The Avon Maitland District School Board must inform employees of any known health and safety hazards in the workplace. This includes the right to training and to information on machinery, equipment, working conditions and hazardous substances. As part of the workers right to know, specific information must be available to workers. Information that must be available includes, but is not limited to: a. A copy of the OHSA must be posted in the workplace
b. A copy of the AMDSB OH&S policy must be posted in the workplace. THE RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE
Employees have the right to be involved in the identification, assessment and resolution of health and safety issues in their workplace. This right is expressed through worker membership on the
a. Joint Health & Safety Committee,
b. Site Inspections Team RIGHT TO REFUSE UNSAFE WORK
You have the right to refuse work if you have reason to believe that:
a . The equipment, machine, device or thing that you are to use or operate is likely to endanger yourself or another worker.
b. The physical condition of the workplace or part of the workplace is likely to endanger yourself or another worker; or
c. There is a contravention of the Occupational Health & Safety Act or the regulations and such contravention is likely to endanger yourself or another worker.
THE RIGHT TO BE FREE FROM REPRISAL
The OHSA prohibits the AMDSB from firing, or imposing any discipline on workers who exercise any of their rights under the Act. ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES
The AMDSB has established Administrative Procedures that govern how the Board operates. These procedures are available to you to look at in any school office and are also available on First Class in the Education Centre>Information and Resources conference folders. Many of the functions that OCTEA members perform are defined by various Administrative Procedures - please make sure that you are familiar with the Procedures that affect you. Some examples are:
i. Administration of Oral Medication - AP 314
ii. Medically at Risk Students - AP 315 iii. Infection Control -AP 413 iv. Restraint Techniques -AP 363 If you are responsible for giving oral medication to students you must read and follow this procedure. Topics covered in the procedure include authorization and permission forms, record keeping and storage. Take the time at the beginning of the school year to review Admin Procedures with your site supervisor to ensure that you are both clear on your responsibilities. MEDICALLY AT RISK STUDENTS AP 315
If you work with a student who is medically at risk, you should be clear on the contents of this procedure. It clearly outlines the responsibilities of the school, the parents/guardian, the student and the staff. Individual Management Plans are defined and the steps for prevention and avoidance of risk are laid out. This procedure is an invaluable resource. If you work with a student at risk, you need to review this procedure annually. INFECTION CONTROL-AP 413
Infection control is an important issue for all workers. This procedure outlines Universal Precautions for infection control and gives you the steps you need to follow to be safe. Please be aware that the personal protective equipment that you need to do your job is available to you through your principal. Protective equipment will include, but not be limited to:
a. Safety goggles
b. Vinyl gloves
c. Vinyl aprons Remember, though, that it is your responsibility to use the protective equipment. RESTRAINT TECHNIQUES-AP 363
Did you know that there is an Admin Procedure governing the use of physical restraints with students?
This procedure, along with CPI training protects both the worker and the student in the event that skills and strategies to redirect behaviour are not enough. Included in this procedure is a form that must be filled out every time a physical restraint is preformed. FORMS! FORMS! FORMS!
Speaking of forms, they are absolutely essential tools in ensuring the safety of our members. Yes, filling out forms can be time consuming. But think of forms as a permanent record of an event, or an injury, or a procedure. This documentation can protect you from liablility, provide the information required for a Workers' Safety Insurance claim, provide statistical information about a safety concern. Every workplace injury must be reported -your principal has the forms that need to be filled out - they can be found on First Class in the Administrative Procedures conference. JOINT HEALTH AND SAFETY COMMITTEE The AMDSB Joint Health and Safety Committee is made up of equal representation from worker groups and administration. OCTEA has two members on the Committee-one representing Office/Clerical, Technical and one representing Educational Assistants. These members are specially trained and certified to carry out their duties -including worksite inspections and accident/incident investigations. REPORTING UNSAFE OR UNHEALTHY CONDITIONS It is every worker's responsibility to report unsafe or unhealthy conditions to their supervisor. The supervisor must investigate the concern. If you have any questions about this, or if you are unsure of how to report a concern, contact the OSSTF office or your rperesentative on the joint Health and Safety Committee. WORKER RESPONSIBILITIES Be familiar with the AMDSB environmental health and safety rules, policies, procedures and information.
Comply with the Occupational Health and Safety Act, Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, Environmental Protection Act and all regualtions, orders, standards, codes etc. relating to environmental health and safety in the Board.
Use or wear any protective equipment, device or clothing required by the Board or by law.
Do not remove or operate any equipment, machine or device in a manner that may endanger themselves, other employees or students. Respect the rights of their co-workers and students to a safe environment and never to engage in any acts or behaviours that could harm themselves, other employees or students.
Report to the principal/supervisor any situation that may endanger themselves, other employees or students.
Report any known violation of the OHSA or regulations to the principal/supervisor.
Participate in environmental health and safety training programs as required by the Board or by law.
Report all accidents/incidents no matter how minor or insignificant, as soon as possible to their principal/supervisor. | 
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