Senior Management must be familiar with the administration of the program in order to sign documents such as hazard assessments, incident investigations, and inspection reports. Information sessions will be arranged by the Human Resources Department. The Safety Advisor is available for assistance and will follow-up when warranted.

Communication of hazards is done in many ways. Area Leaders and staff alike are encouraged to identify and communicate hazardous acts and conditions observed to those affected. All levels of management should make safety a standing agenda item when applicable at meetings, such as departmental meetings. This is a great opportunity to review past incidents in the area, inspection results, or a review of safety controls in the area. It is best to keep these communications short and frequent. At the very least, the topic should be raised to solicit any safety challenges in the areas that require attention.

Formal safety communication should be recorded in Area Leaders’ (and other supervisors’) files, along with other meeting notes. Electronic follow-up messages are encouraged. Any pertinent correspondence must be passed on to the local H&S Committee for information or discussion. This is critical in exercising due diligence if the need arises.

All training must be documented and kept on file as a form of due diligence. Training records should include type of training, instructor, dates, and attendees.

Supervisors are expected to accept concerns or complaints from the staff. Suggestions to improve the safety in the area may be addressed via written hazard suggestions, through raising issues at meetings or through the safety committees. The more vehicles for two-way communication exist, the better the system works for everyone.

Managers at all levels are responsible for providing leadership and for planning and directing the training program. Supervisory training will be arranged through the Human Resources Department as it applies to this program.

Area Leaders, supervisors, and health and safety committee members will be trained in their duties and responsibilities under the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the standards set by the University. These may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Safety Committee Activities
• OH&S Act and OH&S Regulations
• WHMIS Regulations
• H&S Program Administration
• UPEI Inspection Procedure and Follow-up
• Reporting/Investigation of Incidents

Staff, students, and faculty must be adequately trained so they are able to perform their tasks properly. Training may come at various stages: employee orientation, on-the-job training, and refresher training as practices or processes change. The safety training for staff and faculty is the responsibility of the supervisor. Supervisors must ensure people are instructed in safe and efficient performance of duties. Supervisors must demonstrate, evaluate, and monitor employees to ensure they become skilled and knowledgeable in their job.

Training requires participation by all parties involved. Hazards have to be communicated and people have to be trained in how to deal with them. Some say, “safety is just common sense.” The good sense is in the ability, or initiative, to ask when uncertain as to how a task is performed or how to use a piece of equipment or tool. Experienced staff are expected to help identify training needs for themselves and their peers and make suggestions to the Area Leaders or supervisors. Supervisors must encourage others, and make them feel comfortable to ask questions on their safe performance at work.

The orientation is a familiarization of the program, policy, and the general requirements for working safely on campus. Supervisors are responsible for providing area-specific orientation. This will be a review of the specific hazards and requirements related to their job duties and their working environment.

Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS Regulations)

Everyone who works with or near hazardous products must complete the WHMIS training. This covers the three sections of WHMIS: Employee education, Labelling and Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs). This is sufficient information for staff to be able to ask appropriate questions as the need arises. Supplementary, site-specific instruction will be provided by the supervisor. This includes emergency procedures; disposal, use, and storage of products; and location of the MSDS binder, to name a few.

Other Specialty Training

Some other courses may also be required for specific jobs. The Training Schedule can be accessed through the UPEI Health and Safety website. The following is a list of training offered to the campus community:

• Biosafety
• Radiation Safety
• Laser Safety
• Fire protection
• Laboratory Safety
• First Aid/CPR/Automated External Defibrillation
• Office Ergonomics
• Safe material handling
• Lock-out
• Fall Protection
• Confined Space
• Safety Committee Training
• TDG for Land
• TDG for Air
• Respiratory Protection

All students, staff, and faculty are expected to use this training to protect themselves and others. Supervisors must ensure people are properly trained to perform their jobs properly. There may be more training requirements mentioned in other sections.

Faculty are responsible for teaching and enforcing safe work practices on their students. Training must be documented.