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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-01-01 Contractor Health & Safety Orientation CONTRACTOR County of Newell P.O Box 130 Brooks, AB T1R 1B2 County Office: 403-362-3266 General Health & Safety Orientation 1 Contractor GENERAL HEALTH & SAFETY orientation 1.0 Introduction The County of Newell is committed to ensuring that employee safety is an integral component of departmental activities. In order to meet our loss prevention objectives and to satisfy our legislated responsibilities, we believe that having a contractor safety program is an essential element of our overall Health & Safety Management System. The County of Newell has prepared this package of guidelines to assist contractors in establishing and maintaining an acceptable safety program. The information contained within is to serve as an example of minimum requirements for an effective contractor safety program. Contractors shall not assume that these guidelines will address every circumstance or that unusual circumstances will not warrant additional precautions. The County, does however, expect that contractors will adhere to their responsibilities as employers and that they will exercise sound judgment in the daily administration of its safety practices and procedures. Contractors are responsible for, and shall monitor, the safety performance of their agents, employees and any sub-contractors that they have employed to do the work. Nothing in this guideline relieves contractors of their legislated and moral responsibility for worksite safety. 2.0 Legislation 2.1 The contractor shall comply with Federal, Provincial and local statutes. 2.2 Sufficient copies of the Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Act, Regulation, and Code shall be available at the worksite. 3.0 Workers Compensation & Insurance Coverage 3.1 Where the Workers Compensation Act applies, contractors are expected to maintain a current up-to-date account covering all persons involved in the project. Proof of account status will be required prior to the commencement on the project. 3.2 Appropriate insurance coverage for public liability and property damage is also required. 2 4.0 Commitment to Safety 4.1 While engaged in work for the County, or while on County directed or funded projects, the contractor shall actively promote safe working practices, analyze employee activities to identify risk, and ensure appropriate precautions are in place to minimize the likelihood of an accident occurring. 4.2 Contractor management shall develop, and if practical, post or distribute safety policies and procedures appropriate to the project activities. 5.0 Safe Work Performance Competent Workers 5.1 In keeping with the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation, the contractor shall ensure that only competent workers, or workers under the direct supervision of competent workers, shall be permitted to carry out any work on County projects which may endanger themselves or other workers. 5.2 A contractor is responsible for implementing an effective system of safety orientation and education of their staff. 5.3 A contractor is responsible for ensuring that workers are familiar with and have access to copies of the applicable Occupational Health and Safety Legislation. 5.4 Each contractor is responsible to conduct pre-commencement and ongoing qualification verification to ensure that workers have the necessary skill, knowledge, experience, and where required, certification, to perform the job safely and in accordance with any applicable legislation. This verification will be necessary for jobs such as:  Flagging  Driving  Crane & Hoist Operation  Confined Space Entry & Rescue  Equipment Operation  Emergency Response (First Aiders)  Transportation of Dangerous Goods Enforcement 5.5 Contractor supervision is responsible for ongoing assessment of employee competence and attitude and for enforcement of safe operating procedures. 3 5.6 Contractor employees or supervisors who demonstrate a poor attitude toward safe work and safety procedures are not acceptable for work on County projects. 5.7 Contractor supervisors unwilling or unable to demonstrate good safety practices are not acceptable for work on County projects. 6.0 Inspections 6.1 Contractors shall use a regular system of safety inspections to detect and correct hazardous conditions, safety violations and unsafe work practices. 6.2 County representatives may periodically participate in, and provide support to, contractors in their inspection programs. 6.3 Copies of regular inspection reports shall be maintained and made available to the County Contact or the County’s Corporate Safety Services upon request. 6.4 In addition to regularly scheduled inspections, supervisors/foremen shall conduct continuous worksite surveillance, taking immediate action to rectify any observed sub- standard conditions or actions. 7.0 Pre-Job Orientation 7.1 Prior to commencement of the project, a pre-job orientation meeting shall be held between the contractor and the County Contact responsible for the project. 7.2 The nature of the hazards involved, site safety, security, emergency response procedures, and any specific precautions required will be discussed. Where it is practical, representatives of all major sub-contractors, to be utilized by the contractor, should be present at the meeting. 8.0 Incident Reporting & Investigation 8.1 Contractors shall have an effective incident reporting and investigation system established and shall ensure that staff is advised of the importance of prompt reporting and investigation. 8.2 Contractors must immediately report all incidents to their supervisor, County Contact or next higher authority as available. 4 8.3 Incidents causing injury or having the potential for serious injury shall be reported by the contractor to the appropriate authorities in accordance with applicable Acts and Regulations. 8.4 The Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Contact Centre and the County Contact, or Corporate Safety Services or the next higher authority within the County, shall be advised by the fastest means available, of any serious injuries or incidents having the potential to cause injury (as defined in the Occupational Health & Safety Regulations), and dangerous occurrences (as defined in the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations), or reportable incidents under the requirements of the Energy Control Board. [Section 13(1) of the Occupational Health & Safety Act]. 8.5 Contractors shall provide copies of incident reports to a County representative upon request. Recordable incidents include, at a minimum:  Personal injury (medical aid or disabling);  Vehicle accidents;  Spills or accidental release of products that may be potentially harmful to people or the environment;  Fire or explosions; and  Near misses having the potential to cause injury or property damage. 9.0 Emergency Services 9.1 Contractors shall conduct a pre-commencement evaluation of the project and ensure that emergency response plans, equipment and trained staff are available to handle emergencies that may arise. Copies of emergency response/evaluation plans shall be made available to the County Contact or Corporate Safety Services upon request. 9.2 Contractors shall maintain sufficient numbers of trained first aiders, first aid supplies and emergency conveyances as required by the Occupational Health and Safety Legislation. 9.3 Contractors are responsible for pre-job contact with the local ambulance service to verify accessibility to the project. Where ambulance service is not available to the site, the contractor is responsible for providing suitable emergency conveyance, as specified in the Occupational Health and Safety Act and Regulations. 10.0 Personal Behaviour 10.1 Contractors are responsible to ensure that no employee or employees of any agents or sub-contractors are allowed to enter the project site while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. 5 10.2 Contractors are responsible to ensure that the conveyance or use of firearms on site is prohibited. 11.0 Monthly Safety Summary 11.1 Contractors shall provide the County Contact with a monthly summary of safety activities and incidents occurring on site. The summary should include among other things:  Dates of safety meetings or talks;  Record of safety inspections conducted;  Safety training activities conducted;  Summary of accidents and reportable incidents;  Safety promotions or awards made; and  Summary of orders received pursuant to the Occupational Health and Safety Act. 12.0 Equipment Standards 12.1 Contractors are responsible for ensuring that equipment they have fabricated or modified has been designed in accordance with good engineering principles and that a stamped and signed copy of the engineer’s certification is available to the County Contact or Corporate Safety Services upon request. 12.2 Contractors are responsible to further ensure:  All equipment is in safe mechanical condition;  Tools and equipment have not been modified in any manner that will reduce the original factors of safety or capacity;  A regular inspection program is in place that will remove or “tag out” any defective tools and equipment immediately;  No original guards are removed from the equipment or tools; and  An effective maintenance program is in place that will maintain equipment in accordance with manufacturer’s specifications. 13.0 Staff Meetings 13.1 A contractor shall conduct regular safety meetings with staff, or through an established joint worksite health and safety committee, while involved on the project. 13.2 Minutes, complete with attendance records, are to be kept for safety or joint worksite committee meetings and are to be made available to the County Contact or County Corporate Safety Services upon request. 6 13.3 Recorded tailgate safety meetings are to be held by the contractor’s foremen with all crews at least weekly. 13.4 Contractor safety representatives are expected to participate in regular meetings with the County Contact and with safety representatives from other contractors on site. 14.0 References and Additional Resources 2009 Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Act, Regulation and Code http://employment.alberta.ca/documents/WHS/WHS-LEG_ohsc_2009.pdf 2009 Alberta Occupational Health and Safety – OHS Code Explanation Guide http://employment.alberta.ca/SFW/3969.html Safety Bulletin Ll009 - Occupational Health and Safety Act - Employers Guide http://employment.alberta.ca/documents/WHS/WHS-PUB_li009.pdf Safety Bulletin Ll018 – The Prime Contractor http://www.wct-ohse.com/pdf/prime_contractor_summary2.pdf Safety Bulletin Ll025 – Pre-Project Meeting Guidelines http://www.wct-ohse.com/pdf/pre-project_meeting_guidelines.pdf 7 Contractor General Orientation Acknowledgement This agreement must be signed by the Contractor Owner, or his/her designate, to validate that the information has been reviewed, understood and agreed to, prior to the contracted work commencing. Signing this agreement indicates that the contractor has reviewed the County of Newell’s “Contractor General Health & Safety Orientation” package and agrees with all terms, conditions, rules and responsibilities that it contains. In addition, the contractor agrees to ensure that employees and sub-contractors under their employ comply with the orientation information while working on County of Newell properties, worksites and projects. I, ________________________________, acknowledge that I have completed the (Print “Company Representative’s Name”) County of Newell “Contractor General Health & Safety Orientation”. I have read and understand the County of Newell’s “Contractor General Health & Safety Orientation” package and will follow all applicable guidelines while working on any County of Newell properties, worksites and projects. I will further ensure that employees and sub-contractors under my employ will comply with the criteria set out in the County of Newell’s program. I further understand that failure to follow any of the aforementioned rules may result in the expulsion of a contractor, vendor or supplier (proprietor, supervisor or employee), and may result in termination of the contract. ________________________________________ (Contractor / Company Name) ________________________________________ (Contractor / Company Representative Name & Position) ________________________________________ _____________________ (Contractor Representative’s Signature) (Date) ________________________________________ (County Representative Name & Position) ________________________________________ _____________________ (County Representative’s Signature) (Date) The County of Newell shall retain the original signed “Contractor General Orientation Acknowledgement Form” and a copy shall be forwarded to the contractor for their retention.