Consulting Services

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

An occupational health and safety program is a set of policies and procedures which meets minimum legal requirements. A system is much more. A system ensures regular review of policies and procedures and assigns responsibility to someone to ensure that updates are completed on a regular basis and communicated to those that need to know about the changes. A system tracks training and identifies who needs which training and when it expires. A system ensures follow up on workplace inspections and assigns responsibility with timelines. When a workplace has an OHSMS in place, there is a coordinated effort aimed at maintaining and improving occupational health and safety measures in the workplace. We can assist you in writing your policies, designing your forms, and then implementing your system.

POLICY WRITING

You should just be able to download your policies off the internet and change the logo, right? We prefer that you didn’t do it that way. Those policies may be outdated, or from another jurisdiction. We have the experience and expertise to know very quickly if those policies meet current legal requirements. We’ve written hundreds of policies and can give you suggestions on wording, formatting, and updates. We don’t simply write a policy and walk away. We want to make sure it fits your needs and your culture. As with everything else we do, we can support you as little or as much as you need.

HARASSMENT INVESTIGATION

In Ontario, under Section 55.3, a Ministry of Labour, Immigration, and Skills Development inspector may write an order for an employer to complete a workplace harassment investigation, at the expense of the employer, “by an impartial person possessing such knowledge, experience or qualifications as are specified by the inspector and to obtain, at the expense of the employer, a written report by that person”. We can help. We have the skills, expert knowledge, and experience to complete harassment investigations. Do not wait for an order; reach out to us as soon as you realize you have a situation you cannot handle internally.

AUDITS

Conducting audits are the ultimate test of your system; whether they are internal or external audits. Over the last twenty-five years, Health & Safety Professionals has successfully prepared several clients for Workplace Safety and Insurance Board’s Workwell Audit. We have participated on internal audit teams for a large international Utility and led teams. We have offered internal audit training to customers. HSPI also has experience designing a customized audit tool for clients.

INCIDENT INVESTIGATIONS

Our consultants are trained to investigate incidents including critical injuries, near misses, and violence and harassment. Our impartiality assists employers to identify causes of incidents to identify contributing and underlying factors. Our reports include a sequence of events, observations, conclusions, and recommendations. Our focus is on prevention of further incidents, and on improving the occupational health and safety management system within your organization.

JHSC COMMITTEES

We work closely with companies in developing schedules, inspection and reporting forms, and documentation policies regarding JHSCs. HSPI is a Chief Prevention Officer approved provider of Basic Certification Training Part One, Part Two, and Refresher under the 2015 Standards. Some JHSCs sometimes struggle with how to conduct meetings, when and how to make recommendations, and with their terms of reference. Several JHSCs have reached out for support with their COVID-19 procedures. Let HSPI join you for a meeting, and give some suggestions.

OFFICE ERGONOMIC ASSESSMENT

Health & Safety Professionals Inc. conducts office ergonomic assessments. An RN will assess the work area and provide a written report and suggestions on how to improve your work area. The assessment includes a follow up after implementation has occurred to observe and comment on any further requirements. If you are close to our office, we will accompany you to your preferred office retailer and assist you in choosing your office furniture based on our assessment.

WORKPLACE HAZARD ASSESSMENT

HSPI reviews the workplace using a risk assessment methodology. HSPI works with the employer to utilize a tool that fits the workplace. A thorough hazard identification process is carried out that takes into consideration the people, equipment, material, environment, and processes in the workplace. Once all relevant hazards have been identified, HSPI provides commentary, recommendations, strategies, and options that eliminate, prevent, minimize, or control hazards while meeting the employer’s operational requirements. This is where the Occupational Health and Safety Management System starts.

OPERATING PROCEDURES

Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) are required when there is an elevated risk of injury or illness to workers. HSPI, in consultation with operators, JHSCs, Health and Safety Representatives, and managers, assists in the writing of SOPs. HSPI will assist in developing procedures and forms that suit your workplace. We can take it the next level and assist you in digitizing your forms so that you can track inspections, work orders, and maintenance records.