The Top 10 Contraventions in the Community Service & Hospitality Industries

One of the most important aspects of Safety and Health Week is awareness. This year, to recognize and support Safety and Health week and our industries, we will be highlighting the importance of following Occupational Health & Safety legislation by discussing some of the top 10 OH&S Contraventions issued in Saskatchewan in 2021 in the community service and hospitality businesses. Below you will find the Top Ten OH&S Contraventions in our industries during 2021 in Saskatchewan:

1. Establishment of OH&S Committee – Saskatchewan Employment Act 3-22

Every place of employment with ten or more workers is required to have an OH&S Committee. This committee must have at least two members representing both the employer and employees and meet no less than once every three months.

Resources:

• Virtual OH&S Committee Training

• Spotlight on Safety Committees – Service Hospitality TV Episode

2. Exposure Control Plan- OHS Regulation 6-22

The Occupational Health and Safety Regulations have been updated to state that if workers are likely to be exposed to an infectious material (including COVID-19), an employer, in consultation with the OH&S Committee, shall develop a plan to eliminate or minimize worker exposure. This means that every employer in Saskatchewan now requires an Exposure Control Plan. Having an Exposure Control Plan helps eliminate or reduce worker exposure to COVID-19, but it also protects anyone who takes out the garbage, cleans bathrooms, interacts closely with the public, or cleans up after other people!

Resources:

• Exposure Control Planning: Integrating COVID-19 – Resources and Templates

3. Fire Safety Plans – OHS Regulation 25-2

Employers are responsible for ensuring they have taken all reasonably practicable steps to prevent the outbreak of a fire and provide effective means to protect workers from any fire. This must be documented in a written fire safety plan that includes information for the safety of all workers in the event of a fire.

Resources:

• Emergency Plan template

• Emergency Response Drill template

4. Harassment Policy – OHS Regulation 3-25

Although fewer Harassment policy contraventions were handed out in 2021 than in years prior, this violation takes the crown as the top contravention issued in the past five years. All workplaces in Saskatchewan are required to have a harassment prevention policy. If your workplace doesn’t have one, now is the time to start drafting.

Resources:

• Harassment Policy template

• Harassment in the Workplace – Service Hospitality TV Episode 

5. Duty of Employer to Provide Information – OHS Regulation 3-4

An employer must make readily available for reference by workers a copy of the Saskatchewan Employment Act and the Saskatchewan Occupational Health & Safety Regulations. To fulfill this requirement, make sure you have a physical copy of both publications in an area where staff congregates, such as a staff room. Or have a PDF copy on the desktop of a staff-accessible computer. If you have a copy, but it’s locked away in a manager’s desk somewhere.. you’re at risk of this contravention.

Resources:

• The Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 2020

• The Saskatchewan Employment Act

6. Eye Flushing Equipment – OHS Regulation 21-12

Suppose there is a risk to a worker’s eyes from corrosive or other harmful substances (cleaning chemicals or hot fryer oil, for example). In that case, the employer must provide appropriate eye flushing equipment. Ensure any eye flushing solution is not expired, and all stations are adequately equipped with the correct supplies!

Resources:

• Workplace Inspection training

• Inspection checklist template 

7. Electrical Panels – OHS Regulation 30-12

Commonly overlooked are electrical panels. To remain compliant with this regulation, employers must ensure that every electrical panel is approved for the intended use and location of the panel, protected from physical or mechanical damage, readily accessible, and has an approved filler in any unused opening. Are you storing those extra storage boxes in front of your electrical panel? Time to move them to prevent this contravention.

Resources:

• Workplace Inspection training

• Inspection checklist template 

8. Training of OH&S Committee Members – OHS Regulation 4-9

OH&S Committees play an essential role in ensuring the workplace is healthy and safe. To do this effectively, OH&S Committee co-chairs are required to receive training respecting the duties and functions of a committee.

Resources:

• Virtual OH&S Committee Training

9. Worker Education and Training – OHS Regulation 22-4

All Canadian jurisdictions require that employers develop, implement, and maintain a worker WHMIS education and training program. All workers who work with a hazardous product or who may be exposed to a dangerous product as part of their work activities must learn about the hazard information for these products.

Resources:

• WHMIS 2015 for the Employer and Employee – Service Hospitality TV Episode

10. First Aid Register – OHS Regulation 5-8

Most workplaces have first aid kits, but did you know your first aid kit must also contain a first aid register (or logbook)? Each time a supply item is removed from the kit, the register must be updated with a description detailing the first aid treatment administered to a worker. The OH&S committee should inspect this register at regular intervals.

Resources:

• First Aid Register template

If any of these potential contraventions are setting off your alarm bells, reach out to a Safety Advisor. We have tools, templates, resources, training, and sound advice to help you ensure a compliant – and, more importantly, a safe workplace exists!