Who needs a prevention program?
Since Québec modernized its occupational health and safety regime, workplaces with 20 workers or more must have a prevention program. They also set up a joint health and safety committee and have a health and safety representative (RSS).
Smaller workplaces use an OHS action plan instead, with a health and safety liaison officer.
The essential elements
- An OHS policy and management commitments, adopted and signed
- Roles and responsibilities: management, managers, human resources, the committee, the representative, staff, contractors
- Identifying, assessing and prioritizing risks: physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic, psychosocial and safety risks
- Prevention measures chosen according to the hierarchy of controls and gathered in an annual action plan
- Planned workplace inspections
- Health and safety onboarding, training and information
- Managing accidents and incidents: reporting, log, investigation and follow-up
- Emergency measures and first aid
- Preventing harassment and violence
- Monitoring, indicators and program review
The committee and the representative
The joint committee helps identify risks, makes recommendations to the employer, plans inspections and reviews investigation reports. The representative inspects the workplace, takes part in investigations, makes recommendations and can accompany the CNESST inspector.
Time spent on these duties is paid, and both are protected against any form of reprisal.
Psychosocial risks are now a must
The program must treat psychological health like physical health: workload, recognition, support, role clarity, civility, violence and harassment. The approach works on three levels: act on the sources, equip people and support those who are affected.
Common mistakes
- A document copied from another organization, unrelated to its actual risks
- A risk inventory that is never updated
- Psychosocial risks left out or reduced to a harassment policy
- A committee that does not meet, or whose recommendations go nowhere
- No record of training, inspections or investigations
How often should it be reviewed?
At least every three years, and after any significant change, serious accident or CNESST recommendation. An annual report to management helps track indicators and the progress of the action plan.