Supervisor Responsibilities

Deans

As middle management representatives of the employer, Deans and Directors are responsible to the Vice President, Instruction or the Vice President, Administration and Finance for the primary management and supervision of all operations within his/her Division.

Specific health and safety responsibilities for Deans and Directors would include, but not be limited to, ensuring that they:

1. Are familiar with and understand the various health and safety requirements which affect their Division/Department.
2. Establish written instructions and safe work procedures within their Division, in collaboration with the Occupational Health and Safety Department, to supplement the health and safety policies and legislated requirements, and to minimize exposure to any physical or chemical hazards within the workplace.
3. Promptly address any unsafe conditions or unsafe acts which come to his/her attention and report them to the appropriate Department.
4. Demonstrate effective leadership and initiative in all areas of safety and health.
5. Undertake the necessary follow-up action to assure that the effectiveness of the health and safety program is maintained.
6. Accept full responsibility for implementation of the Health and Safety Program within their Division.
7. Provide management participation in the Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee within their Division.
8. Establish appropriate procedures to confirm that supervisors, employees and students know and understand health and safety requirements.
9. Actively participate in safety and health activities at all the levels.
10. Are accountable with respect to safety and health issues within their Division.
11. Make available to all employees any personal protective equipment (PPE) that is required and that employees use that PPE when necessary.
12. Verify that essential training in the use, care and maintenance of any personal protective equipment has been provided to anyone that is required to use that equipment.
13. Adequately budget for the provision of health and safety related items and equipment within their operations with the assistance of the Occupational Health and Safety Department.
14. Establish and maintain effective communications with senior management, supervisors and employees.
15. Include discussions on safety and health topics in Divisional meetings.
16. Keep up-to-date with any new requirements or accident prevention / loss control techniques provided by the Occupational Health and Safety Department and pass this information on to others within their Division
17. Promptly report any accidents or near miss incidents and assist in the investigation of those events as required.
18. Do not permit persons with physical or mental impairment to work where that impairment may endanger themselves or others.
19. Do not allow any person whose ability to work is affected by alcohol, drugs or other substances to enter or remain on the premises.
20. Provide direction to Chairpersons or Managers to effectively control those situations where persons may be required to work alone.
21. Take decisive action in any situation where persons might engage in improper conduct or behaviour which could endanger themselves or others while working.
22. Instruct their staff in the need to follow emergency procedures.
23. Cooperate with the Occupational Health and Safety Department in their efforts to administer the Occupational Health and Safety Program.
24. Promptly report any incidents of potential violence to the Occupational Health and Safety Department.
25. Provide the necessary process to confirm that all machinery, tools and equipment used by their staff and students are adequately maintained so that no hazard exists to anyone during its use.
26. Make provision for all employees and/or students to receive an adequate introduction to safe working practices and policies and that they are adequately trained in the safe performance of their duties.
27. Contribute records and statistical information relating to health and safety matters, as necessary, to the Occupational Health and Safety Department for the purpose of evaluating the effectiveness of the Occupational Health and Safety Program.
28. Provide for the regular inspection of facilities equipment, work methods and work practices.
29. Follow-up with the Occupational Health and Safety Department to confirm that supervisors and staff are provided with sufficient training in safe work procedures and responsibilities to effectively train employees and students.
30. Detect, interview and if necessary, refer troubled employees to Employee Assistance Program or other form of assistance.
31. Provide the necessary enforcement to ensure that health and safety policies, procedures and regulations are followed.
32. Set the highest example possible of a safety conscious manager.

Assistant/Associate Deans and Assistant Directors

Responsible to their respective Dean, Director or Executive member for the overall planning and administration of related activities within their specific Department. In all cases, whether acting in their assigned capacity or where they are acting on behalf of the Dean, Director, or Executive member they shall be responsible for those items identified above.

Chairpersons

Chairpersons provide an administrative and supervisory role for instructors, laboratory demonstrators, other workers and students in their area of responsibility. As supervisors, the Chairpersons are responsible to the Dean, Associate Dean or Assistant Dean for the primary management and supervision of all program areas within his/her Department.

