Safe Job Procedures

The development of Safe Job Procedures (SJPs) is a requirement outlined in COR Element 4: Safe Job Procedures. SJPs are reserved for high risk work activities that have been analyzed to contain catastrophic risk exposures that could result in a critical injury. They exist as a legal requirement within Ontario Construction Regulations; numerous sections stipulate that written procedures must be provided for the use of SJPs.

Each employee must undergo the requisite training on these procedures to facilitate proper understanding of their use and application. Incomplete or insufficient training are grounds to declare the affiliated organization to be non-compliant with the provincial legal requirements.

SJPs are most often written in a format that includes a scope, purpose, workplace party responsibilities, and a description of what is required for implementation of the procedure. They contain detailed steps that when properly followed, will result in a safe and repeatable outcome. SJP documents must be readily available for worker reference to ensure that no doubt exists regarding the approved method for the safe performance of dangerous tasks.

The current COR audit tool verifies that an organization being audited meets the implementation and use requirements of SJPs.  A COR Auditor will examine and evaluate the following:

1. SJPs must be properly documented and accurately reflect the entire scope of work activities that the organization may undertake;

2. Language within the SJPs is required to be clear and unambiguous;

3. Clear understanding regarding the use of SJPs must be demonstrated by all workers who are interviewed;

4. All SJP documents are required to be readily available for worker reference to ensure the safe performance of dangerous tasks is never compromised;

5. Evidence of worker participation in the development of the SJPs is provided by the organization.

Does your organization develop safe job procedures that are well implemented, and all do workers understand the steps to follow prevent an injury?  Are these documents readily available and audited, from time-to-time, to verify implementation compliance by all workplace parties?

Presented by Roger Belair and Jason Colucci - Approved COR Associate Auditors.