Orientation Training

Policy Statement

This policy along with its associated program standard and appendices, are intended to provide for legislative compliance and protection of the health and safety of City employees and others who may work at City workplaces by ensuring:

Health and safety orientation is conducted for workers as soon as possible and before the assignment of work that places their health or safety at risk.
Job-specific health and safety training is provided prior to workers commencing specific jobs they have not previously performed that places their health or safety at risk.
Workers are provided orientation training and/or job-specific training, as appropriate, in the event of changes to work operations that introduce new hazards.
Worker attendance at health and safety orientation and job-specific health and safety training is documented as set out in the program standard and is readily accessible to those who require the information.
Job-specific health and safety training programs include written and/or practical evaluations which workers must successfully complete.
Regular evaluation of worker and supervisory familiarity with the requirements of job-specific health and safety training programs. (It is important that workers are able to perform to the expected program standards).
Regular evaluation and updating of health and safety orientation training and job-specific health and safety training programs.

Application

This policy applies to all new workers and to any workers (including acting positions) who are assigned new or unfamiliar work and/or equipment. Certain provisions of the policy (as indicated) also apply to volunteers and contractors.

Depending on individual division needs, this policy may require the development of divisional guidelines to meet operational requirements.

Definitions

Worker: Means a person who:

performs work or supplies services for monetary compensation,
unpaid secondary school students who are participating in a work experience program, authorized by the school board that operates the school in which the students are enrolled,
other unpaid learners participating in a program approved by a post-secondary institution, and
any unpaid trainees who are not employees for the purposes of the Employment Standards Act 2000, because they meet certain conditions

Health and Safety Orientation:

Acquainting workers and others to the City’s health and safety program and the hazards to which they may be exposed. Familiarizing those individuals with the City’s expectations regarding occupational health and safety and the roles and responsibilities of the workplace parties within the health and safety program

Job-Specific Health and Safety Training:

A formalized training program geared to a specific job/task (e.g. confined space entry) that provides participants with the necessary knowledge and skills to perform the job/task safely.This includes any applicable workplace specific training (e.g. security procedures, fire and evacuation procedures). Refer to the accompanying Program Standards.

Responsibilities

Divisions are required to:

Provide sufficient resources to ensure timely and efficient implementation of this policy and its’ accompanying program standard.
Ensure that health and safety orientation and job-specific health and safety training programs as outlined in this policy and program standard are established within their area(s) of responsibility. This includes 3 parts; Part A is the required Ministry of Labour H&S Awareness training content, Part B is the City general health and safety orientation training content, and Part C is the job-specific health and safety training programs. More details on available training methods can be found in the Program Standards.
Distribute this policy, its associated program standard and appendices to all levels of management and ensure its implementation.
Distribute it to both co-chairpersons of all joint health and safety committees within their division.
Provide joint health and safety committees within their area(s) of responsibility the opportunity to provide timely input into the development and updating of training programs; and the opportunity to assist’ as appropriate, in the delivery of such training programs.

Those with supervisory responsibilities will:

Ensure that all new workers under their supervision and any worker reassigned to their supervision, complete health and safety orientation (see attached Program Standard for content) and any required job-specific health and safety training, prior to commencing work that places their health or safety at risk. (Workers reassigned to a supervisor may not need to attend orientation training). For transferring workers, provide orientation regarding policies/procedures/practices that differ from those of the original work area. In the event that work operations change and new hazards are introduced, provide workers with orientation training and/or job-specific training, as appropriate. When the worker has been absent from their position for an extended period of time, the worker’s skills should be reassessed. Retraining or updated training should be mandatory when, (1) the worker is not able to demonstrate the safe operation of the equipment, tool, etc., or (2) new equipment, tools, etc. have been introduced since the absence of the employee.
Communicate aspects of the attached Program Standard applicable to their work operations to those new workers and workers with new tasks or equipment who report to them (e.g. tailgate sessions, staff meetings, training sessions, posting in the workplace).
Attend and be familiar with all health and safety training programs required by workers under their supervision.
Monitor workers’ performance to ensure the skills and knowledge are put into practice and for modifying training as needed.
When health and safety orientation and/or job-specific health and safety training is delivered by the supervisor, the supervisor will update and maintain training records in accordance with the Program Standard.

Those who arrange for the services of contractors will:

Through contract language, ensure that workers of contractors and sub-contractors are adequately trained to perform the required work.
Ensure they are advised of hazards related to City workplaces and/or City work that may affect them.
Take reasonable steps to ensure that these parties are competent to perform work to which they are assigned.

Those who arrange for the services of volunteers will:

Ensure that health and safety orientation as set out in the Program Standard is completed.
Ensure they are advised and protected from hazards related to City workplaces and/or City work that may affect them.
Take reasonable steps to ensure that volunteers are competent to perform work to which they are assigned.

Workers and volunteers are required to:

Participate in City-required health and safety orientation and/or job-specific health and safety training courses.
Undertake proficiency and certification tests, as required.
Utilize the information and skills acquired through orientation and job-specific training to protect their health and safety.
Advise their supervisor of additional training needs.

Occupational Health, Safety and Workers’ Compensation (OHSWC) will:

Develop and deliver on a regular basis, generic health and safety training programs to assist divisions in meeting their responsibilities under this policy. (Refer to “Courses for the Toronto Public Service” for details).
When developing new training programs and revising existing programs, build in participant evaluations, either written and/or practical.
Lead in the development of health and safety orientation information and post this information on the City’s intranet site.

Human Resources Health & Safety Consultants will:

Provide consultation in the design and/or delivery of health and safety orientation and job-specific health and safety training programs, in accordance with the accompanying training standard, in conjunction with their client division and the respective joint health and safety committee(s).
When health and safety orientation and/or job-specific health and safety training is delivered by the human resources safety consultant, human resources will update and maintain training records.
Human Resources will make the training records available to client divisions, joint health and safety committees and the Ministry of Labour, upon request.

Joint Health and Safety Committees will:

When consulted, provide input for the development and updating of both health and safety orientation and job-specific health and safety training programs.
Maintain current joint health and safety committee membership lists and post them prominently in their workplaces. The workplace parties must ensure on-line lists of JHSC/H&S representatives are updated promptly
Both management and labour members of joint health and safety committees should be encouraged and permitted to take part in the health and safety orientation.
Review and make recommendations on the health and safety orientation and job-specific health and safety training programs within the area of their responsibility.

The Occupational Health & Safety Co-ordinating Committee (OHSCC) will:

Review and comment on the policy and training program on an ongoing basis.

Authority

Occupational Health and Safety Act

Guidelines

Health and Safety Orientation – Program Standards

Approved by

Executive Management Team, October 12, 2004
Occupational Health and Safety Coordinating Committee, June 9, 2004

Date Approved

October 12, 2004

OHSCC Reviewed

February 7, 2018

Reviewed and Amended by OHSCC

February 25, 2009
June 23, 2015
April 26, 2016
February 7, 2018