Chairpersons are full-time faculty members who have been elected by a majority of the faculty members of the department. The usual term of appointment to this position is two years, with an option for an additional two years. Their appointment is confirmed by the Vice-President, Instruction. Any chairperson may be removed at any time by a majority vote of the faculty members in a Department at a meeting called specifically for this purpose, or by the University for just and reasonable cause.

Chairpersons are specifically responsible for ensuring that they:

1. Have a minimum general knowledge and understanding of the various Occupational Health and Safety requirements which may affect their Division/Department.
2. Demonstrate effective leadership and initiative in safety and health for all areas within their area of responsibility.
3. Make provision for all employees and/or students to receive an adequate introduction to safe working practices and policies and that they are adequately trained in the safe performance of their duties.
4. Make arrangements for each new employee to receive proper orientation, training and instruction in safe work procedures for his/her job, in consultation with the Occupational Health and Safety Department, so that those new workers are well aware of any hazards that may be encountered in the workplace.
5. Assist in the development of written instructions and safe work procedures within their Division/Department in consultation with the Occupational Health and Safety Department, to supplement the health and safety policies and legislated requirements and to minimize exposure of staff or students to any physical or chemical hazards.
6. Promptly address any unsafe conditions or unsafe acts which come to his/her attention and report them to the appropriate management person.
7. Undertake the necessary follow-up action to ensure that no person is endangered and that the effectiveness of the Health and Safety program is maintained.
8. Accept full responsibility for implementation of the Health and Safety Program within their Department.
9. Verify that essential training in the use, care and maintenance of any personal protective equipment has been provided.
10. Supply employees with proper personal protective equipment (PPE) when they are working in situations requiring such protection.
11. Monitor employees and/or students behaviour and work activities.
12. Provide adequate instruction and training in the operation of any tools, machinery and equipment, in collaboration with the Occupational Health and Safety Department.
13. Follow-up with instructors to confirm that machinery and equipment are only being operated by authorized persons who have received adequate training in the safe use of the equipment.
14. Conduct regular discussions with workers and students on matters pertaining to Health and Safety.
15. Review with instructors on a regular basis, occupational health and safety issues and compliance with the requirements of the WCB and other regulatory agencies.
16. Encourage instructors to promote safe work practices in the shops/labs/classrooms.
17. Make the written safe work procedures readily available and/or adequately posted within the shop/lab/classroom areas.
18. Instill safety awareness in workers and students under their direction and control.
19. Communicate with staff and senior management on Health and Safety needs or concerns.
20. Review with the tool crib staff, on a regular basis, that tools and equipment are being adequately maintained, that necessary warranty work is being performed, and that any health and safety issues are addressed promptly.
21. Provide input to the Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee within their Division.
22. Do not permit persons with physical or mental impairment to work where that impairment may endanger themselves or others.
23. Do not allow any person whose ability to work is affected by alcohol, drugs or other substances to enter or remain on the premises.
24. Establish and maintain effective communication with all workers and students in his/her area of responsibility.
25. Provide regular instruction and direction to workers under their control to ensure that all work is performed without undue risk.
26. Report all accidents, incidents and "near misses" to the Occupational Health and Safety Department and that all employees/students are aware of the proper reporting procedures.
27. Detect, interview and if necessary, refer troubled employees to Employee Assistance Program or other form of assistance.
28. Keep up with new techniques and developments in Occupational Health and Safety and pass the information on to their workers.
29. Identify budgetary requirements for safety and health items to their supervisors.
30. Conduct checks of staff work practices to ensure that they are conforming to TRU's policies and procedures.
31. Cooperate with the Occupational Health and Safety Department in their efforts to administer the Occupational Health and Safety Program.
32. Provide the necessary enforcement to ensure that health and safety policies, procedures and regulations are followed.
33. Be accountable with respect to health and safety matters and set a good example.