Health, Safety and Environmental Services

HSE Services is committed to:

• helping academic schools, departments and other community members achieve and maintain compliance with all applicable occupational health, safety and environmental legislation;
• assisting the SAIT community in preventing work-related injuries and illnesses;
• providing guidance, direction, and training to recognize and eliminate or control hazards;
• utilizing industry best practices, industry-standard investigative and inspection techniques, and sound occupational hygiene principles;
• investigating all occupational health, safety, environmental and occupational hygiene concerns brought to the department's attention;
• recommending corrective action;
• supporting and promoting safe, secure, and environmentally sound working and learning environments;
• and improving safety at SAIT.

Health, Safety and Environmental (HSE) Services is a branch of the Facilities Management department. SAIT staff and instructors are encouraged to refer to SAITNOW for detailed HSE information.

Health, Safety and Environmental Management System (HSEMS)

SAIT has a comprehensive Health Safety and Environmentalal Management System. The HSEMS:

• provides the SAIT community with the standards, information, and procedural guidelines needed to create safety procedures specific to work and learning environments at SAIT;
• outlines codes of practice that provide specific instruction on safe work practices as required by Alberta Occupational Health and Safety legislation;
• and meets or exceeds the requirements of federal and provincial health, safety and environment legislation.

Employer responsibilities

According to the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act:

• students are considered "workers"
• the province of Alberta is considered the "employer" of SAIT students
• SAIT has a duty of care to its students
• SAIT, as an employer, shall ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of its workers and of others, including students, who may be affected by the work
• SAIT, as an employer, shall ensure that its workers and others at SAIT, including students, are aware of their responsibilities under the Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Act, Regulation, and Code.

The Board of Governors of SAIT is responsible to protect the health and safety of all employees, students, contractors, and visitors that make up our community.

Senior executives and management are responsible to provide resources necessary to fulfill legislative responsibilities and HSEMS policies and practices.

All SAIT employees are responsible to comply with the requirements of the Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Act, Regulation and Code and with SAIT HSE policies and procedures as outlined in the HSEMS.

SAIT Health, Safety and Environmental (HSE) Committees are responsible to:

• assist management, workers, students and contractors in completing incident investigations, workplace inspections and hazard assessments;
• review any changes in programs and procedures that may have an impact on the health and safety of employees or on the environment.

Instructors are considered supervisors under the Alberta OHS legislation because of their supervisory role over students. Instructors are responsible for the following:

• enforce safety rules;
• encourage and reinforce safe behaviour;
• instruct students on safe processes/practices/procedures regarding their daily assignments;
• ensure that students perform all appropriate duties regarding safe processes, practices, procedures, policies, etc.;
• ensure that students are trained in the use, care and limitations of personal protective equipment (e.g., earplugs, safety glasses, respirators, etc.);
• ensure that students use PPE when required;
• and ensure the proper use and maintenance of equipment and tools.

Student responsibilities

Students are considered workers under Alberta OHS legislation. Alberta Occupational Health and Safety legislation requires workers (including students):

• to work safely;
• to co-operate with their employers, managers or instructors by following health and safety rules for the tasks at hand;
• to take reasonable care to protect the health and safety of themselves and other workers.

Every worker in Alberta has three rights:

1. The right to know their hazards.
2. The right to participate in health and safety activities.
3. The right to refuse unsafe work.

Under Section 35(1) of the Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Act, employees/students have the right and obligation to refuse unsafe work where an imminent danger exists to the health and safety of themselves or other workers present at the worksite. The employee/student must notify his/her supervisor/instructor as soon as practicable regarding the equipment, situation, condition or circumstance.

Student safety orientation and training

Student safety orientation and training are provided by your program.