Faculty of Health Sciences

Safety Office

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FHSSO Strategic Plan

Safety Programs and Training Summary

SAFETY REVIEW PROCESS

Safety is critically important to the success of faculty, staff and students, and to the organization as a whole. Each individual associated with McMaster University has a responsibility to ensure their own safety and the safety of those around them. Having a positive culture of safety will foster a rewarding environment for working and learning. This document is intended to outline the obligations and responsibilities that each of us have with regard to safety at McMaster University.

Safety at McMaster University follows a framework of responsibility which is articulated in our annual Safety Policy, Risk Management Manual (RMM) 100 and RMM 101. These two foundational documents describe dedication to safety at the highest levels and the Internal Responsibility System (IRS), respectively. The IRS stipulates that workers have a responsibility to report workplace hazards or safety contraventions to their supervisors. In turn, supervisors have a responsibility to implement corrective actions to address those hazards. Finally, the employer or senior management has a responsibility to support the implementation of the corrective actions by providing human and financial resources where necessary.

The RMM system is composed of many different documents, each of which describes the safety programming around various hazards. The documents describe the responsibilities of all those in the IRS with specific reference to that hazard. As the work of the University involves many different types of hazards, there are consequently many different RMM documents.

It is the responsibility of all supervisors (Deans / Directors / Chairs and all Managers and Supervisors) to be familiar with this set of documents and implement the safety programs which apply to the work that they direct within their area of responsiblity.

As a leader, you may be asked to demonstrate how you have met this obligation within your team and work environment. This request could come from those performing internal safety audits, from those requiring compliance as a condition of ethics approval or from external parties such as the Ministry of Labour or Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Canada.

Workplace safety is important not only because it protects against workplace injuries, fatalities, insurance costs and property damage, it touches our lives beyond our workplace. It keeps us healthy; it provides security to our families and our communities, it helps keeps us happy and engaged in our work and reinforces our purpose.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND EXPECTATIONS

The responsibilities of Deans, Directors and Chairs is typically the following:

Role of Senior Managers (Deans, Directors and Chairs): Senior Managers shall:

provide the human and financial resources necessary to implement and maintain the safety programs within their area of responsibility; and

To accomplish this, the University relies on the senior managers to do the following:

Communicate the requirements for safety at the departmental and faculty level. This communication may involve regular announcements and reminders for safety training, declarations for Designated Substances, Controlled Goods, or other regulated items.
Support implementation of corrective actions as a result of an injury/incident, ergonomic assessment, industrial hygiene testing or Joint Health and Safety Committee workplace inspection.
Foster an open culture of escalation from supervisor to senior manager when barriers are present. These barriers may be financial, operational, or physical.
Foster an open culture of reporting incidents and hazardous situations.

Of particular need, the FHSSO relies on the Departmental Senior Mangers to facilitate the following:

Encourage TMG and union members in their department to participate on their local joint health and safety committee. Most Departments have more than one JHSC because they have workers at more than one location.
To provide minute taking support for those committees.
Ensure their managers’ training is up to date.
Support managers to be accountable for ensuring their workers’ training is up to date.

NAVIGATING THE SAFETY SYSTEM

Finding your way through our safety system, starts with the library of safety documents collectively called the RMMs. Not every RMM will apply to your area of responsibility, however there are ones that apply to all areas, and others that apply to specific types of work. Each supervisor is to review the RMM library, select the documents which apply to their area of responsibility and implement them locally.

Local implementation of the RMM is sometimes prescribed. If you require assistance interpreting the RMM or devising strategies for local implementation, please contact FHSSO.

The RMM documents are found on the central HR website.

Risk Management Manuals (RMMs) - Human Resources (mcmaster.ca)

A summary of these documents is found below. This information is current as of 2021-10-01, therefore please visit the website for the most up to date information.

