This company is committed to a strong health and safety program that protects its staff, its property and the public from incidents. 

Workers at every level, including management, are responsible and accountable for the company's overall health and safety initiatives. Complete and active participation by everyone, every day, in every job is necessary for the health and safety excellence the company expects. Management supports the coordination and cooperation of all workers concerning health and safety on the job site. 

Management encourages all workers to participate in the program and provides proper equipment, training and procedures. Workers are responsible for following all procedures, working safely, and, wherever possible, improving health and safety measures. 

An injury and incident-free workplace is our goal. Through continuous health and safety efforts, we can accomplish this.

The information in this policy does not take precedence over applicable government legislation, with which all workers should be familiar.

Assignment of Responsibility and Accountability for Health and Safety

Owner/Manager shall:

1. Establish a health and safety policy
2. Provide a healthy and safe workplace
3. Maintain a health and safety program
4. Ensure proper training of workers
5. Ensure that personal protective equipment (PPE) is available
6. Ensure that regular inspections are done
7. Correct unsafe conditions
8. Provide first aid supplies & training
9. Investigate all incidents
10. Ensure equipment, vehicles, and tools are maintained in safe working order
11. Report injuries to the Workers' Compensation Board
12. Ensure compliance with legislation
13. Set a good example

Supervisor/Foreman shall:

1. Promote health and safety awareness
2. Establish safe work procedures
3. Instruct workers about health and safety
4. Correct unsafe practices
5. Detect troubled workers
6. Correct unsafe conditions
7. Enforce company rules
8. Ensure hazard assessments are conducted on the worksites
9. Investigate all incidents
10. Ensure proper maintenance of equipment/vehicles
11. Comply with legislation
12. Set a good example

Worker shall:

1. Follow safe work practices and procedures
2. Report unsafe conditions
3. Correct unsafe conditions
4. Report unsafe acts
5. Report any injury
6. Comply with company rules and legislation
7. Make suggestions for improvement
8. Operate equipment/vehicles in a safe manner
9. Set a good example

Health & Safety Rules

The following rules are a guide to assist in determining what is required and what is reasonable within the company.

General Rules For Employees

• Workers must take reasonable care to protect themselves, their co­ workers, the public and the environment.
• Workers must wear PPE where there are hazards and it has been deemed necessary.
• No worker may be under the influence of illegal drugs or alcohol, or otherwise impaired.
• Workers are required to initiate evacuations in the event of an accident if it is deemed necessary.
• Harassment, horseplay, making threats or fighting is strictly forbidden.
• All health and safety rules set forth by the prime contractor must be followed.

General Rules For Contractors

• Contractors shall provide first aid services, PPE and respiratory protective equipment for their employees.
• All contract personnel must participate in Health & Safety meetings and inspections.
• Contractors shall follow safe working procedures.
• All health and safety rules set forth by the prime contractor must be followed.

Health & Safety Roles And Responsibilities

All managers, supervisors, employees, contractors and visitors working on, or visiting worksites have the responsibility to be aware of their roles in the Health & Safety Program and are also required to use all efforts to ensure fulfillment of their duties.

President

• Review and sign the Health & Safety Policy.
• Provide leadership and direction in the Health & Safety Program.
• Be familiar with regulatory standards and requirements.
• Encourage employee involvement in safety by setting an example for all employees to follow.
• Ensure all accidents and incidents are thoroughly investigated, documented,  reported and filed.
• Check that corrective actions are undertaken to eliminate any reoccurrence of any incident or accident. 

Managers and Supervisors 

• Identify and enforce the Health & Safety objectives throughout the company.
• Include Health & Safety objectives in business planning.
• Be familiar with regulatory standards and  requirements.
• Inspect worksites to identify deficiencies and ensure contact with contractors.
• Review all rule infractions and respond as per Program Enforcement
• Provide the Health & Safety Manual to all new employees and contractors.
• Ensure employees and contractors are competent to do their work and are certified as required by applicable legislation.
• Set an example by working safely and following standard work procedures.
• Encourage workers to provide input into the Health & Safety Program development  and maintenance.
• Review and sign the Health & Safety Policy.

Employees

• Become thoroughly familiar with the Health & Safety Program, standard work procedures and regulatory requirements.
• Participate in the Health & Safety Program development and maintenance.
• Attend Health & Safety meetings and provide feedback on Health & Safety issues.
• Do not perform work when unsafe conditions exist and immediately report the conditions to the supervisor.
• Perform tasks only when qualified and competent.
• Participate in all required training on or off the worksite.
• Check tools and equipment including personal protective and safety equipment before using; do not use if damaged.
• Perform site inspections when starting a new job/task, the scope of work changes, work procedures are revised or atmospheric conditions change.
• Understand responsibilities outlined in the ERP and how to initiate the ERP.
• In case of an emergency, know how to operate emergency equipment if necessary. 

Contractors

• Become thoroughly familiar with the Health & Safety Program, standard work procedures and regulatory requirements.
• Participate in Health & Safety Program development and maintenance.
• Understand responsibilities outlined in the ERP and how to initiate the ERP.
• In case of an emergency, know how to operate emergency equipment if necessary.
• Ensure that all personnel are individually competent to perform the work or are always working under direct supervision of a competent worker.
• Distribution of RMS Health & Safety Manual to their employees.
• Provide trained first aid personnel and supplies in accordance with legislative regulations.
• Supply and maintain the contractors own PPE and safety equipment in accordance with RMS and legislative requirements.

