Date issued: 30/05/2019
Purpose
This policy confirms, fosters and shapes an awareness for the employer and all employees to continually improve workplace health, safety and wellness culture, leading to the prevention of workplace illness and injury.
Policy Statement
The Government of Saskatchewan is committed to ensuring the physical, mental and social well-being of employees, which is critical for Our Commitment to Excellence. The Workplace Responsibility System consists of all employees who are actively engaged in approaches to improved physical and psychological health, safety and wellness through effective strategies, programming and performance.
Objectives
- Leadership that demonstrates support for health, safety and wellness management through leading by examples, and ensuring accountability and responsibility by means of evaluation and monitoring of health, safety and wellness measures.
- A shared vision of health, safety and wellness through this policy, programs, and the Saskatchewan Health and Safety Leadership Charter that is reviewed, signed and dated by the current permanent head of each ministry.
- Identification of corporate health, safety and wellness strategies and performance measures that are integrated into and valued above other business functions across the Government of Saskatchewan.
Principles
The Saskatchewan Public Service strives to be the Best Public Service in Canada through Our Commitment to Excellence. The core value of practicing excellence and innovation supports the consideration of safety in all we do. The Saskatchewan Health and Safety Leadership Charter is a public commitment where signatories support the continuous improvement of health and safety with a goal of zero injuries, zero fatalities and zero suffering in Saskatchewan workplaces.Application
This policy applies to all employees and workplaces of Executive Government including employees hired under contract.Responsibilities
Permanent heads are accountable for ensuring workplace health, safety and wellness legislated requirements are met within their respective ministry.
Every employee is responsible for health and safety in the workplace. The Saskatchewan Employment Act, 2014 (SEA), requires:
- Every employer shall ensure, insofar as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of workers, SEA 3‑8 (a).
- Every supervisor shall ensure, insofar as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety at work of all workers who work under the supervisor's direct supervision and direction, SEA 3‑9 (a).
Authority
- The Saskatchewan Employment Act, 2014 (SEA), Part III Occupational Health and Safety
- The Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 2020
- The Public Service Act, 1998
- The Health Information Protection Act
- The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act
- The Saskatchewan Human Rights Code
- Saskatchewan Health and Safety Leadership Charter
- National Standard for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace
- Foundational Pillars – WorkSafe Sask
Definitions
Occupational health and safety: the promotion and maintenance of the highest degree of physical, mental and social well‑being of workers, SEA 3-1(1)(o)(i).Workplace Responsibility System: A legal framework that places responsibilities on all employees in the workplace for maintaining a healthy and safe workplace, in accordance with their level of authority, SEA 3-8,9,10,11,12.
Compliance/Non-compliance
The employer, managers/supervisors and employees are all accountable for their safety-related actions as per legislated requirements. All employees will be held accountable for non-compliance with occupational health and safety legislation, and the employer's policies and directives.Complaint Resolution Process
If an employer does not resolve an issue or address a concern raised by an employee or Occupational Health Committee/representative with respect to the health, safety and welfare of the workers at a place of employment, the employer shall provide written reasons for not resolving the issue of addressing the concern to the committee or the representatives, SEA 3-29.
The complaint process for an employee who wishes to raise a safety concern, shall be as follows:
- In writing to the appropriate supervisor for resolution.
- If not resolved, in writing to the Occupational Health Committee co-chairs where a committee exists.
- If not resolved, in writing to the Occupational Health Division of the Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety.
Related Policies
- PS 704 Workers' Compensation
- PS 705 Employment Accommodation
- PS 712 Extreme Weather Attendance
- PS 803 Corrective Discipline
- PS 804 Performance Improvement
- PS 805 Substance Use and the Workplace
- PS 807 Anti-Harassment (Resolution of Harassment)
- PS 812 Smoke-Free Workplace
- PS 815 Violence Policy
- PS 818 Occupational Health and Safety Incident Reporting and Investigation
Resources and Tools
Workplace health, safety and wellness program information can be found on Staffroom:
- Healthy Workplaces
- Safety
- Employee and Family Assistance Program
- Saskatchewan Health and Safety Leadership Charter
Policy Inquiries
For inquiries, please contact the Human Resources Service Centre.