ISO 45001 is now published
The world’s much anticipated International Standard for occupational health and safety (OH&S) has just been published, and is set to transform workplace practices globally.
ISO 45001:2018, Occupational health and safety management systems – Requirements with guidance for use, provides a robust and effective set of processes for improving work safety in global supply chains. Designed to help organizations of all sizes and industries, the new International Standard is expected to reduce workplace injuries and illnesses around the world.
According to 2017 calculations by the International Labour Organization (ILO), 2.78 million fatal accidents occur at work yearly. This means that, every day, almost 7 700 persons die of work-related diseases or injuries. Additionally, there are some 374 million non-fatal work-related injuries and illnesses each year, many of these resulting in extended absences from work. This paints a sober picture of the modern workplace – one where workers can suffer serious consequences as a result of simply “doing their job”.
ISO 45001 hopes to change that. It provides governmental agencies, industry and other affected stakeholders with effective, usable guidance for improving worker safety in countries around the world. By means of an easy-to-use framework, it can be applied to both captive and partner factories and production facilities, regardless of their location.
David Smith, Chair of project committee ISO/PC 283 that developed ISO 45001, believes the new International Standard will be a real game changer for millions of workers: “It is hoped that ISO 45001 will lead to a major transformation in workplace practices and reduce the tragic toll of work-related accidents and illnesses across the globe.” The new standard will help organizations provide a safe and healthy work environment for workers and visitors by continually improving their OH&S performance.
Smith adds: “World standards writers have come together to provide a framework for a safer workplace for all, whatever sector you work in and wherever you work in the world.” More than 70 countries were directly involved in the creation of this important document, developed by ISO/PC 283, Occupational health and safety management systems, with the British Standards Institution (BSI) serving as the committee secretariat.
Because ISO 45001 is designed to integrate with other ISO management systems standards, ensuring a high level of compatibility with the new versions of ISO 9001 (quality management) and ISO 14001 (environmental management), businesses that already implement an ISO standard will have a leg up if they decide to work toward ISO 45001.
The new OH&S standard is based on the common elements found in all of ISO’s management systems standards and uses a simple Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) model, which provides a framework for organizations to plan what they need to put in place in order to minimize the risk of harm. The measures should address concerns that can lead to long-term health issues and absence from work, as well as those that give rise to accidents.
ISO 45001 will replace OHSAS 18001, the world’s former reference for workplace health and safety. Organizations already certified to OHSAS 18001 will have three years to comply with the new ISO 45001 standard, although certification of conformity to ISO 45001 is not a requirement of the standard.
The International Accreditation Forum (IAF) has developed the migration requirements to help certified organizations, certification bodies, accreditation bodies and other interested parties prepare. For more information, see the IAF Website.
ISO 45001:2018 can be purchased from your national ISO member or through the ISO Store.
- Published in News
CAPP Code of Practice for Confined Space, Final Draft
TO: CAODC Board of Directors
TO: CAODC Drilling and Service Rig Executive Members
TO: CAODC Drilling and Service Rig Registered Representatives
TO: CAODC Drilling and Service Rig Members
FOR IMMEDIATE REVIEW: CAPP Code of Practice for Confined Space, Final Draft
________________________________________
The DRAFT Code of Practice for Confined Space, developed by the CAPP Health and Safety Steering Committee, is scheduled to be approved January 15, 2018. Please take the time to review this document at your earliest convenience. Please send feedback to ktonge@caodc.ca on or before 12:00 PM Friday, January 12, 2018.
To access a copy of the DRAFT Code of Practice, click here (note that the file is a download. If after clicking the hyperlink it does not open automatically, please check your download folder) or log into the CAODC website and refer to the Industry Review webpage.
Further information from CAPP is as follows:
Overview
Industry identified an opportunity to improve our approach to confined space regulation and policy, thereby creating potential efficiencies and mitigating risk for members. An Industry Confined Space Task Group was struck to support this work, with representation from CAPP, PSAC, CAODC, CAGC, EPAC and Enform. A draft framework was created, circulated widely for review, and is now ready for approval.
Key Messages
- Working in or around a confined space is a high-risk activity. Across Canada, a significant number of people are killed or seriously injured in confined spaces each year. This happens in a wide range of industries, from those involving complex plants to simple storage vessels. Those affected include people working in the confined space and those who try to rescue them, often without appropriate training and equipment.
- The regulations governing confined space activities vary significantly from one jurisdiction to the next. The analysis of the cross-jurisdictional review concluded that it was not possible, even with major changes, to develop a single harmonized confined space regulation that would meet the requirements in each jurisdiction. As a result, a confined space regulatory framework was initiated to achieve the identified safe work objectives.
- This Code of Practice for Confined Space was developed by the upstream oil and gas industry to provide Canadian regulators with a recommendation for the harmonization of Federal, Provincial and Territorial confined space regulatory requirements. Codes of Practice set out industry standards of conduct and provide guidance to employers, supervisors, contractors, and workers that can be used – AS AN OPTION – to meet and/or exceed the requirements of OHS legislation.
Next Steps
Upon approval of the Code of Practice at the CAPP HSSC meeting in January,
- An engagement plan with the regulators will be initiated; and
- An issue proposal for development by Energy Safety Canada will be submitted.
Copyright © 2018 Canadian Association of Oilwell Drilling Contractors, All rights reserved.
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- Published in News, Uncategorized
Bill 30 – Proposed Changes to Alberta WCB Act and OHS Act
Bill would improve safety, well-being of Albertans
November 27, 2017 Media inquiries
Proposed changes to the Workers’ Compensation Act and Occupational Health and Safety Act would better protect Albertans and support injured workers.