Risk Management Manual - a collection of documents outlining safety programs. Each document outlines the responsibilities with respect to the hazard.
Number	Title	Summary
100	Occupational Health and Safety Policy	The overarching policy which documents commitment of senior management to the health and safety of the university. Includes listing of groups to whom the policy applies.
101	Risk Management System	Describes how health and safety is managed, defines the groups that have responsibility overall and describes how information is to flow.
102	Occupational Health and Safety Act	Describes the Occupational Health and Safety Act which is governed by the Province of Ontario.
103	Environmental Protection Act	Describes how the university complies with the Environmental Protection Act which is governed by the Government of Canada.
104	Central Joint Health and Safety Committee	Describes the function, structure and oversight of the Central Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC). All local JHSCs forward information to this committee for overarching review.
105	McMaster University Joint Health and Safety Committees	Describes the function of the local JHSCs. Any employee has the right to participate on these committees. Please communicate to the Faculty of Health Sciences Safety Office / Environmental and Occupational Health Support Services (FHSSO/EOHSS) if you wish to participate on these committees.
106	Presidential Biosafety Advisory Committee Terms of Reference	Describes the role, structure and function of the institutional biosafety committee. This committee reviews protocols, audit reports and procedures related to the use of biohazards.
107	Health Physics Advisory Committee	Describes the role, structure and function of the health physics advisory committee.
109	Student Event Risk Management Committee Terms of Reference	Describes the role, structure and function of the committee which reviews and approves applications for student events. Describes procedures for safety and permissions.
110	Crisis Management Group Terms of Reference/Membership	Describes the function and composition of the crisis management group that deals with major disasters that affect the university. The Faculty of Heath Sciences (FHS) and host hospital partners have their own crisis management plans in place; the FHS plan is an appendix to the central university plan. Contact your senior manager for details if required.
111	Contracting Work Safely	Describes responsibilities for all parties involved in contracting any type of work to be performed for the University.
112	Volunteers in the University Workplace Policy	The policy is currently under review. If you supervise volunteers in your area, please use the participant agreement form found on https://ols.mcmaster.ca
113	Children in the Workplace Program	Describes the requirements for organized activities for children (17 and under) in the workplace. This does not include activities organized for students.
114	Work Refusal Program	Describes the process to follow if a worker declares a refusal to do work.
201	Hot Work Program	Any trade or work activity that uses or produces flames, or heat that would act as an ignition source for any flammable or combustible material (e.g. industrial brazing, cutting and welding indoors) and/or academic projects which involve the ignition of combustible material. (e.g. Works of Art that involve open flame). NB. This program does not apply to the controlled use of open flame or heat in laboratories or designated workshops.
300	Safety Orientation and Training Program	Describes requirements to ensure hazards are identified and safety training is provided.
300	Appendix Matrix	A table listing safety training required by different groups. The table also lists the frequency with which the course needs to be repeated.
301	Standard Operating Procedures Program	Describes the minimum requirements for establishing safe work practices.
302	Safety Audits and Inspections Program	Describes the approach used to eliminate health and safety risks by identifying hazards in the workplace through regular audits and inspections and to report the hazards to senior management in care and control of the area to correct the hazards
303	Stop Work Procedures Program	Describes the requirements and procedures to be used for work stoppages.
304	Working Alone Program	Describes the requirement for a risk assessment and for written procedures to be created if a worker works alone. It also lists the type of work which can never be performed alone.
305	Confined Space Entry Program	Describes the requirements and procedures to be used when workers must enter a confined space, as defined in the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
306	Lockout/Tagout Program for the Control of Hazardous Energy	Describes the requirements and procedures to be used if energized equipment requires to be locked out for the protection of workers.
307	Scaffolds/Suspended Scaffolds and Powered Elevated Platforms Safety Program	Describes the requirements and procedures to be used if using scaffolds and powered elevated platforms.
308	Occupational Diving Policy	Describes the requirements and procedures to be used if participating in diving.
310	Eye Protection Program	Describes the requirements and procedures to be used if there is a risk of eye injury or exposure to a hazard.
311	Respiratory Protection Program	Describes the requirements and procedures to be used if there is a risk of respiratory exposure to a hazard.
312	Foot Protection Program	Describes the requirements and procedures to be used if there is a risk of foot injury.
313	Head Protection Program	Describes the requirements and procedures to be used if there is a risk of head injury.
314	Fall From Heights Protection Program	Describes the requirements and procedures to be used if working at heights.
315	Explosive and Actuated Tools Safety Program	Describes the requirements and procedures to be used if the work involves explosive actuated tools.
316	Electrical Safety Program	Describes the requirements and procedures to be used if the work involves an electrical distribution system.
317	Machine Shop Safety Program	Describes the requirements and procedures to be used if working in a machine shop.
318	Care and Control of Golf Carts and other Off Road Vehicles Program	Describes the requirements and procedures to be used if using vehicles.
319	Health and Safety Board Maintenance Program	Describes the requirements and procedures to be used to properly maintain a compliant occupational health and safety bulletin board.
320	Personal Protective Equipment Program	Describes the requirements and procedures to be used if the work requires Personal Protective Equipment.
321	Hand Protection Program	Describes the requirements and procedures to be used if there is a risk of hand injury.
