Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to:
Scope
This policy applies to the Board of Directors and WorkSafeNB staff when participating in internal business continuity management activities.
This policy does not provide direction for responding to occupational health and safety concerns at other New Brunswick workplaces experiencing an unexpected and serious service interruption.
Statements
1.0 General
WorkSafeNB is responsible for administering the WHSCC & WCAT Act, the Workers’ Compensation Act (WC Act), the Firefighters’ Compensation Act (FC Act), and the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHS Act). Unexpected and serious service interruptions pose a risk to WorkSafeNB’s ability to fulfill its legislative responsibilities under these Acts. WorkSafeNB considers an unexpected and serious service interruption to include a:
WorkSafeNB uses best practices as outlined by the Government of Canada and the World Health Organization, to establish the principles that govern WorkSafeNB’s business continuity management activities.
2.0 Principles of Business Continuity Management
WorkSafeNB is committed to taking all reasonable steps to ensure that, in the event of an unexpected and serious service interruption, the:
In order to achieve these objectives, WorkSafeNB uses the following principles to guide business continuity management.
I. WorkSafeNB adheres to the highest standards in business continuity planning when preparing for an unexpected and serious service interruption.
WorkSafeNB mitigates the risks posed by an unexpected and serious service interruption to its ability to fulfill its legislated responsibilities by ensuring that a business continuity plan is in place to maintain and/or restore services in a timely manner. In addition, WorkSafeNB ensures that its business continuity plan:
II. WorkSafeNB ensures its business continuity plan remains current and effective.
WorkSafeNB evaluates the business continuity plan annually, and when significant organization and/or operational changes take place, ensures that the plan remains current and effective. During this process WorkSafeNB:
III. The Board of Directors delegates authority to the President/CEO for business continuity Management.
Policy 41-002 Governance Statement – WorkSafeNB Board of Directors, identifies the usual roles and responsibilities of the Board of Directors, which includes the exclusive authority to:
The policy also outlines that the Board of Directors delegates to the President/CEO the responsibility for the day-to-day operations of WorkSafeNB. This includes managing WorkSafeNB’s immediate response to an unexpected and serious service interruption.
The Board of Directors or the President/CEO may be unable to fulfill their responsibilities in a timely manner because of the nature of an unexpected and serious service interruption. Therefore, to ensure a timely response:
These delegated responsibilities only apply during an unexpected and serious service interruption and only until the Board of Directors and/or President/CEO is able to act. For more information see Policy 41-002 Governance Statement – WorkSafeNB Board of Directors.
IV. WorkSafeNB recognizes that communication is critical to effectively manage an unexpected and serious service interruption.
According to best practices, a prompt, accurate, and appropriate communication strategy is critical for successfully managing the impact of unexpected and serious service interruptions. For example, during the early stage of a service interruption, effective communication is essential for assessing the impact on WorkSafeNB staff and operations, while after a service interruption, effective communication is crucial to maintaining public confidence in WorkSafeNB. As such, WorkSafeNB develops, reviews, and maintains a communication protocol that:
WorkSafeNB expects a unified approach to communication; therefore, the President/CEO, or alternate serves as WorkSafeNB’s spokesperson.
V. WorkSafeNB is committed to ensuring the health and safety of its employees during an unexpected and serious service interruption.
WorkSafeNB is committed to ensuring its workplaces are healthy and safe. As part of this commitment, WorkSafeNB promotes the fundamental principle that empowered employees are critical for maintaining the health and safety of all workplace parties. In order to ensure that WorkSafeNB workplaces are healthy and safe, WorkSafeNB has made health and safety a fundamental principle in its business continuity planning process.
WorkSafeNB ensures that best practices are established to protect the health and safety of staff members including:
For more information see Policy 31-500 Health and Safety.
Policy 24-015 Right to Refuse During Pandemics
Policy 31-500 Health and Safety
Policy 34-200 Investment Goals and Objectives
Policy 34-205 Statement of Investment Philosophy and Beliefs
Policy 41-002 Governance Statement – WorkSafeNB Board of Directors
Government of Canada: Office of Critical Infrastructure Protection and Emergency Preparedness.
World Health Organization phases of pandemic activity.
Business continuity - WorkSafeNB’s ability to meet its legislated responsibilities in the event of an unexpected and serious service interruption.
Business continuity management - the identification and management of risks and threats faced by WorkSafeNB due to an unexpected and serious service interruption. It involves taking steps to control and reduce these risks, assessing the impact on WorkSafeNB if these risks should materialize, and providing a plan to ensure that WorkSafeNB continues to meet its legislated responsibilities.
WorkSafeNB - means the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission or "the Commission" as defined by the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission and Workers’ Compensation Appeals Tribunal Act (WHSCC & WCAT Act).