DOCUMENT NUMBER

WSHMS-01-SOP-003-03

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PURPOSE

Establish and outline activities that support visitor safety at River East Transcona School Division (RETSD) that meets or exceeds all municipal, federal and provincial legislated workplace safety and health program requirements.

 Visitor safety programs should 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 visitor safety activities at RETSD. The best practices apply to all RETSD worksites.

RESPONSIBILITY

By Facility:

This safe operating procedure shall be implemented and applies to all RETSD facilities.

By Stakeholder:

This safe operating procedure shall be implemented and applied to all RETSD staff workers.

Contractors:

This safe operating procedure shall be implemented and applied to all RETSD contractors performing work in RETSD worksites. Contractors must also abide by all provisions of the Safe Work Permit process.

GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR WORKERS WORKING ALONE OR IN ISOLATION

Definition

Workers are working alone if they are the only RETSD employee on a worksite.

Workers are working in isolation when they are working in workspaces separated by distance and or physical plant away from regular contact with other employees at a worksite. Isolated workspaces include but are not limited to :

• crawlspaces

• rooftop

• distant sections of large school if the worker is not paired with another worker or where audible or visual communications are not readily available.

Risk identification and Reduction

When a worker works alone or works in isolation, RETSD shall identify the risks arising from the conditions and circumstances of the worker's work in consultation with applicable worker stakeholders and groups. RETSD shall, so far as is reasonably practicable, take steps to eliminate or reduce the identified risks to workers working alone or working in isolation.

Safe Work Procedures

RETSD shall, so far as is reasonably practicable:

• Develop and implement safe work procedures to eliminate or reduce the identified risks to workers working alone or working in isolation.

• Train workers in the safe work procedures.

• Ensure workers comply with the safe work procedures.

The safe work procedures shall include the establishment of an effective communication system that consists of: 

• Radio communication.

• Telephone or cellular phone communication. 

• Any other means that provides effective communication given the risks involved. 

The safe work procedures shall include the establishment of an effective communication system that consists of any of the following:

• A system of regular contact by the employer with the worker working alone or in isolation

• Limitations on or prohibitions of specified activities

• The establishment of training requirements

• Where applicable, provide emergency supplies for use in travelling or working under conditions of extreme cold or other inclement weather conditions 

Posting Requirements 

An employer must post a copy of the safe work procedures in a conspicuous place at the workplace. 

WORKING ALONE OR IN ISOLATION GENERAL PROCEDURE 

See divisional Policy GBGB-Staff Safety When Working Alone for general procedures. 

WORKING ALONE OR IN ISOLATION SITE SPECIFIC PROCEDURE 

See site or department specific plans available at the local school or site level.

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

IMPLEMENTATION AND MONITORING

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 09 – Working Alone or in Isolation

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

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