E11 – Reporting of Accidents and Serious Incidents

Originator: Vice President – Human Resource Services & Sustainability
Approver: President’s Council
Effective: October 21, 2014
Replaces: November 10, 2009

1. Preamble

Reporting Accidents, Dangerous Occurrences, and Serious Incidents ensures appropriate care for one who has been injured, reduces the risk of further injury and damage to property, and meets required internal and external reporting procedures.

The College Statement of Values emphasizes the importance of a healthy environment. “We believe in promoting…wellness and flexibility through a safe and sustainable learning (and working) environment.”

The College will not allow or condone “any practice, activity, decision or organizational circumstance that is either imprudent, illegal, in violation of commonly accepted business and professional ethics, not in keeping with the College’s statement of values, or in contravention of applicable laws” ¹.

All work performed by College Employees or students arising out of the course of their employment or instruction is governed by the Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health Act ² and Regulations.

2. Policy

All Accidents, Dangerous Occurrences, and Serious Incidents will be reported as regulated by this policy.

3. Definitions

3.1

Accident – An unplanned event that causes injury, illness, or disease.

3.2

Dangerous Occurrence – An event that could have injured someone, but did not.

3.3

First Aider – a worker who has the qualifications as defined by the Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health Act and Regulations.

3.4

Health Centre – Red River College Polytechnic Health Services located at:

1. HM08 – 2055 Notre Dame Campus, phone number 204-632-2238; or
2. P105 – Roblin Centre Campus, phone number 204-949-8478 or
3. 306 – Paterson GlobalFoods Institute, phone number 204-631-3386

3.5

Medical Facility – A hospital, a medical clinic, a physician’s office or a nursing station operated and administrated by the Government of Manitoba or Canada or both, or operated by a person or entity under an agreement with one or both governments.

3.6

Serious Incident – An incident:

1. in which a worker is killed;
2. in which a worker suffers
   1. an injury resulting from electrical contact,
   2. unconsciousness as the result of a concussion,
   3. a fracture on the skull, spine, pelvis, arm, leg, hand, or foot,
   4. amputation of an arm, leg, hand, foot, finger, or toe,
   5. third degree burns,
   6. permanent or temporary loss of sight,
   7. a cut or laceration that requires medical treatment at a medical facility, or
   8. asphyxiation or poisoning; or
3. that involves
   1. the collapse or structural failure of a building, structure, crane, hoist, lift, temporary support system or excavation,
   2. an explosion, fire or flood,
   3. an uncontrolled spill or escape of a hazardous substance, or
   4. the failure of an atmosphere-supplying respirator.

3.7

Supervisor – A person who has charge of a workplace or authority over a worker.

3.8

Worker – Includes:

1. any person who is employed by an employer to perform a service whether for gain or reward, or hope of gain or reward, or not;
2. any person engaged by another person to perform services, whether under a contract of employment or not
   1. who performs work or services for another person for compensation or reward on such terms and conditions that he is, in relation to that person, in a position of economic dependence upon that person more closely resembling the relationship of any employee than that of an independent contractor; and
   2. who works or performs services in a workplace which is owned or operated by the person who engaged him to perform services.
3. any person undergoing training or serving an apprenticeship at an educational institution or at any other place.

4. Procedures

4.1

An Accident, Dangerous Occurrence, or Serious Incident must be reported immediately, as follows:

Notre Dame Campus

Health Centre – 204-632-2238 – 8:00 – 4:00 Monday to Friday
Security Services – 204-632-2323 – 24 Hours

Exchange District Campus

First Contact – Paterson GlobalFoods Institute  – 204-631-3386 – 8:00 – 4:00 Monday to Friday
Alternate First Contact – Roblin Centre – 204-949-8305 – 8:00 – 4:00 Monday to Friday
Second Contact – Security Services – 24 Hours
Paterson GlobalFoods Institute – 204-631-3381
Roblin Centre – 204-949-8478

Satellite and Regional Campuses 

Call 911 or local emergency response – 24 Hours
Also – Report Incident to Notre Dame Campus Security Services at 204-632-2323 – 24 Hours

Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health Division

204-945-3446 – 8:00 – 4:00 Monday to Friday
204-945-0581 – All Other Times

4.2

If 911 is called directly at the Notre Dame campus, Roblin Centre campus or Paterson GlobalFoods Institute, Security Services must be notified immediately. Security Services will meet and escort emergency responders to the scene.

4.3

Providing medical attention as required is the first priority. Medical attention should be provided by the attending First Aider.

4.4

An injured Worker who requires treatment as a result of a Serious Incident may be treated by the Health Centre or by a First Aider.

