focus• WSIB focus

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Requirements

• Assessment• Policy• Program• Training• Evaluation

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Support

An example of a Risk Assessment

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Emergency Preparedness Links• Education Safety Association of Ontario

http://www.esao.on.ca/

• Canadian Centre for Emergency Preparedness• http://www.ccep.ca/cceptemp.shtml

• Office of the Fire Marshal of Ontario• http://www.ofm.gov.on.ca/english/default.asp

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Thank youThank You

Daryl Novak & Mike Atkinson

SOLS & ESAO

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