B8. Health and Safety Communication

Code 7.0

Participant shall provide workers with appropriate workplace health and safety information and training in the language of the worker or in a language the worker can understand for all identified workplace hazards that workers are exposed to, including but not limited to mechanical, electrical, chemical, fire, and physical hazards. Health and safety related information shall be clearly posted in the facility or placed in a location identifiable and accessible by workers. Training is provided to all workers prior to the beginning of work and regularly thereafter. Workers shall be encouraged to raise any health and safety concerns without retaliation.

Elements to Demonstrate Compliance to RBA Code

Workers are provided with appropriate, clearly posted workplace health and safety information and training in the language of the worker or in a language the worker can understand for all identified workplace hazards that workers are exposed to. Workers shall be encouraged to raise any health and safety concerns without retaliation.

1. Policy

Have documented health and safety communication and training arrangements with elements including:

• a. Language. All communications and training are provided in a language understood by the worker.
• b. A commitment that health and safety information is clearly posted in the facility or placed in a location identifiable and accessible by workers.
• c. A commitment that workers are encouraged to raise any health and safety concerns without retaliation.

2. Procedures & Practices

Procedures & Practices are in place such that:

• a. Training.
  • i. An adequate and effective training program is in place following good training program practice.
  • ii. The training program has minimum requirements (mechanical, electrical, chemical, fire, and physical hazards) plus training identified in the training needs assessment, and must include:
    • The correct use of appropriate PPE.
    • Types of potential emergencies that may occur at the work location and what to do during an emergency, including internal and external muster points.
    • Machine safety and the use of safeguards and emergency stops.
    • Reporting injuries and illnesses.
    • Hazardous atmospheres and confined space work procedures prior to entry of confined spaces.
    • Lock-out / tag-out procedures.
    • Specific training for ERT, first responders, and medical professionals.
  • iii. Training is provided to all workers prior to the beginning of work and regularly thereafter as per the training program.
  • iv. Workers responsible for storage, clean up, or disposal of chemical releases receive specialized training.
  • v. Occupational health professionals and first responders are trained by external agencies, or trained and certified by internal qualified occupational health professionals such as a medical doctor where permitted by local law.
• b. Communication.
  • i. An adequate and effective communication program to workers/employees is in place for all identified potential workplace hazards.
  • ii. Potential workplace hazards that workers are exposed to are clearly posted in the facility or placed in a location identifiable and accessible by workers.
  • iii. A hazard communication procedure covers all hazards present at the site and promotes a health and safety workplace.
  • iv. Internal and external muster points are communicated to all employees and visitors.
  • v. Appropriate signs, placards, and labels identify hazards (chemical, physical, biological, vehicular, etc.).
• c. Health and safety concern notification.
  • i. An adequate and effective program to receive, review, and respond to any health and safety concerns reported is in place (e.g., incentive systems).
  • ii. A mechanism to raise safety concerns is clearly visible.
  • iii. Workers are encouraged to raise any health and safety concerns without retaliation.

3. Controls & Monitoring

Controls & Monitoring should include:

• a. The training, communication, and safety concern notification programs are evaluated on a regular basis not exceeding 3 years, or sooner if there is a major change.
• b. Updates are made whenever new operations, chemicals, machines, or processes are added in the facility or change significantly.
• c. Refresher training schedules are established and implemented as per schedule.
• d. A health and safety training needs analysis is conducted and documented, and a training matrix and training plan are developed from it (including but not limited to mechanical, electrical, chemical, fire, and physical hazards).
• e. The training program is kept up to date and maintained through a compliance calendar, work-order systems, and computer-based e-mail/calendar systems.

4. Records

Records are maintained including:

• a. Training records, including a verification of training effectiveness (e.g., demonstrating that workers have understood training and that the aims of the training are achieved, through a post-training test or worker interviews on the training).
• b. Safety concern logs, evaluation records, and action plans.
• c. Communication records, logs, and materials.
• d. Training, communication, and safety concern notification evaluation reports and corrective action if required.
• e. Educational materials (e.g., safe work instructions, operating instructions) about the risks associated with the hazards for the workers' positions, provided to workers to ensure safe execution of the function. Examples of controls include personal protective equipment (safety glasses, gloves, ear plugs), operating procedures (lock-out/tag-out, chemical mixing), and engineering controls (ventilation, point-of-operation machine guarding, building sprinkler systems).
• f. Grievance records showing health and safety concerns, their response, and no retaliation.

NOTE: ERT member training must be reported in B2 (Emergency Preparedness).

5. Serious conditions that will result in a severe finding

• No training and/or communication program in place.

6. Rating

Remote Verification Acceptable: NO

1.0.0 (2021-01-01)

Changed

• Initial and only release — Health and Safety Communication (RBA Code of Conduct 7.0); discontinued after VAP 7.0.0: Earliest and only imported version. Workers must be provided appropriate workplace health and safety information and training in a language they understand, for all identified hazards (mechanical, electrical, chemical, fire, physical). Health and safety information clearly posted; training before work and regularly thereafter; specialized training for high-risk roles; program evaluation at least every 3 years; recordkeeping; and a non-retaliatory mechanism to raise health and safety concerns. This criterion was dropped from VAP 7.1.2 onward (content absorbed into the B-series OHS criteria), so it has no successor version.