If passed, An Act to Protect the Health and Well-being of Working Albertans would improve workplace health and safety and provide fair compensation and meaningful support to injured workers and their families. The changes would also ensure Alberta workers have the same rights and protections as other Canadians.
“Every Albertan should be able to go to work and come home healthy and safe at the end of the workday. When they don’t, they deserve to have access to the medical and financial support they need to get healthy, care for their families and return to work. This bill would better protect hardworking Albertans and provide fair compensation to Albertans injured on the job.”
Christina Gray, Minister of Labour
The bill would modernize Alberta’s health and safety system to reflect modern workplaces, increase employee participation, improve safety, and increase supports to injured workers.
“The proposed changes to the occupational health and safety system are generally in line with the oil and gas industry’s best practices. Our objective as a safety association is to develop and support standards and best practices across the oil and gas industry and we see these changes as a positive step forward in advancing worker health and safety in Alberta.”
John Rhind, CEO, Energy Safety Canada
“Even one tragedy – one fatality, one life-altering injury, one occupational disease – is too many. Threads of Life is dedicated to a world where these tragedies become morally, socially and economically unacceptable, so that all workers return home safe and healthy to their families. We support Alberta’s steps to help move us as Canadians closer to that vision.”
Shirley Hickman, executive director, Threads of Life
The Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) provides no-fault benefits and supports a safe return to work for injured workers. The proposed changes would mean an improved WCB system that provides greater benefits to workers to support their return to work, with premiums that remain sustainable and affordable for employers.
Alberta’s Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act sets the minimum standards for workplace health and safety, and outlines the roles and responsibilities of employers and employees. These proposed changes would better protect workers, ensure they have the same rights and protections as other Canadians, and empower them to participate in health and safety in Alberta’s workplaces.
The proposed changes result from government’s review of the OHS system and the independent review of the WCB system. If passed, the majority of changes to WCB and OHS would come into effect Jan. 1 and June 1, 2018, respectively.
Bill highlights:
If passed, the legislation would provide better protections and benefits to Albertans by:
Workers’ Compensation Board changes
- Establishing an independent Fair Practices Office that helps Albertans navigate the WCB system by providing additional resources to support workers every step of the way.
- Establishing a Code of Rights and Conduct that outlines the rights of workers and employers, while also explaining how WCB staff would recognize these rights and conduct.
- Removing the maximum insurable earnings cap of $98,700 per year, allowing injured workers to receive benefits in line with their expected annual earnings.
- Improving benefits for:
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- Surviving spouses and children when a worker is killed on the job.
- Young workers who sustain a long-term injury that affects their career opportunities.
- Improving retirement benefits for injured workers to better recognize the impact on an injured worker’s retirement savings.
- Providing an option for interim relief while decisions are under review and appeal, helping to reduce potential hardship while disputed claims are being reviewed or awaiting appeal.
- Providing greater choice for injured workers in selecting health professionals.
- Enhancing coverage for psychological injuries, including post-traumatic stress disorder, for all occupations where workers have experienced a traumatic incident at work.
- Requiring employers to continue providing health benefit programs to injured workers under existing coverage for one year after the date of the injury.
- Establishing an Occupational Disease and Injury Advisory Committee that would review occupational diseases, and provide advice on emerging trends in medical science.
- Continuing to allow the WCB to determine how the Accident Fund is used.
- Introducing an obligation for employers to support the “return to work” of workers who suffer injuries and illnesses in their workplaces. Employers will have a duty to accommodate workers to the point of undue hardship.
Occupational Health and Safety changes
- Enshrining the three basic rights of workers in Alberta’s legislation:
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- The right to refuse unsafe work. The proposed changes protect workers from any form of reprisal for exercising this right, including loss of compensation or benefits.
- The right to know. The proposed changes ensure workers are informed about potential hazards and have access to basic health and safety information in the workplace.
- The right to participate. The proposed changes ensure workers are involved in health and safety discussions, including participation in health and safety committees.
- Mandating joint worksite health and safety committees for workplaces with 20 or more employees. These committees are responsible for:
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- inspecting the work site for hazards
- helping employers respond to health and safety concerns of workers
- helping resolve unsafe work refusals
- helping develop health and safety policies and safe work procedures
- helping with new employee health and safety orientation
- developing and promoting education and training programs.
- Requiring employers with between five and 19 workers to have a health and safety representative in the workplace.
- Clarifying roles and responsibilities of workplace parties for health and safety, including the obligations of employers, supervisors, workers, owners, prime contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, service providers, self-employed persons and temporary staffing agencies.
- Protecting workers from workplace violence and harassment. This includes new legislative definitions as well as outlining the responsibility of employers and supervisors to prevent workplace violence and harassment, and workers to refrain from these activities.
- Protecting workers from loss of wages or benefits on worksites subjected to stop work or stop use orders or while safety improvements are being made.
- Requiring employers to report “near miss” incidents to OHS. A “near miss” incident is one that had the potential to cause serious injury to a person but did not.
- Expanding the ability of the courts to impose creative sentences, such as providing funding for research on preventative medicine or health and safety training programs.
- Requiring the government to publish more information collected during compliance and enforcement activities, including the results of OHS investigations.
- Requiring OHS laws be reviewed every five years to ensure they remain relevant to modern and changing workplaces.
Related information
- Bill 30: An Act to Protect the Health and Well-being of Working Albertans
- Workplace safety and injury compensation changes
- Occupational Health and Safety system review
- WCB Review
Media inquiries
587-985-9441
Press Secretary, Labour
587-982-5030
Chief of Staff, Labour
- Published in News, Uncategorized