Section-819-Health, Safety and Wellness Policy

Date issued: 30/05/2019

Purpose

This policy confirms, fosters and shapes an awareness for the employer and all employees to continually improve workplace health, safety and wellness culture, leading to the prevention of workplace illness and injury.

Policy Statement

The Government of Saskatchewan is committed to ensuring the physical, mental and social well-being of employees, which is critical for Our Commitment to Excellence.  The Workplace Responsibility System consists of all employees who are actively engaged in approaches to improved physical and psychological health, safety and wellness through effective strategies, programming and performance

Objectives

• Leadership that demonstrates support for health, safety and wellness management through leading by examples, and ensuring accountability and responsibility by means of evaluation and monitoring of health, safety and wellness measures.
• A shared vision of health, safety and wellness through this policy, programs, and the Saskatchewan Health and Safety Leadership Charter that is reviewed, signed and dated by the current permanent head of each ministry.
• Identification of corporate health, safety and wellness strategies and performance measures that are integrated into and valued above other business functions across the Government of Saskatchewan.

Principles

The Saskatchewan Public Service strives to be the Best Public Service in Canada through Our Commitment to Excellence.  The core value of practicing excellence and innovation supports the consideration of safety in all we do. The Saskatchewan Health and Safety Leadership Charter is a public commitment where signatories support the continuous improvement of health and safety with a goal of zero injuries, zero fatalities and zero suffering in Saskatchewan workplaces.

Application

This policy applies to all employees and workplaces of Executive Government including employees hired under contract.

Responsibilities

Permanent heads are accountable for ensuring workplace health, safety and wellness legislated requirements are met within their respective ministry.

Every employee is responsible for health and safety in the workplace.  The Saskatchewan Employment Act, 2014 (SEA), requires:

• Every employer shall ensure, insofar as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of workers, SEA 3‑8 (a).
• Every supervisor shall ensure, insofar as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety at work of all workers who work under the supervisor's direct supervision and direction, SEA 3‑9 (a).

Every worker shall take reasonable care to protect his or her health and safety and the health and safety of other workers who may be affected by his or her acts or omissions, SEA 3‑10 (a).

Authority

The Saskatchewan Employment Act, 2014 (SEA), Part III Occupational Health and Safety
The Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 1996
The Public Service Act, 1998
The Health Information Protection Act
The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act
The Saskatchewan Human Rights Code
Saskatchewan Leadership Charter Signatory – Mission Zero
National Standard for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace
Foundational Pillars – WorkSafe Sask

Definitions

Occupational health and safety: the promotion and maintenance of the highest degree of physical, mental and social well‑being of workers, SEA 3-1(1)(o)(i).

Workplace Responsibility System: A legal framework that places responsibilities on all employees in the workplace for maintaining a healthy and safe workplace, in accordance with their level of authority, SEA 3-8,9,10,11,12.

Compliance/Non-compliance

The employer, managers/supervisors and employees are all accountable for their safety-related actions as per legislated requirements.  All employees will be held accountable for non-compliance with occupational health and safety legislation, and the employer's policies and directives.

Complaint Resolution Process

If an employer does not resolve an issue or address a concern raised by an employee or Occupational Health Committee/representative with respect to the health, safety and welfare of the workers at a place of employment, the employer shall provide written reasons for not resolving the issue of addressing the concern to the committee or the representatives, SEA 3-29.
The complaint process for an employee who wishes to raise a safety concern, shall be as follows:

• In writing to the appropriate supervisor for resolution.
• If not resolved, in writing to the Occupational Health Committee co-chairs where a committee exists.
• If not resolved, in writing to the Occupational Health Division of the Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety.

Related Policies

PS 704 Workers' Compensation
PS 705 Employment Accommodation
PS 712 Extreme Weather Attendance
PS 803 Corrective Discipline
PS 804 Performance Improvement
PS 805 Substance Use and the Workplace
PS 807 Anti-Harassment (Resolution of Harassment)
PS 809 Communicable Diseases
PS 812 Smoke-Free Workplace
PS 815 Violence Policy
PS 818 Occupational Health and Safety Incident Reporting and Investigation

Resources and Tools

Workplace health, safety and wellness program information can be found on Staffroom:

• Healthy Workplaces
• Safety
• Employee and Family Assistance
• Saskatchewan Health and Safety Leadership Charter

Policy Inquiries

For inquiries, please contact the Human Resources Service Centre.

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