Occupational safety
The following programs are aimed at ensuring a safe working environment for employees, and to promote personal safety on campus.
Workplace bullying & harassment prevention
The university is committed to maintaining a healthy, safe and respectful environment for work and study. Discrimination and harassment are unacceptable and are prohibited conduct at the University. It is the responsibility of all members of the campus community not to engage in bullying and harassment, to report any bullying and harassment they observe or experience, and to comply with:
- UVic Discrimination and Harassment Prevention and Response Policy (GV0205) and
- on bullying and harassment.
All UVic employees (staff, faculty and leaders) are required to complete bullying and harassment prevention training. Individuals in supervisory positions, or who exercise supervisory responsibilities as part of their job, must also complete the online supervisor course, after first completing the employee course.
Reporting procedures
If you think bullying, harassment or discrimination is going on in the workplace, you are expected to report it to your supervisor. The university has a duty to act on concerns that involve inappropriate conduct which may constitute bullying, harassment or discrimination.
Staff and faculty should report any incident(s) to their direct supervisor, or to the Equity and Human Rights Office (EQHR). If the direct supervisor is the alleged bully then report the situation to the next level manager in your unit, or to EQHR.
Employees may also contact their union/association representative for support or advice.
Follow-up & investigations
Most investigations at UVic will be conducted internally by management or EQHR. It is expected that supervisors will address any reported complaints within their unit and are encouraged to seek advice and assistance from a Human Resources Consultant or VPAC Faculty Relations, as appropriate. Supervisors may also seek advice and assistance from EQHR at any point in the follow-up process. The employer may also consider a third-party investigator to conduct an investigation for more serious or complex complaints.
Working alone or in Isolation
WorkSafeBC requires employers to assess risks and implement safe work procedures prior to assigning employees to work alone or in isolation. UVic departments and supervisors are required to identify tasks, hazards and control measures, and document procedures to check the well-being of employees. Review the guidance below and contact OHSE if you require assistance.
Definition
To work alone or in isolation means to work in circumstances where assistance would not be readily available to the worker in case of emergency, injury or ill health.
The following criteria will determine whether assistance is readily available, based on a reasonable expectation:
- Presence of other people in the vicinity
- Awareness of other people to the employee’s need for assistance
- Willingness of other people to provide assistance
- Timeliness of other people to provide assistance.
Risk assessment
The level of risk for most groups on campus will generally be considered low. Most departments are engaged in low hazard activities, work in areas where others are usually present, and emergency assistance is readily available through Campus Security 24-hours per day, including First Aid and liaison with local police, fire and ambulance.
However, some departments that are engaged in moderate to high hazard work activities and where assistance may not be as readily available (e.g. after-hours work, isolated locations, etc.). A campus risk assessment is provided below to help inform working alone requirements a the unit-level.
| Low risk: | Moderate risk: | High risk: | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Risk Category |
Assistance is readily available and work environment/activities are low hazard |
Assistance may not be readily available and work environment/activities are moderate hazard |
Assistance is not readily available and work environment/activities are high hazard |
|
Work environment or activities (examples) |
Office, clerical, administrative Note: in most office or similar work environments, employees are not considered to be assigned to work alone if they decide to come in early, work late or come in on a day off. |
Custodial, Grounds, Trades and Security Other work environments that may require after-hours work or when employees are in non-public or isolated areas of campus. |
Any activities involving the use of hazardous materials (e.g. chemicals, biohazards, radioactive materials). High hazard work including confined space entry, high voltage, working from heights, diving, boating, etc.
|
| Requirements | Working alone requirements do not apply | Working alone requirements apply | Special category |
| Next steps |
Ensure all hazards are assessed for any employees permitted to work on their own. Follow best practices and consider implementing a call/check-in system, and utilizing Campus Alone and SafeWalk services. Remind your employees about the numbers to call for emergencies (911) or first aid (250-721-7599). |
Implement working alone procedures for your employee(s). |
Working alone is not permitted due to risk level OR Implement working alone procedures for approved high hazard work, only after evaluating the job tasks to eliminate or minimize identified hazards. |
Working alone procedures
Departments or supervisors are required to develop and implement a written procedures for moderate or approved high-risk activities where employees are assigned to work alone or in isolation. The procedures should address the following information:
- Name of individual or job positions that are required to work alone.
- Identification of the hazards and risks associated with the work activities and/or the environment where the work is to be performed.
- Identification of which type of activities may be conducted while working alone, and stating any limitations and/or prohibitions on certain activities.
- Procedures to control (minimize) the identified risks. This will involve implementing engineering and/or administrative controls (see Control measures for more information).
- Methods of communication by which employees can secure emergency assistance and how emergency assistance will be provided in the event of an incident or accident.
- Establishing the frequency of regular communications and identifying who is responsible for establishing contact.
- Procedures to follow if contact cannot be established.
A sample template is available to document control measures and check-in procedures for an approved working alone activity.
Supervisors must review the procedures with their employees and ensure that any job-specific training is provided before they are assigned to work alone. The procedures should also be reviewed annually and updated for any changes in activities or safety protocols.
Laboratory supervisors are advised to review the resources and guidance for personnel who may work alone in laboratory settings.
Violence prevention
The 麻豆精品 is committed to providing a safe environment for all members of the university community. Although workplace violence on campus is not common, the potential for violence can exist in certain jobs or work environments, including when employees interact with the public, handle money in retail settings or work outside of regular hours.
Violence in the workplace includes any incident of attempted or actual assaults, or any threatening statement or behaviour towards an employee by any person other than a co-worker, which gives the employee reasonable cause to believe they are at risk of injury.
Risk assessment
If a risk of violence has been identified due to the nature of the work or workplace, the supervisor or department must complete a risk assessment and implement control measures. The Workplace Violence Prevention Program provides information, education, procedures and resources for managers and employees, and includes a risk assessment tool to develop unit-specific procedures. Please also review the UVic Prevention of Violence in the Workplace Policy (SS9120) for more information.
Reporting
We are committed to preventing workplace violence and to respond appropriately if threats or acts of violence do occur. Any violent incidents or concerns should be reported immediately to your supervisor and Campus Security at 250-721-7599.