WSHMS-02A-SOP-008-01

PURPOSE

To establish divisional expectations and standards regarding a pedestrian safety and safe walk zones program at River East Transcona School Division (RETSD) that meets or exceeds all municipal, federal and provincial legislated workplace safety and health program requirements.

A  pedestrian safety and safe walk zones program must be defined and documented for compliance as part of Element 2, identify and control hazards and emergencies, for the effective development and implementation of a workplace safety and health program under Manitoba legislation.

SCOPE

This safe operating procedure and associated documents establish a procedure for a pedestrian safety and safe walk zones program for all workers at RETSD.

The best practices apply to all RETSD worksites where there is a need to protect pedestrians in labs and other areas as identified.

RESPONSIBILITY

All stakeholders and workers are responsible for complying with safe walk zones and pedestrian safety provisions as set by local supervision.

PEDESTRIAN SAFETY AND SAFE WALK ZONES PROGRAM GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

Pedestrians in vocational labs, industrial labs, transportation garages, maintenance facilities or other like environments should have designated walkways to ensure they do not venture in to hazardous work areas without proper precautions where applicable.

When safe walk zones are provided, pedestrians must remain in the safe walk zones while traveling through a workplace if hazardous work is being performed in the workplace.

If pedestrians need to enter areas where hazardous work is being performed, they must abide by the applicable safety rules for procedural controls and personal protective equipment (PPE). This is a minimum standard. If procedural controls and PPE is required in areas that are inclusive of the safe walk area, then pedestrians shall abide by the procedural and PPE rules applicable to the area, regardless of safe walk zone provisions.

Where safe walk areas are not available, pedestrians should walk to one side of the aisle whenever possible, and avoid being in close proximity to at risk work activities.

Pedestrians should never enforce the right of way with operators moving equipment and materials in the shared aisle way.

COMMUNICATION

A combination of hard-copy postings, distributions and electronic posting will be used to communicate safety and health program information within RETSD.

TRAINING

All stakeholders shall be trained to their required level of involvement in the WSHMS to become familiar with its structure, organization, and how to look up and access information both electronically and in hard copy form through:

• New employee orientation, employee manuals or employment information packages

• Return to work or remedial programs, as required on an individual basis

• Planned ongoing training through team meetings, individual coaching or other methods as developed or adopted

ENFORCEMENT

Ultimately, the superintendent shall be responsible for the sustainability of the WSHMS, and shall enforce compliance to standards at a divisional level.

Workplace safety and health management system compliance shall be managed through the application of performance management and progressive discipline policies and procedures.

Worker failure to comply with provisions of the RETSD safety program may lead to discipline, up to and including discharge from employment and / or other remedies available at law.

REFERENCES

Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health Act or equivalent legislation as applicable

Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health Regulation or equivalent legislation as applicable

Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health Regulation Part 04 – General Workplace Requirements

Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health Regulation Part 20 – Vehicular and Pedestrian Traffic

Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health Program Element 02 – Identifying and Controlling Hazards

All other associated and applicable workplace safety and health management system documents