911³Ô¹Ï

1.0    BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

1.1    911³Ô¹Ï is committed to providing a healthy and safe learning, teaching, research and work environment for all members of the university community.

1.2    This policy aims to promote the safety of the campus community, its members and the public, and to ensure that appropriate measures are in place to provide relevant and current information and guidance to its community regarding safety.

1.3    This policy aims to ensure that 911³Ô¹Ï complies with applicable federal, provincial and/or municipal regulation of safety in the larger university context and more specifically in relation to workplace safety.

2.0     GLOSSARY

2.1    Contractor means a person retained under contract to supply goods or perform services for the university.

2.2    Hazard means an object or condition or circumstance that may expose a person to a risk of injury or occupational disease.

2.3    Impairment or Impaired means the modification of an individual’s physical or mental function such that the performance, judgement or behaviour of the individual is affected to the extent that that they are unable to safely and acceptably perform their responsibilities and/or assigned duties.  Impairment may be caused by fatigue, use of alcohol or drugs (legal, prescription or illegal) or a medical condition.

2.4    Incident means an event or occurrence including accidents, injuries, occupational illness and hazardous material spill or release.

2.5    Near miss means an event or occurrence where there is potential for accident, injury, occupational illness and hazardous material spill or release.

2.6    Subcontractor means an individual or business firm contracting to perform part or all of another’s contract.

2.7    Supervisor means any person who instructs, directs and oversees workers in the performance of their duties.

2.8    University Community means all students and employees of the University and all people who have a status at the University mandated by legislation, other University policies, or agreement including research assistants, post-doctoral fellows, members of Senate and the Board of Governors, volunteers, visiting and emeritus faculty, and visiting researchers.

2.9    Visitor means a person on a University campus who is not a member of the University community, and may include alumni, guests, members of the general public, former employees and former students.

3.0    SCOPE AND JURISDICTION

3.1    This policy and its associated procedures, and the regulations, codes and statutes of the regulatory authorities, apply to all members of the University Community, visitors, contractors and subcontractors.

4.0    POLICY

4.1    The safety of all members of the University Community, Visitors, Contractors and Subcontractors is a major concern of the university. It is, therefore, the policy of the university to:

4.1.1     protect the safety of all members of the University Community, Visitors, Contractors, and Subcontractors against unsafe conditions, behaviours and hazards.

4.1.2    formulate and carry out continuing effective safety programs appropriate to university operations, including activities in off-campus settings.

4.1.3    give priority to a safe work environment in the planning, direction and implementation of university activities; and

4.1.4    comply with all relevant statutes, regulations and standards of regulatory authorities representing health and safety.

4.2    Furthermore, Impairment at work may pose a significant risk to the Impaired individual and other members of the University Community. Supervisors who suspect their employee is Impaired at work should refer to this policy’s associated procedures for steps that should be taken in those circumstances.

4.3     In furtherance of section 4.1, the university, through the department designated in this policy’s associated procedures, will:

4.3.1    develop, institute and maintain safety programs, policies and procedures to ensure compliance with occupational health and safety standards in conformity with both university policy and statutory requirements;

4.3.2    review and provide assistance to departments and areas to ensure that effective safety programs and safety committees are maintained;

4.3.3     consider suggestions from university employees and recommend implementations to faculties and departments where warranted;

4.3.4    ensure inspections of university facilities are conducted at appropriate intervals to identify potential Hazards and determining that procedures, equipment and facilities meet accepted occupational health and safety standards;

4.3.5    ensure all Incidents and Near misses are investigated and advising WorkSafeBC of all reportable Incidents; and

4.3.6    train or arrange for training in safe work environments and procedures and the use of protective equipment.

4.4    Roles and Responsibilities

4.5    Safety is the responsibility of every member of the University Community, Visitors, Contractors, and Subcontractors, with specific responsibilities assigned to established safety committees as set out in the procedures to this policy and to these groups as follows:

4.6    Deans, Directors and Chairs must:

4.6.1    provide the management support and leadership necessary for the overall implementation and execution of this policy within their areas of responsibility;

4.6.2    incorporate adequate provisions for safe working and learning practices and conditions in operational policies and procedures and in programs, projects and off-campus activities; and

4.6.3    monitor and evaluate safety performance within their areas of responsibility and recommending measures to bring about improvement.

