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Health and Safety

Objective

In matters of occupational health and safety, GENIVAR sets an objective of zero (0) workplace accidents. Also, we aim to eliminate, at the source, all risks and/or dangers. The methods used by GENIVAR include, among others:

• Ensuring that employees are well informed and respect the legislation related to occupational health and safety;
• Giving information regarding occupational health and safety to supervisors and employees of all companies and subsidiaries;
• Stating responsibilities and obligations of supervisors and employees regarding occupational health and safety;
• Providing the framework to reduce occupational health and safety risks; 
• Encouraging prevention of industrial accidents and occupational diseases.

Responsibilities of the Employer

The duties of the employer are:

• Ensuring protection of his employees regarding occupational health and safety;
• Ensuring, for all workplaces under his responsibility, the requirements of applicable federal, provincial and municipal laws are met, notably the national requirements of the Occupational Health and Safety Act;
• Reminding his employees of the known and predictable risks that their workplaces present for their health and safety;
• Providing first-aid equipment and establishing a procedure which allows employees who have been injured while at work to receive first-aid treatment without delay;
• Support, with documentation, all industrial accidents, occupational diseases and all other situations presenting risks that he is aware of;
• Ensuring that there is one occupational health and safety representative at the workplace at all times, as well as the required number of qualified first-aiders.

Responsibilities of the Employee

• Respecting instructions related to occupational health and safety provided by GENIVAR and the legislation;
• Taking the necessary measures in order to ensure his own health and safety and also that of his colleague and of anyone who is linked to the activities of the employee;
• Advising his superior of all situations that, in a workplace, are likely to be a risk for his health and safety or that of his colleague or other persons to whom GENIVAR permits access;
• Taking part in the elimination of health risks and in the prevention of industrial accidents and occupational diseases;
• Reporting all accidents or incidents that have caused harm to himself, his colleagues or others on GENIVAR's grounds. 

Rights of the Employee

As well as the particular rights given to the employees by the Occupational Health and Safety Act in each province, these national laws permit employees the following basic rights:

• Right to be informed of the possible dangers to which he could be exposed. This gives him the right to have training courses and information on tools, equipment, working conditions, methods used, and dangerous substances;
• Right to participate in the identification and elimination of accident and occupational diseases risks at the workplace and in health and safety activities. He also has the right to indicate dangerous practices and conditions;
• Right to refuse to work if he judges that it endangers his health and safety or that of his colleagues if he has reasonable motive to think that his workplace is dangerous for him or for another employee;
• However, the employee cannot exercise his right to refuse work if the danger is a regular condition of his job.

Responsibilities of the Contractors

General contractors, subcontractors and general suppliers who work for GENIVAR accept, in accordance with the conditions stipulated in their contract, to respect the laws and by-laws governing health and safety of environment and workplaces as GENIVAR administrative policies and directives to this effect.

Occupational Health and Safety Committee

The Occupational Health and Safety Committee is appointed by the Board of Directors to supervise the general policy regarding occupational health and safety. The application of laws and by-laws concerning this matter and the different directives following it comes under, if the need arises, of each unit or subsidiary, and it applies to all employees without exception.

The functions of the Committee are notably:

• Ensuring that the legislation regarding occupational health and safety for GENIVAR is well known, applied and respected;
• Ensuring that employees can work in a completely secure environment;
• Encouraging the employees’ participation in order to settle problems related to occupational health and safety;
• Serving as a centre of documentation for all questions regarding occupational health and safety;
• Taking part in the elaboration of orientations, policies and programs regarding occupational health and safety;
• If the need arises, elaborating and promoting programs or procedures concerning employees’ training and information;
• Studying and resolving questions regarding health and safety from his employees or, if the need arises, by a prevention representative;
• Participating in, as he judges necessary, to investigations, studies and inspections regarding occupational health and safety.