322	Health and Safety Training Needs Program	Describes the requirements and procedures to be used when evaluating the health and safety training needs for your area of responsibility.
323	Health and Safety Goals and Objectives	Describes the requirements and procedures to be used to set health and safety goals and objectives for your area of responsibility.
324	Job Hazard Analysis Program	Describes the requirements and procedures to be used to evaluate the work for hazards.
325	Process and Equipment Purchases and/or Modifications	Describes the requirements and procedures to be used when purchasing or modifying equipment.
400	Building Indoor Air Quality Program	Describes the requirements and procedures to be used if the work involves a risk of exposure to poor indoor air quality.
401	Asbestos Management Control Program	Describes the requirements and procedures to be used if the work involves a risk of exposure to asbestos in the workplace.
402	Smoking in the Workplace/Public Areas Program	Describes the requirements and procedures to be used to maintain a smoke free environment in your area of responsibility.
403	Noise Control and Hearing Preservation Program	Describes the requirements and procedures to be used when the work involves the risk of exposure to noise.
404	MUMC Asbestos Control Program	Describes the requirements and procedures to be used if the work involves a risk of exposure to asbestos in the MUMC building.
405	Ergonomics Program	Describes the requirements and procedures to be used to control risk associated with repetitive movements, awkward postures, poor lighting, vibrations and materials handling.
406	Preventative Maintenance Program	Describes the requirements and procedures to be used if the work involves equipment that requires to be maintained to prevent risk of injury, hazard exposure or environmental contamination.
407	Human Blood/Body Fluid Exposure	Describes the requirements and procedures to be used if using human blood and body fluids.
408	Heat Stress Prevention Program	Describes the requirements and procedures to be used if working in elevated temperatures.
409	Domestic Animals in the Workplace Program	Describes the requirements and procedures to be used if domestic animals are required to be in the workplace.
500	Designated Substances Control Program	Describes the requirements and procedures to be used if the work involves designated substances.
501	Hazardous Materials Management System (WHMIS)	Describes the requirements and procedures to be used if the work involves WHMIS controlled products.
502	Hazardous Waste Management Program	Describes the requirements and procedures to be used if the work involves generation of hazardous waste.
503	Chemical Weapons Convention Program	Describes the requirements and procedures to be used if working with chemicals applicable under this program.
504	Compressed and Liquefied Gases Safety Program	Describes the requirements and procedures to be used if using compressed and liquefied gases.
505	Transportation of Dangerous Goods Program	Describes the requirements and procedures to be used if transporting hazardous materials.
506	Battery Recycling and Disposal Program	Describes the requirements and procedures to be used if the work requires disposal of batteries.
507	Controlled Goods and/or Controlled Technology Program	under review (February 2017-not posted yet).
600	Biosafety Program	Describes the requirements and procedures to be used if the work involves the use of biohazards.
603	Medical Surveillance Program	Describes the requirements and procedures to be used if the work involves the use of biohazards.
700	Radiation Safety Program	Describes the requirements and procedures to be used if working with sources of radiation.
701	X-ray safety program	Describes the requirements and procedures to be used if working with sources of x-rays.
702	Non-Ionizing Radiation Safety Program	Describes the requirements and procedures to be used if working with sources of non-ionizing radiation.
703	Laser Safety Program	Describes the requirements and procedures to be used if working with with lasers.
800	Student Event Risk Management Manual	Describes the requirements and procedures to be used if running student events.
801	Field Trip and Electives Planning and Approval Program	Describes the requirements and procedures to be used if the activities involve field trips or electives is involved.
801	Guidelines	Describes the requirements and procedures to be used if the activities involve field trips or electives is involved.
900	Property/Third Party Liability Insurance Program	under review
901	Capital Assets	Describes the requirements and procedures to be used to account for assets within your area of responsibility for the purpose of university-wide accounting for capital assets.
902	WSIB / LTD Management Program	Describes the requirements and procedures to be used to identify and report workplace related injuries and illnesses, to manage work absences and safe return to work and to follow requirements of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board.
903	Use of Waivers Program	under review
904	University Owned, Leased or Rented Vehicle Program	Describes the requirements and procedures to be used if the work involves use of vehicles.
1000	Reporting and Investigating Injury/Incident/Occupational Disease Program	Describes the requirements and procedures to be used to in reporting of workplace incidents, illnesses and occupational diseases.
1001	Intellectual Property Program	Describes the requirements and procedures to be used if the work involves the generation of intellectual property that requires to be protected.
1002	Return to work Program	Describes the requirements and procedures to be used if supervising someone returning to work from a workplace injury.
1100	Litigation Management Protocol	under review
1200	Crisis Management Response Plan	Describes the requirements and procedures to be used for awareness of the central campus crisis management response plan and the role of the FHS Crisis Management Plan within it.
1201	Fire Safety Plan	Describes the requirements and procedures to be used if the work takes place in central campus buildings.
1202	Spills to the Environment - Emergency Response and Reporting Program	Describes the requirements and procedures to be used if the work involves the risk of hazardous material release into the environment.
1203	Bomb Threat Response Plan	For information contact Office of the Director of Security Services. Ext.23372.
1204	First Aid Program	Describes the requirements and procedures to be used where first aid services are required.
1205	Reactor Emergencies Response Plan	For information contact Office of the Director McMaster Nuclear Facilities Operation. Ext. 23270.
1206	Business Continuity Planning Program	Describes the requirements and procedures to be used when the work undergoes major disruption and requires continuity planning.

