• Safety Program Development & Implementation
  
• Certificate of Recognition (COR) / OH&S Compliance
• ISNetworld® RAVS Contractor Pre-qualification
• Human Resource Program

Safety Program Development & Implementation

All employers have a moral and legal obligation to provide their employees with a safe and healthy workplace. A well-managed safety program can considerably reduce both the human and financial costs associated with workplace accidents. The goal of the safety program is to achieve and maintain a high level of worker health and safety. Placing the focus on accident prevention benefits everyone -- reducing injuries means fewer job interruptions and a more productive and profitable company, thereby allowing the company to provide a higher level of benefits to employees.

Saskatchewan OH&S legislation requires that some employers (as outlined in Tables 7 and 8 of the OH&S Regulations) develop and maintain a formal, written safety program. In addition, a growing number of construction owners are requiring safety certification such as the COR (Certificate of Recognition for Safety) and/or ISNetworld® compliance as a pre-bid qualification.

Beginning with the safety program template and Phoenix’ extensive library of practices, procedures and forms, a customized program can be developed which:

• complies with section 3-11(1) of the OH&S Regulations, and meets the OH&S Audit criteria; and
• meets the documentation requirements of the various provincial safety associations’ safety certification programs.

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Certificate of Recognition (COR) / OH&S Compliance

The Certificate of Recognition (COR) has become a recognized industry safety standard, and is now a pre-qualification requirement to bid work at many major work sites across Canada. It also gives a company a competitive edge in smaller project bidding. The model for this safety program was developed by various provincial safety organizations which are funded through the Workers' Compensation Board.

The Certification Process: Once the company has developed and implemented their safety program the program must be formally "audited" each year to monitor its effectiveness. The audit is a structured process which consists of three main elements: a documentation review, an observational tour of active job sites and/or work areas, and interviews with workers (who are selected by the auditor at random). Audits are conducted:

• to ensure that the tools and guidelines provided by the safety program are effective, and are being used correctly and consistently,
• to ensure employee practices and procedures are in keeping with those outlined in the safety program and in provincial safety legislation, and
• to identify areas where the company needs to provide further training or modify the program to increase its effectiveness.

The Self Audit: Once each year, an internal or "self" audit must be completed by the company. Once the audit process is completed, any required program modifications are made and the formal audit document is submitted to the Safety Association to be kept in their files.

The External Audit: The external audit is conducted by an independent auditor trained and certified by the Safety Association. This is the final step in achieving certification. Once the initial certification is achieved, independent external audits are performed once every three years to maintain COR status.

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ISNetworld® RAVS Contractor Pre-qualification

ISNetworld® is an online contractor pre-qualification program which requires companies to submit various documents acknowledging specific legislated requirements and industry standard practices.  It is important in terms of legal liability that statements made in ISNetworld® compliance documents are only those commitments necessary to achieve RAVS® verification.  Unnecessary statements of policy or other commitments can subject a company to increased legal liability - "less is more" is definitely the best approach.

Phoenix maintains a library of RAVS® safety programs for various jurisdictions, and has assisted contractors in achieving ISNetworld® compliance since 2009.

Phoenix Consulting is in no way endorsed, sponsored, approved by or otherwise affiliated with ISNetworld®.

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Human Resource Program Development & Implementation

An employee handbook helps to communicate established policies, guidelines and benefits, and gives employees a basic understanding of what is expected of them and how they fit into the organization. The handbook:

• simplifies the orientation process by providing comprehensive general information about your company, explaining the ground rules and providing employees with a source of reference for commonly-asked questions;
• emphasizes the value of company sponsored benefits and programs which are above and beyond those the employer is legally required to provide;
• demonstrates to employees that the company recognizes the important role they play in the overall success of the business.

The management guidelines contain practical guidance in the consistent application of the policies and procedures spelled out in your employee handbook, and assists management in reducing the likelihood of legal action being brought against the company by an employee who feels he or she was not treated fairly.

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