4.5

If an injury is such that it requires further medical attention, an injured Worker shall be transported to a Medical Facility. As deemed advisable, transportation to the Medical Facility will be provided by ambulance or by a First Aider.

4.6

The scene of a Serious Incident must not be disturbed. Security Services or a site Supervisor must be called to immediately secure the scene.

4.7

Until the scene is released by investigators, no equipment or materials that were involved in a Serious Incident may be altered or moved, unless necessary to free an injured or trapped person, or to avoid creating an additional hazard. All equipment involved in the incident must be isolated and locked out immediately. All materials involved in the incident must be secured.

4.8

Security Services must contact a member of the Joint Workplace Safety and Health Committee (JWSHC). JWSHC Members can be found on EHSS website, in Portal (Information) and by viewing JWSHC bulletin boards around RRC Polytech.

4.9

Designates of the Joint Workplace Safety and Health Committee will perform a thorough investigation of the scene of an Accident, Dangerous Occurrence, or Serious Incident. An “Accident/Investigation Report”, attached as Appendix A to this policy, must be completed for every investigation.

4.10

The Accident/Investigation Report completed by the Joint Workplace Safety and Health Committee investigators must be submitted to the Vice President –Human Resource Services & Sustainability for action. In their absence, the Vice President – Human Resource Services & Sustainability will identify a designate.

4.11

A Serious Incident must be immediately reported by Security Services or the site Supervisor to Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health Division by calling 204-945-3446 during regular business hours, or by calling 204- 945-0581 after regular business hours. This report must include:

1. the name and address of each person involved in the incident;
2. the name and address of the employer, and if any person involved in the incident is employed by another employer, the name and address of that other employer;
3. the name and address of each person who witnessed the incident;
4. the date, time, and location of the incident;
5. the apparent cause of the incident and the circumstances that gave rise to it.

4.12

Should the College become aware of a change in the nature of the incident, or an adverse change in the condition of the Worker, Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health Division must be notified again immediately by the Management Co-Chair of the Joint Workplace Safety and Health Committee or designate.

4.13

All Accidents or Serious Incidents related to College business that occur at a curriculum-related work practicum site off Campus must be reported to the Health Centre by the fastest means possible.

5. Responsibilites

5.1

A Worker has the responsibility to report all Accidents, Dangerous Occurrences, and Serious Incidents as regulated in this policy, and outlined in section 4.1.

5.2

The Health Centre, Security Services or a First Aider have the responsibility to provide immediate medical intervention in the event of an injury, and arrange transport for an injured worker to a Medical Facility if required.

5.3

Security Services has the responsibility to provide initial response to a report of an injury, coordinate services with emergency responders, and preserve the scene of the Accident for investigation. Security Services will notify the Health Centre, Environmental Health and Safety Services, and Corporate Legal and Insurance Services of the particulars of the Accident or Serious Incident.

5.4

Environmental Health and Safety Services and Corporate Legal and Insurance Services have the responsibility to act as a liaison with external regulatory bodies for reporting, response and recovery activities.

5.5

Chairs of the Joint Workplace Safety and Health Committee or their designates have the responsibility to immediately attend the scene of a Serious Incident to investigate, and complete the “Accident/Investigation Report” attached as Appendix A to this policy. Chairs and their designates, must receive training on procedures to conduct a thorough Workplace Safety and Health investigation. The Accident/Investigation Report will be submitted to the Vice President – Human Resource Services & Sustainability.

5.6

The Vice President – Human Resource Services & Sustainability has the responsibility to receive the Accident/Investigation Report, review it, and take appropriate action.

6. Consequences

Persons who violate this or other safety related policy may be subject to disciplinary action up to and including dismissal or expulsion as outlined in College Policy and Collective Agreements. Disciplinary action may be appealed under appropriate student policy, the Collective Agreement between Red River College Polytechnic and the MGEU or the terms and conditions of excluded employees.

Related Policies and Legislation

Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health Act C.C.S.M. c. W210 and Regulations with particular consideration to Part 2 – General Duties (General Safety Duties) of the Workplace Safety and Health Regulation

Manitoba Labour and Immigration Workplace Safety and Health Code of Practice for Workers Working Alone or in Isolation

Manitoba Labour and Immigration Workplace Safety and Health Guide to Setting Up a Workplace Safety and Health Program (Chapter 9)

2.0 Global Executive Limitation – Executive Limitation Board of Governors Policy Manual

E1 – Safety
E6 – Hazardous Waste Management
E7 – Personal Protective Equipment
E8 – Hearing Conservation and Noise Control
E10 – Personal Use of College Equipment

Footnotes

¹ Red River College Polytechnic Board of Governors Policy
² C.C.S.M. c. W210

Appendix A

Incident Investigation Summary Report