TRAINING MATRIX

The ‘Training Matrix’ is a document which is an appendix to RMM 300 Safety Training Program. The matrix lists the types of training required by different personnel groups. Please note that as of 2015, several training courses require re-training at a set interval of 1, 2, 3 or 5 years. If a person requires a course, and it has an associated frequency, it is expected that the person will repeat the course at the indicated frequency.

Training that is mandatory for all personnel performing work (which may be faculty, staff, students and volunteers) is highlighted in blue.

Training	Frequency	Associated Online Mosaic Training
Accident Investigation (supervisor)	3 yr	ACCINV
Asbestos Awareness	5 yr	ASBEST
Autoclave Basics	Once	AUTOCL
JHSC Certification (Part 1&2)	Once	CERT1, CERT2
Basic Electricity	Once	BELEC
Biosafety Update	Annually	BSUPD
Chemical Handling & Spills	3 yr	CHEMHS
Confined Spaces	Once
Controlled Goods	Once	CNTRLG
Core Biosafety	Once	BSLTRA
COVID-19 Awareness*	Once	COVID
Defensive Driving (required if using McMaster Vehicle)	3 yr
Due Diligence (supervisor)	3 yr	DUEDIL
Ergonomics	5 yr	ERGON
Fire Safety/Fire Safety HSC **	3 yr / Annually	FIRETR / FHSFSF
Fire Warden	Once	FIRWRD
First Aid (Standard)	3 yr
Forklift	3 yr
Gas Cylinder	Once	GASCYL
Golf Cart Safety	5 yr	GLFCRT
Health & Safety Orientation	Once	HSORI
Heat Stress	3 yr	HTSTRS
Hydrogen Fluoride	3 yr	HFLTR
Indoor Air Quality	Once	INDARQ
JHSC Certification Refresher	3 yr	CERTR
Ladder Safety	Once	LADDER
Laser Safety	3 yr	LASER
Lock Out / Tag Out	3 yr	LCKTAG
Machine Guarding Awareness	3 yr	MCHGRD
Mould Awareness	Once	MLDAWR
Nanotechnology	Once	NANOAW
Noise Awareness	Once	NSAWR
Property Protection	Once	PROPPR
Radiation Safety Awareness	Once
Respirator Fit Testing	Yearly	FITTES
Slips, Trips & Falls	5 yr	SLPTRP
Transportation of Dangerous Goods	3 yr	TDG
Violence & Harassment Prevention in the Workplace	3 yr	VHPW
WHMIS 2015 ~	5 yr	WHMS15
Working at Heights	3 yr
Workplace Inspections	Once	WRKPI

Mosaic currently does not have the capability to send out reminders or evaluate missing/expired training. Managers/supervisors are required to implement strategies to ensure that all personnel have the required training and that it is current within the prescribed repetition frequency.

In addition to health and safety training, all personnel are required to have Accessibility for Ontarioans with Disabilities Act (AODA) training once.

ONLINE TRAINING

Some of the RMM programs are linked with training which is available on Mosaic/Avenue. Training is obtained by registering through Mosaic. (https://mosaic.mcmaster.ca)

Mosaic > Regulatory Training > Search by Course Name (leave blank) > click on desired course.

Follow instructions for registering. The course will appear in Avenue to Learn (https://avenue.mcmaster.ca) the next day. FHS Training FAQ is found here.

REQUESTING SUPPORT

The FHSSO is available for technical support related to occupational health and safety. We can help you meet the requirements of the RMMs.

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Updated 2021-10-01

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