SAFETY GROUPS PROGRAM: HEALTH & SAFETY

2010 Safety Group Program Overview

Welcome to the ACSESS sponsored Safety Group Program, comprised of over 60 industry member firms. Click here for a list of our 2010 participants.

How does the Program work?

By joining the ACSESS Safety Group, participating firms gain the tools and resources for developing and effectively managing their Health & safety program.

Using WSIBs 5 step Management Plan for Safety Groups, participating firms in their first year are required to develop and manage five health & safety policies throughout a program year. Returning firms are required to select new elements that they have not yet fully implemented and maintain elements selected in prior years.

By participating in the program, firms  are required to follow guidelines and procedures on completing elements using the Employers Guidelines Document, and meet requirements established by WSIB.  The group meets quarterly with the ACSESS sponsor at general meetings and network with other firms in ensuring compliance and industry standards.

Safety Group Program Meetings

The Safety Group general meetings are held quarterly throughout 2010 at CHSI in Mississauga and include presentations on Health & Safety elements by IAPA, OSSA and other consultants in the industry. Along with presentations, the is an opportunity for firms to meet with each other and to work on their policies selected for 2010 – see a list of firms elements.  We strongly encourage participants to contact other firms in the group working on similar policies or the Advantage Firms for guidance as well as ACSESS Sponsor.

Internal Reviews take place in April/May and October – please contact ACSESS if you would like to arrange an internal review of your program.

For 2010 Meeting Dates, click here.

• Thursday, February 4th, 2010 – Orientation/Advantage Year 1 meeting
• Wednesday, February 17, 2010 - 10AM to 1PM
• Wednesday, April 14, 2010 – 9AM – 12:30pm – Violence in Workplace Seminar – register here.
• Wednesday, September 15, 2010 - 10AM to 1PM
• Wednesday, November 24, 2010  - 10AM to 1PM

Advantage Program – for graduating firms
Safety Group Firms having completed five years or more in the program can continue by participating as an Advantage Firm.  WSIB has developed this program to Advance firms towards the proposed WSIB Accreditation Program and to encourage continual improvement of previous Safety Group Program elements and the system to manage health and safety. The program provides firms the opportunity to continue networking and sharing health & safety information.

Forms and Documents for the Advantage program

SGAP Year One Criteria
SGAP Year Two Criteria
SGAP Element Resource Material
SGAP Q&A
SGAP HSMS Review Form
SGAP Management Review Sample
SGAP Action Plan
SGAP Progress Report
SGAP Year End Achievement Report
Appendix 1 Hazard Registry

2010 Group Element
Each year, the ACSESS Safety Group selects one shared element among firms. Since the Safety Group Inception the following group elements have been selected: 
2001: Health and Safety Policy
2002: Networking
2003: First Aid
2004: Young Workers Awareness
2005: Ergonomics
2006: Orientation
2007: Return to Work Element
2008: Workplace Inspections
2009: Client Site Hazard Recognition
With recent changes to Ontario’s Violence & Harassment policies, ACSESS safety group firms are taking an active lead in ensuring their programs and workplaces meet policy requirements and identify any risks in their organization.  Information will be posted as it becomes available on this policy.  See below:

• Violence Requirements for Safety Group
• IAPA announcement
• Ogilvy Renault Publication on Violence

For more information on preparing your group element please contact Marinella Nesso, Safety Group Coordinator at 905-826-6869 or mnesso@acsess.org.

FORMS: Element Requirements & Validation tool
A set of documents that can be used for the peer audits or self audits. Each document contains the minimum required standard along with how to validate and assess any gaps in your organization’s standard. To access the documents, click here.

TEMPLATE: Sample Element Standards/Policies
A set of documents to help you get started on developing your element standards (Step 1 to managing health and safety), ACSESS has obtained Templates from WSIB WorkWell. To access the documents, click here.

Safety Group Report Card

Forms & Quarterly Newsletter - click here.

Useful Safety Group Links and Resources

WSIB
Welcome to Prevent-it.ca. There really are no accidents. Dangerous hazards exist in every workplace. Being aware of them could help you prevent a fatal injury.
www.prevent-it.ca
 
IAPA
IAPA, Industrial Accident Prevention Association, is a not-for-profit organization helping Ontario businesses achieve safe and healthy workplaces.
www.iapa.on.ca
 
Ontario Service Safety Alliance
Striving to be the leading provider of Health and Safety consulting services, education, assistance and training within the Ontario service industry.
www.ossa.ca
 
Safety Groups Program
Together, Safety Group members pool resources, share best practices and help each other develop and manage effective health and safety programs.
www.wsib.on.ca/wsib/wsibsite.nsf/public/SafetyGroupsProgram
 
SurveyMonkey.com
Tool to create and publish custom surveys and then view the results graphically and in real time.
www.surveymonkey.com

Viewing and printing PDF documents requires Adobe Acrobat Reader. If Acrobat Reader is not installed on your computer system, you can download it at no cost by clicking here: