Occupational Health and Safety

The Occupational Health and Safety Act places the primary responsibility for ensuring the safety and health of employees on the employer. This includes providing employees with training on occupational hazards, maintaining a safe and healthy work environment, and taking steps to prevent accidents and injuries.

A Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) is a process used to identify potential hazards in a job task, develop procedures for safely performing the task, and train employees on how to perform the task safely.

Slips, trips, and falls are the most common type of workplace accident, accounting for over 25% of all accidents. These accidents can be caused by a variety of factors, such as wet or slippery floors, uneven surfaces, and poor lighting.

Falls from heights are the leading cause of workplace fatalities, accounting for over 35% of all workplace deaths. These accidents can occur from ladders, scaffolding, roofs, and other elevated surfaces.

A Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) is a document that provides information about the hazards of a chemical, instructions on how to use the chemical safely, and information on how to dispose of the chemical safely.

A hazard is a potential source of harm, while a risk is the likelihood that the hazard will cause harm. A hazard can be a condition, a substance, or a situation that can cause harm. The risk is the probability that the hazard will cause harm.

The three main types of personal protective equipment (PPE) are eye protection, hearing protection, and respiratory protection. Other types of PPE include hand protection, foot protection, head protection, body protection, skin protection, and thermal protection.

A lockout/tagout procedure is a safety procedure used to prevent the accidental release of energy, the accidental operation of machinery or equipment, and the accidental startup of machinery or equipment during maintenance or repair work.

An accident is an unplanned event that results in injury or damage. An incident is an unplanned event that has the potential to cause injury or damage. An incident that does not result in injury or damage is sometimes called a near miss.

An emergency action plan is a document that provides instructions on how to respond to an emergency, how to evacuate a building in an emergency, and how to contact emergency services in an emergency.

A confined space is a space that is large enough for a person to enter and perform work. A permit-required confined space is a space that is large enough for a person to enter and perform work and has one or more of the following hazards: oxygen deficiency, flammable or toxic atmospheres, or engulfment hazards.

A hazard communication program is a program that is designed to inform employees about the hazards of chemicals in the workplace, provide employees with training on how to handle chemicals safely, and establish procedures for the safe storage and use of chemicals.

A first aid kit is used to treat minor injuries. A medical emergency kit is used to treat serious injuries, life-threatening injuries, and injuries that require immediate medical attention.

A safety inspection is a process used to identify hazards in the workplace, evaluate the effectiveness of safety programs, and ensure compliance with safety regulations.

A safety committee is responsible for developing and implementing safety programs. A safety and health committee is responsible for developing and implementing safety and health programs, policies, and procedures.