The folowing legislation guidelines and references apply to the landscape construction services that VighCon provides.

A copy of the Occupational Health and Safety book are available in supervisors vehicles and are available for your viewing and information should you require.

Landscaping activities are plant, yard and grounds maintenance and enhancement activities most often conducted at or around residential or commercial building sites.

Design and layout, seeding and planting trees, shrubs, flowers, cutting and maintaining the grass, gardens and grounds. Landscaping may also include some subordinate harder landscape construction such as building a deck, a fence, or smaller concrete edging activity.	Equipment includes lawn mowers, trimmers, bobcats, trucks, fertilizer spreaders, tampers, gardening-type tools.
Supply and installation of irrigation systems and fences for residential yards, commercial grounds and golf courses.	Workers consist of labourers, horticulturists, sales/estimators, office/administration staff, equipment operators, landscape designers
Erecting corrals, including gates and chutes. Shop work in support of one's own installation is acceptable in this industry.	Employers may operate a store front retail operation to sell related landscaping/gardening items and materials.
Post holes are dug, usually by auger (handheld and mechanical), ready-mix cement is prepared and tamped into the hole to secure the post. Chain link or barbed wire is stretched or pulled into place by a winch or a puller and fastened with 'U' shaped metal staples. Wood fence boards are nailed or screwed into place, and some onsite cutting, staining or painting may be required. Some minor in-shop fabrication to hinges, latches, gates, and with link weaving machines is permitted in the industry.	Equipment includes post-hole augers, bobcats, mixers, handtools, winch, saws, steel/wire cutters, and may employ laborers, technical staff, sales/estimators, drivers, and office/administrative staff.
Underground sprinkler installation requires a trench to be dug using a shovel or ditch-witch-type of trenching unit. Pipe, most often plastic, is placed in the ditch, sprinkler heads are attached at strategic intervals, it is hooked up to an existing water supply, and the trench is backfilled.	Equipment includes 'ditch-witch' equipment, gardening-type of handtools, plastic cutters/glue; and employ plumbers, landscapers, laborers, sales/estimators, office/administrative staff.

Relevant sections of OHS Legislation

Occupational Health and Safety Act

Section

 2. Obligations of employers, workers, etc.
 3. Prime contractor
 4. Multiple obligations
18. Serious injuries and accidents
19. Investigation of accidents
35. Existence of imminent danger
37. Disciplinary action complaint

Occupational Health and Safety Regulation

Section

 7. Availability of specifications
12. Equipment
13. General protection of workers
14. Duties of workers
15. Safety training

Occupational Health and Safety Code (2009)

Part 1 Definitions and General Application	Section 2.1 Availability of legislation 2.2 Designated person to prepare plan
Part 2 Hazard Assessment, Elimination and Control	Section 7 Hazard assessment 8 Worker participation 9 Hazard elimination and control
Part 3  Specifications and Certifications	Section 12 Following specifications 13 Manufacturer’s and Professional Engineer’s specification 14 Certification by a professional engineer 15 Approved equipment
Part 7 Emergency Preparedness and Response	Section 115 Emergency response plan 116 Contents of plan
Part 8 Entrances, Walkways, Stairways and Ladders	Section 119 Safe entry and exit
Part 11 First Aid	Section 178 Providing services, supplies, equipment 179 Location of first aid 180 Emergency transportation 181 First aid providers 182 Duty to report injury or illness 183 Record of injury or illness 184 First aid record access Refer to Schedule 2
Part 12 General Safety Precautions	Section 185 Housekeeping 186 Lighting 189 Securing equipment and materials 194 Vehicle traffic control
Part 14 Lifting and Handling Loads	Section 208 Equipment 209 Adapting to heavy or awkward loads 210 Assessing manual handling hazards
Part 18 Personal Protective Equipment	Section 228 Duty to use personal protective equipment 229 Eye protection (compliance with standards) 233 Footwear 242 Limb and body protection
Part 19 Powered Mobile Equipment	Section 256 Operator Responsibilities 290.1 Personal Vehicle for Work Purposes
Part 24 Toilets and Washing Facilities	Section 254 Restrictions by employer 355 Drinking fluids 356 Exception (temp. site) 357 Toilet facilities
Part 25 Tools, Equipment and Machinery	Section 362 Contact by clothing, etc. 374 Actuated fastening tools 376 Chainsaws
Part 27 Violence	Section 389 Hazard assessment 390 Policy and procedures 391 Instruction of workers 392 Response to incidents
Part 28 Working Alone	Section 393 Application 394 Precautions required (communication)
Part 29 Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS)	Section 397 Training 398 Label required 400 Decanted products 404 Material Safety Data Sheet - Supplier 406 Information current (MSDS) 407 Availability of Material Safety Data Sheet
Part 32 Excavating and Tunnelling	Section 441 Disturbing the ground 442 Classification of soil type 443 Soil stabilization 444 Marking and excavation 445 Water hazard 446 Worker access 447 Locating buried or concrete-embedded facilities 448 Exposing buried facilities 450 Methods of protection 451 Cutting back walls 452 Loose material 453 Spoil piles 454 Power pole support 455 Safe entry and exit 459 Access for powered mobile equipment Refer to Schedule 9

Should you not be able to find specific legislation you require please contact your supervisor to assist.