Workplace Safety

Definitions

100

What does "OHS" stand for?

What is "Occupational Health and Safety"

200

The organization on P.E.I. that houses Occupational Health & Safety

What is Workers Compensation Board

300

What is "WHMIS"? (either what it stands for or what it is used for):

What is Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System Education on how to read and interpret labels on hazardous products, to know how to use them safely.

400

The field of study related to workplace safety (Hint: you can go to school to receive training in this area, usually a 1 or 2 year diploma)

What is Occupational Health & Safety

500

"IRS" is the foundation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act of PEI. It refers to the fact that it is everyone's responsibility, under the law, to maintain health and safety in the workplace. What does "IRS" stand for?

What is "Internal Responsibility System"

Hazards

100

Number 1 hazard causing injury to young workers -Working at heights -Operating motor vehicles/mobile equipment -Heavy lifting -Working with hot substances

What is "heavy lifting"

200

Type of hazard that sometimes requires "WHMIS" training (Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System) -biological -chemical -ergonomic -physical

What is "chemical"

300

Joe is a stock boy at the local grocery store. The number one hazard he faces in his job is ergonomic [i.e., causing harm to the muscular-skeletal system]. Name one example of a task Joe might do that could injure him in this way:

What is... (name one) -lifting -bending -climbing -carrying

400

Sarah works in a kitchen in the food prep line. Name two physical hazards Sarah faces in her day-to-day work:

What is... (name two) -using knives/food slicers -handling hot substances -slippery floors -busy/crowded work environment

500

Stephen just started a job in a food canteen, and a more senior coworker is always putting down the other staff, who all just grin and bear it. Does Stephen have a right to protect his mental health in the workplace?

What is "yes" Bullying, harassment and stress are considered psycho-social hazards. An employer must ensure...that every reasonable precaution is taken to protect the occupational health and safety of persons at or near the workplace (OHS Act of PEI). This could include mental health.

Worker Rights

100

There are three basic rights that all workers on P.E.I. have. Can you name one?

What is... (name one) 1) Right to Know 2) Right to Participate 3) Right to Refuse Unsafe Work

200

If a worker exercises the right to refuse unsafe work, their employer can refuse to pay them (or terminate their employment). True or false?

What is "false" The Occupational Health and Safety Act protects workers from discriminatory action as a result of a work refusal. Workers must have "reasonable grounds" to believe the act may endanger their health and safety, or that of others.

300

Which of the following is NOT one of the 3 basic rights of workers on P.E.I: - Right to know about workplace hazards - Right to participate in health and safety inspections and recommendations - Right to shut down an unsafe workplace - Right to refuse unsafe work

What is "Right to shut down an unsafe workplace" Occupational Health and Safety Officers have this right (under the law).

400

One of the 3 basic rights of workers on P.E.I. when it comes to workplace safety is the "Right to Know". What does this refer to?

What is... (accept either) - Right to KNOW how to do your job safely - Right to KNOW about hazards in the workplace

500

All workers on P.E.I. have the right to participate in health and safety... what is one way they can do this in their workplace?

What is ... (name one) - correct something they see that is unsafe (if they can do so without harm) - bring safety concerns to their supervisor or the employer - Be the health and safety representative at the workplace/ sit on the health and safety committee

Worker Responsibilities

100

It is important to report "near misses" when it comes to safety in the workplace. True or False?

What is "True" Reporting things that "almost" happen can help prevent them from actually occurring.

200

Mrs. Rogerson notices the sidewalk outside the school is slippery. When she gets to the school, she sees the salt bucket inside the door. It is normally the custodian's job to do the salting... What are her two options for dealing with the hazard?

What is... - do the salting (as long as she won't hurt herself) - report the hazard to the custodian

300

Josh's co-worker asks him to fill in for half an hour on the loading bay. Josh normally works as a cashier and has never received any training in this area. What is Josh's responsibility?

What is "to refuse the task" Josh should NOT work in the loading bay until he has received training on how to do the tasks, safely.

400

Kendra has been given protective gloves to wear and asked to use them when unloading boxes. She sometimes forgets them in the lunchroom when returning to her shift. Whose responsibility is it to make sure Kendra is wearing the gloves? Hers or her employer's?

What is "Kendra's responsibility" Kendra has been trained how to do her job safely and is not following the safe work procedure . What is "her employer's responsibility" Kendra's employer has a responsibility to supervise her and make sure she is following safe work procedures.

500

At Matt's new job, a lot of the older staff seem to ignore their training, especially when it comes to safety. He often sees others taking unnecessary risks just to save time or cut corners. They laugh at him when he puts on all his safety equipment. What should Matt do?

What is "report the unsafe behaviour to a supervisor, employer, or Occupational Health and Safety" Unsafe behaviours can quickly become part of the workplace culture. Matt could save someone from being seriously hurt or injured by doing the hard thing and reporting it.

Employer Responsibilities

100

Under PEI legislation, who is required to train you if you are exposed to, or likely to be exposed to, a hazardous product?

What is "your employer"

200

Brady works as a roofer. He knows by his training that he should inspect his harness daily to make sure everything works. One day he finds a broken buckle, but the crew is already late for the job. What is his responsibility? His employer's?

Brady: -report the unsafe equipment -refuse to do the job until a safer harness can be found Employer -maintain all equipment in good working order -remove faulty equipment from use

300

There are 16 people working at Jade's workplace. There is a health and safety representative, but no committee. Is this legal under OHS Act of P.E.I?

What is "yes" A health and safety rep is required if there are 5-19 workers. A health and safety committee is only required where there are more than 20 workers (or where directed by Occupational Health and Safety)

500

Mel is filling in as supervisor for a day. She's not had any formal training, but thinks she can handle it. In the first hour, a new hire gets badly hurt and Mel wasn't watching him. Can Mel be held accountable under the law?

What is "no" It is unlikely that Mel would be found at fault here - it is her employer's responsibility to train her how to do her job. It is more likely that her employer would be held accountable for not doing their due diligence to keep workers safe (including training supervisors to watch for safety violations).