Everyone is responsible for their own safety, as well as the safety of coworkers. Workers and employers demonstrate this through the internal responsibility system (IRS): the philosophy that everyone in the workplace, both employers and workers, are responsible for safety, their own and their coworkers. It puts in place a worker-employer partnership to ensure safe and disease-free workplaces.

Supervisor safety education programs should effectively familiarize supervisors with safety legislation, in particular the Safety Acts and Regulations. An educational program should offer best practices in identifying and controlling hazards, including instruction in contractor safety management, and provide practical industry-relevant exercises. An approved Supervisor Safety Familiarization Program must include, but is not limited to, the following topics: 

• Legislation
  •   Northwest Territories and Nunavut Safety Acts
  •   NWT Occupational Health and Safety Regulations (proposed in Nunavut)
  •   Codes of Practice
• Joint OHS Committees
• Occupational Health and Safety Programs
• Internal Responsibility System (IRS)
• Worker Rights
• Offences and Punishments
• Employer Responsibilities
• Supervisor Responsibilities
• Worker Responsibilities and Rights
• Hazard and Risk Management
  •   Hazard Assessment
  •   Hazard Identification Methods
  •   Hazard Prevention
• Monitoring and Reporting
• Contractor Safety Management
  •   Contractors and Subcontractors
  •   Project Safety Planning
• Reporting
  •   Injury Reporting under the Workers' Compensation Acts
  •   Notices to the Chief Safety Officer
  •   Incident Reporting
  •   Record Keeping
  •   Documentation
• Work Site Accident/Incident Investigation
• Work Site Inspections
• Safety Leadership
  •   Ensure workers understand their role in safety
  •   Lead by example
  •   Learn how to direct and manage

In order to comply with current Northwest Territories Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Regulations, supervisors must complete a Supervisor's Safety Familiarization course approved by the WSCC Chief Safety Officer. Supervisors who successfully complete this program are compliant with the Northwest Territories OHS Regulations, (which are currently proposed in Nunavut).

Approved courses to date that meet legislative requirements are:

• The Leadership for Safety Excellence course, and Principles of Health and Safety Management course, available through Northern Safety Association.
• The Supervisor Safety Training course, available through the Northern Territories Federation of Labour.

If you require more information about approved providers in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, please visit the WSCC website for a current list, which we update as we approve additional courses. If you are still uncertain about the appropriate course or whether you are compliant, email questions to OHSRegs@wscc.nt.ca.

Supervision of Work 

16. (1) An employer shall ensure that, at a work site,

(a) work is sufficiently and competently supervised;

(b) supervisors have sufficient knowledge of the following:

(i) any occupational health and safety program applicable to workers supervised at the work site,

(ii) the safe handling, use, storage, production and disposal of hazardous substances,

(iii) the need for, and safe use of, personal protective equipment,

(iv) emergency procedures required by these regulations,

(v) any other matters that are necessary to ensure the health and safety of workers;

(c) supervisors have completed an approved regulatory familiarization program; and

(d) supervisors comply with the Act and these regulations.

(2) A supervisor shall ensure that workers comply with the Act and these regulations as they apply to the work site.

The Governance Council reviewed and approved the following policies at its June 2015 meeting:

• Policy 00.04, Year's Maximum Insurable Remuneration 
• Policy 00.05, Determining Status of Persons under the Workers' Compensation Acts: General (previously, Determining Employer and Worker Status)
• Policy 00.05.01, Determining Status of Persons under the Workers' Compensation Acts: Employers
• Policy 00.05.02, Determining Status of Persons under the Workers' Compensation Acts: Workers
• Policy 02.11, Successor and Related Employers
• Policy 02.12, Employer Clearances

The WSCC works hard to bring you fresh and informative content in all of our publications. This reoccurring section highlights recent updates and new safety tools for you to use!

Return to Work (RTW) Resources:

 Passport to Recovery: This pocket-sized booklet for injured workers needing WSCC benefits outlines the claims process, including RTW and the roles and responsibilities of the WSCC, healthcare providers, the employer, and the injured worker.

 Road to Recovery Poster: A helpful tool for both workers and employers, this poster illustrates the different paths to returning to or remaining at work.

 
 Return to Work for Injured Workers Brochure: This brochure provides a general overview of the benefits of RTW, the process, and important contact information. 

 Employer's Guide to Return to Work: A RTW program helps injured workers return to suitable work as soon as medically possible. This guide details how to develop and implement a return to work program for your organization, including sample templates and forms. These forms and templates are also available as editable documents on the WSCC's website.

Interested in getting physical copies of any of these materials? Contact us with your request, including quantity and mailing address, and we'll be happy to send them to you! These items are available in English, French, Inuktitut, and Inuinnaqtun.

Interested in any of these topics, or looking for more information? Check out our website, or email us! We'd love to hear from you!