4.7    Faculty, Instructors, Managers and Supervisors must:

4.7.1    plan and execute all activities in a manner that promotes compliance with the University health and safety policy;

4.7.2     inform students of the nature of potential risks involved if a course has an off-campus activity

4.7.3    ensure that individuals in their areas of assignment, whether on or off campus, have been given adequate direction, training and instruction in the safe performance of their work and that it is performed without undue risk;

4.7.4    not assign impaired employees to activities where impairment may endanger themselves or others and taking action, which may include not permitting employees to remain at the workplace while impaired;

4.7.5    ensure that work areas are inspected at regular intervals to identify and prevent the development of unsafe conditions and practices and that inspection reports are forwarded to Environmental Health and Safety;

4.7.6    authorize the action necessary to correct substandard conditions or procedures and ensuring it is implemented in a timely manner;

4.7.7    ensure that all incidents and near misses are reported and investigated, and action is taken to prevent a recurrence; and

4.7.8    ensure Campus Public Safety and/or emergency responders are notified of injuries requiring medical attention.

4.8    Employees must:

4.8.1    practice safe work habits;

4.8.2    complete all required safety training as assigned by their supervisor and Environmental Health & Safety;

4.8.3    ensure their ability to work safely is not impaired by alcohol, drugs or other causes;

4.8.4    observe all safety rules and procedures established by the regulatory authorities, the University or an individual with supervisory authority;

4.8.5    promptly report hazardous or unsafe equipment, conditions, or procedures or behaviour to a supervisor; making suggestions for their correction or taking corrective action where authorized; and

4.8.6    immediately report to a supervisor and Environmental Health & Safety all work related incidents or near misses and obtaining medical treatment without delay;

4.9    Students must:

4.9.1    complete all required safety training as assigned by their instructor or supervisor;

4.9.2    observe all safety rules and procedures established by the regulatory authorities, instructors, supervisors and the University;

4.9.3    ensure their ability to participate in academic activities is not impaired by alcohol, drugs or other causes; and

4.9.4    immediately report to their instructor or supervisor any incident, near miss, hazardous practice or condition with respect to their university related activities.

4.10    Contractors must:

4.10.1    comply with all health and safety requirements established by the regulatory authorities and the University:

• register with 911³Ô¹Ï’s Contractor Safety Management System to document all work activities occurring on 911³Ô¹Ï property prior to commencing work;
• assign a health and safety representative to oversee projects and work conducted at the University;
• identify all potential hazards of the work activities and implementing appropriate safe work plans to mitigate those hazards, prior to beginning work;
• communicate all risks and hazards associated with the work tasks to employees and Subcontractors on site;
• ensure all employees and subcontractors have appropriate safe work procedures, education and training; and
• communicate all health and safety concerns with the University in a timely manner.

5.0    REPORTING 

5.1    An annual report will be made available on activities taken to demonstrate due diligence and compliance and to highlight the university’s safety performance over the previous calendar year.  

6.0    INTERPRETATION

6.1    Questions of interpretation or application of this policy or its procedures shall be referred to the Vice-President, Finance and Administration, whose decision shall be final.

7.0       RELATED LEGAL, POLICY AUTHORITIES AND AGREEMENTS

7.1    The legal and other university policy authorities and agreements that may bear on the administration of this policy and may be consulted as needed include but are not limited to

7.1.1    

7.1.2    Student Conduct Policy (S10.05)

7.1.3    Employee Collective Agreements and relevant human resource policies

7.1.4    

7.1.5    Occupational Health & Safety and WorkSafe BC regulations, policies, and guidelines

8.0    REVISION HISTORY AND MANDATED REVIEW DATE

Date	Description/Key Changes
2026	Policy updated to reflect the broader scope of health and safety at 911³Ô¹Ï, add student and contractor responsibilities, clarify terminology, and add responsibilities related to training and impairment in the workplace. Responsibilities of safety committees were moved to a procedure.
Mandated Review Date
2031	This policy is subject to review at least once every five years.