The Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHS)requires employers with 20 or more employees “regularly employed” to establish both a JHSC and a written health and safety program in consultation with its JHSC committee or a health and safety representative.
The OHS Act does not refer to volunteers in its definition of employees. However, WorkSafeNB has developed a policy in which volunteers could be considered as employees under certain circumstances.
While the OHS Act does not define “regularly employed,” WorkSafeNB has developed a legal interpretation to help determine whether employees fit this definition. It states a volunteer who works a predictable number of hours each week, every week, is considered “regularly employed.”
Based on this information, if the number of employees and volunteers exceeds 19 at the food bank on any given day, and the volunteers have predictable schedules and conduct activities that would also be carried out by paid staff, then the food bank should have both a JHSC and a health and safety program. If, however, you conclude that the food bank’s volunteers are not employees and are not “regularly employed,” consider that they still have a right to work in a safe and healthy environment.
If your food bank decides to establish a JHSC and a health and safety program, WorkSafeNB has numerous resources to help. Here are some links to get you started:
Employers must have a procedure and training in place for rescuing an employee in an emergency situation. Section 50.3(4) of Regulation 91-191 also requires employers to review annually, or more frequently, the content of the training provided to employees on fall protection. Conducting a mock rescue exercise is not a specific requirement of the legislation, however, it would be a good method of reviewing and assessing the training provided to employees.
Completing the Form 67 is a shared responsibility between the injured worker and their employer. It is the first step in applying for benefits or services for the injured worker and must be done within three days of the fall.
According to Section 8 of the General Regulation 91-191, employers must allow an employee at least one half-hour for food and rest after each five consecutive hours of work. WorkSafeNB has produced an interpretation on this section of the legislation that should provide your employer and co-workers with more information.
New Brunswick does not have legislation that regulates scents in the workplace. However, we recommend you first try to deal with the problem internally. Address the concern first with your human resources department or your safety manager. Secondly, alert your joint health and safety committee, if one exists at your workplace. If you still have no success, WorkSafeNB could get involved once we receive a complaint from the employee experiencing the symptoms. The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety also has online resources that address this topic.
Shoes should have well-defined treads with a flexible sole, be flat, marked ‘slip resistant’ and be comfortable. WorkSafeNB has a Hazard Alert for food service employees, which addresses protective clothing for both feet and hands. If you, as an employer, provide shoes to your employees, you should consult them before purchasing.
To help you understand section 8(7) of the first aid regulation, WorkSafeNB has prepared a legal interpretation. It should provide you with the information you need regarding the six hours of practice. Often, the employer covers the cost for course fee and the employee’s time, but this is not a requirement under the regulation.
Under current regulations, a (M)SDS may be made available on a computer. To do so, the employer must take all reasonable steps to keep the terminal in working order and it must be available to employees who may be exposed to the controlled/hazardous product as well as members of the joint health and safety committee, if any, or to the workplace’s health and safety representative. Employees who may be exposed to the controlled/hazardous product must also work near the computer (have easy and quick access) and be provided training for accessing the computer-stored (M)SDS.
Requirements for the content of a first aid kit can be found in the First Aid Regulation 2004-130, in Schedule C, of the New Brunswick Occupational Health and Safety Act.
No special training is required to update first aid kits, but you could familiarize yourself with the First Aid Regulation. Although not required by regulation, automated external defibrillators (AED) are becoming more common in the workplace. If you are asked to service an AED, you should consult the manufacturer for its recommended maintenance.
As for a logbook, the regulation requires that a first aid kit contain one. This means first aid kit providers must include such a logbook. While WorkSafeNB does not have templates for one, the First Aid Regulation does specify what needs to be recorded after first aid is administered. Here is an example of a record sheet to log first aid treatments, which would likely meet the requirements of the regulation.
While there are no specific regulations on this matter, the New Brunswick Occupational Health and Safety Act requires employers to address health and safety hazards at the workplace, including buildup of ice and snow.
As for the steps you should take, first raise the matter with your supervisor or employer. If you are not comfortable doing this, you could approach your joint health and safety committee (JHSC) at your workplace, if one exists.
You may also contact your human resources department if it is responsible for workplace health and safety. If the matter is still unresolved, you can contact WorkSafeNB to file a complaint. We often respond by sending a health and safety officer to investigate. If you prefer your complaint to remain anonymous, we will respect your wishes.
To file a complaint, contact WorkSafeNB at 1 800 999-9775.
