​WSHMS-02A-SOP-008-03

PURPOSE

To establish divisional expectations and standards regarding a transportation safety 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 transportation safety 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 transportation safety program for all workers at RETSD.

The best practices apply to all RETSD worksites where students and staff are transported by school bus.

RESPONSIBILITY

All stakeholders and workers are responsible for complying with traffic control safety provisions as set by local supervision.

TRANSPORTATION SAFETY PROGRAM GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

RETSD owns and operates a full service bus transportation service for the division.

The Transportation Department consists to basically two areas:

1. Road transportation of students for staff for RETSD activities

2. Mechanical services shop to service and maintain buses

All safety and health aspects of road transportation are addressed within the Transportation department.

All safety and health aspects of mechanical maintenance are addressed in a combination of transportation department procedure and workplace safety and health program procedure.

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 02 – General Duties

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