Health and Safety Policy, Representatives, and Committees Required in Island Workplaces by December 20, 2001 - November 2001

The Workers Compensation Board (WCB) has held a series of workshops to help educate workers and employers about Health and Safety policy, representatives and committees which are required in Island workplaces by December 20, 2001 under the amended Occupational Health and Safety Act.

George Stewart, Director of Occupational Health and Safety with Workers Compensation Board, explained that “the number of employees employed at the workplace will determine which of the amendments are applicable for employers. For instance, a health and safety policy is required in all workplaces with more than five employees, while health and safety representatives are required in workplaces with between five and nineteen regularly employed employees. Health and Safety Committees are required in all workplaces with twenty or more regularly employed employees.”

WCB’s Education Officer, Diana Clarke, stated that “with the revised Act the responsibility for maintaining a healthy, safe workplace is shared among all persons in the workplace. The health and safety committees and representatives are the means of communicating health and safety concerns from the people doing the work to managers. A well supported committee or representative can make a significant difference in the number of injuries that occur in any workplace.”

Jim Lee, Chair of Workers Compensation Board, said “the health and safety committee and representative legislation will improve communication and awareness of safety and health in the workplace which will result in fewer accidents. These significant improvements to the Occupational Health and Safety Act will help develop a workplace culture on Prince Edward Island where safety is a way of life.” The Occupational Health and Safety Division of WCB has developed a guide to the Act as well as a guide to safety committees and representatives which are located on the WCB website at http://www.wcb.pe.ca .

For more information contact Mark Barrett:

Tel: (902) 894-0362
Email: mabarrett@wcb.pe.ca