Occupational Health and Safety

ACRC and CMC are committed to and responsible for an effective health and safety program that protects its staff, students, property, equipment, and the public from injury and illness. 

Active participation by everyone is required to reach our goal of an accident-free environment.  CMC will make every effort to provide and maintain a safe and healthy workplace by implementing an occupational health and safety program, adhering to acceptable industry standards, and complying with occupational health and safety legislation.  In keeping with occupational health and safety legislation, a healthy and safe workplace will be accomplished in consultation and cooperation with management and workers, the occupational health and safety committee.

Violations of health and safety regulations, rules, and work procedures are taken very seriously, and everyone is reasonably expected to protect the health and safety of themselves and others. Everyone must protect their health and safety and the health and safety of others by working in compliance with legislation and established work practices and procedures.  Everyone is accountable to report unsafe behavior, conditions, and practices to their immediate instructor/supervisor or a member of the onsite health and safety committee. 

Personal Protective Equipment

All persons entering the shop and yard area are required to wear safety equipment as laid out in the Occupational Health and Safety regulations which include the following but are not limited to, hard hat (CSA Code Z94.1), safety glasses (CSA Code Z94.3), steel-nose boots (CSA Approved), and hearing protection when necessary.  Anyone found in either of these areas without wearing the required equipment will be asked to leave and will not be permitted to re-enter until the proper equipment is worn.  Students are not permitted to wear white hats.

Occupational Health & Safety Committee

The occupational health and safety committee is an advisory team of management and worker representatives whose primary role is to assist CMC in creating and maintaining health and safety in the workplace. The committee is responsible for monitoring the health, safety, and welfare of the workers, students, as well as other members entering the workplace.

The goal of the OH&S committee is to promote and monitor the internal responsibility system by encouraging employers and workers to resolve health and safety concerns reasonably and on their own, with minimum third-party intervention. A key role of the committee is to identify health and safety concerns and initiate workable solutions to improve the quality of life for workers and students of CMC that is conducive to learning.  

As per the Occupational Health and Safety Act, the OH&S Committee shall comprise a minimum of two worker representatives and one employer representative where there are 10 – 50 workers in the workplace. However, the college recommends that at least one instructor from each program participate on the committee to ensure each shop is adequately represented.  It is also recommended that ACRC have one worker representative serve as a committee member. CMC encourages one student representative from each program to participate in functions of the committee to help ensure the highest quality of health and safety is maintained at CMC while fostering learning for students regarding the OHS act and creating a safety culture in their workplace.

Three Strike Policy

This policy is necessary to ensure the safety of all staff and students of CMC and is enforced by the CMC’s OHS committee.  Each member of the committee and all instructors and supervisors have the power and responsibility to enforce this policy.  It is the responsibility of all students and staff of CMC to report any unsafe work practices to an immediate supervisor or member of the OH&S committee.

If at any time, a student or worker is seen demonstrating unsafe work practices, the following policy will be enforced:

Strike 1: For the first offence, an oral warning is issued. The warning will be recorded by the committee member, instructor, or supervisor and given in memo form. The memo will be kept on your file.

Strike 2: For the second offence, you must report to the Director where a formal letter will be given to you and placed on your academic file at the administrative office.

Strike 3: For a third offence, you must report to the Director and a one-week suspension will be enforced.  Any subsequent offences will result in immediate termination.