Health and Safety Policy

Scope

This policy applies to all employees, supervisors, managers, contractors, visitors, and multi-site operations of BGE.

Employer Commitment & General Duty

BGE will:

1. Take all reasonable precautions to protect the health and safety of our employees, contractors and members of the public.
2. Comply with all applicable Occupational Health and Safety laws and regulations.
3. Work towards the continual improvement of our safety performance and culture.

OHS Rights

BGE acknowledges that all workers share the following rights, and supports workers in the exercise of these rights:

1. Right to Know about hazards and controls, and where to find basic health and safety information.
2. Right to Participate in workplace safety through committees, inspections, investigations and reporting.
3. Right to Refuse Unsafe Work where the worker has reason to believe that the task, machine, tool, environment or condition presents a danger to their health or safety, or the health or safety of another person.

Workers may exercise these rights at any time, and without fear of reprisal. BGE expects workers to exercise these rights as required, especially when the safety of the worker may be in question.

Roles & Responsibilities

Senior Leadership Team:

1. Clearly communicate to employees and customers the organization’s commitment and ambition to be an industry leader in health, safety, and environmental performance.
2. Be accountable for safety and environmental performance and holds all levels accountable for our safety program through ongoing monitoring of performance and annual review of the Safety Manual.
3. Establish annual safety goals, recognize outstanding safety performance, and take corrective action against intentional unsafe acts.
4. Creates a culture where safety considerations are an integrated part of BGE’s processes and receive equal or greater attention than other management priorities of cost, quality and schedules.
5. Provides the physical and financial resources and management support necessary to carry out the safety program.
6. Builds a ‘100% safe culture’ where accidents or incidents are an unacceptable consequence of performing work.
7. Takes time to complete safety observations and safety walks to observe positive safety activities and to communicate safety risks.
8. Establish applicable health, safety, and environmental specifications for acquiring materials and equipment.
9. Ensures that all employees are educated to work in a safe manner and that they use all protective devices and procedures required by BGE and by legislation to protect their health and safety.
10. Provides an arena where employees can communicate freely about safety considerations and areas of improvement.
11. Ensures that every reasonable effort is made to provide suitable return to work opportunities for every employee who is unable to perform their regular duties following a work-related injury or illness

Health & Safety Leadership Team

1. Receives and respond to recommendations from the Joint Health & Safety Committee.
2. Reviews and recommend revisions to BGE’s Health & Safety Policies and Procedures.
3. Allocates resources required to ensure the success and continuous improvement of BGE’s Health & Safety Management System.
4. Explores new OHS initiatives to present to the Senior Leadership Team, to assist with the development of BGE’s overall safety culture.
5. Reviews and sign off on all Incident Investigation reports.

Joint Health & Safety Committee (JHSC):

1. Holds regular meetings for the review of:
   1. Reports of current accidents, incidents, or illnesses/diseases,
   2. Remedial action taken or required by the reports of investigations and inspections
   3. Other safety and health matters.
2. Conducts Formal Workplace Inspections and encourage worker participation in this process.
3. Makes recommendations of all Safety concerns to management.
4. Assists management in the health and safety program development.
5. Function within the set Terms of Reference.
6. Assist as required in incident and or accident investigations.
7. Champion Health & Safety always.

People & Culture (P&C) and Health, Safety and Environment (HSE):

1. Develops and delivers orientation, safety programs and meetings that educate and communicate the company’s values and goals for safety.
2. Keeps records and statistics in relation to safety performance.
3. Produces and maintains formal documentation to support safety performance requirements.
4. Communicates and maintains a company-wide safety conscious environment.
5. Provides support as required post incident and submit reports of injury to the appropriate workers compensation authority.
6.  Partners with Managers and Supervisors to ensure that every reasonable effort is taken to provide suitable return to work opportunities for every employee who is unable to perform their regular duties following a work-related injury or illness.

Manager, Supervisor and Team Lead’s:

1. Leads through positive example by personally participating in BGE’s safety activities and integrate those activities into all phases of work.
2. Ensures that all employees are educated to work in a safe manner and that they use all protective devices, equipment, and procedures required by BGE and by legislation to protect their health and safety.
3. Ensures that employees are not subjected to or participate in harassment or violence while on the worksite.
4. Provides all employees with proper, well-maintained tools and equipment, as well as any other special personal protective devices which may be required.
5. Knows and applies BGE’s safety policy and relevant Occupational Health and Safety legislation.
6. Carries out regular safe work observations and relevant inspections in the workplace to ensure a safe and healthy environment and warn all employees of any potential or actual dangers and to advise them how to isolate, prevent, or remove such dangers. Ensure all unsafe acts and conditions observed during observations/inspections are corrected immediately.
7. Arranges for medical treatment when required, in the case of injury or illness, including transportation to a doctor or hospital when necessary.
8. Ensures that worksites under their control are maintained free of hazards that could cause slips, trips, or falls. This includes ensuring that floors, walkways, mezzanines, stairs, and platforms used by workers are kept in good repair and free from slipping and tripping hazards. Where any such areas are taken out of service, managers must ensure reasonable measures are implemented to restrict access or prevent use.
9. Reports all incidents immediately, to ensure employees receive the required care immediately following an incident, and to support and participate in a post incident investigation, including the implementation of corrective actions, as required by BGE’s Incident Investigation Policy.
10. Plans appropriate modified duties for employees to return to work following a work-related injury or illness.

Employee’s Responsibilities:

1. Reads, understands and complies with BGE’s safety policy, safe work practices, procedures, and rules.
2. Knows and understands their rights and responsibilities under applicable Occupational Health and Safety Legislation.
3. Conducts oneself in a manner that will not injure themselves or any other co-worker.
4. Refrains from causing or participating in harassment or violence.
5. Uses and maintains all Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) designated and provided for their protection, as required by the employer, legislation or both.
6. Notifies a supervisor or manager of any unsafe conditions or acts that may be of danger to other workers or themselves.
7. Exercises the Right to Refuse Unsafe Work when the employee is presented with a situation or task that they feel is unsafe, and to report all work refusals to their supervisor or manager immediately using the process outlined in this policy.
8. Takes every reasonable precaution to protect the safety of other workers and themselves.
9. Reports all accidents, injuries, workplace illnesses, or near miss incidents to your supervisor or manager immediately.
10. Reports to work fit for duty and abide by BGE’s Drug and Alcohol policy.
11. Participates in training, safety meetings and other safety activities in the workplace.

In addition, BGE’s Senior Leadership Team, Managers, Supervisors and Employees will:

1. Cooperates with any person exercising a duty imposed by the OHS Act, Regulations, or Code, and,
2. Comply with the OHS Act, Regulations and Code, as well as any site Policies, Procedures, and codes of Practice.

Other workers (e.g., Contractors, suppliers, or service providers) will comply with OHS Act, Regulations and Code, as well as work site practices.

Commitment to Continuous Improvement

BGE is committed to the continuous improvement of our Health and Safety Management System. As part of this commitment, BGE’s Health & Safety Leadership Team will review the Health and Safety Manual, and COR Audit action plans, at least annually to assess the need for revisions. As part of this review, BGE shall review incident trends in the workplace to determine the effectiveness of our program.

BGE will also ensure regular updates to safety training programs and actively engage with employees to gather feedback on safety practices. This feedback will be used to enhance our safety protocols and ensure a safe working environment for everyone.