Health & Safety

UBII Health and Safety-Violence-Harrassment Policy

UBII Health and Safety Policy

The executive and pool coordinators of UBII are vitally interested in the health and safety of our guards and managers. Protection from injury or occupational disease is a major continuing objective.

UBII will make every effort to provide a safe, healthy work environment. The executive, pool coordinators, guards and managers must be dedicated to the continuing objective of reducing risk of injury.

UBII as the employer is ultimately responsible for worker health and safety. As co-presidents of UBII, we give you our personal commitment that we will comply with our duties under the Act, such as taking every reasonable precaution for the protection of workers in the workplace. Managers will be held accountable for the health and safety of the guards under their supervision.

Managers are subject to various duties in the workplace, including the duty to ensure that equipment is safe and that guards work in compliance with established safe work practices and procedures.

Every manager and guard must protect his or her own health and safety by working in compliance with the law and with safe work practices and procedures established by UBII. Guards will receive information, training and competent supervision to protect their health and safety.

It is in the best interest of all parties to consider health and safety in every activity. Commitment to health and safety must form an integral part of this organization.

UBII Workplace Violence Policy

The executive and pool coordinators of UBII are committed to the prevention of workplace violence and are ultimately responsible for worker health and safety. We will take whatever steps are reasonable to protect our managers and guards from workplace violence from all sources.

Violent behaviour in the workplace is unacceptable from anyone. This policy also applies to members, associates, and their guests. Everyone is expected to uphold this policy and to work together to prevent workplace violence.

There is a workplace violence program that implements this policy. It includes measures and procedures to protect managers and guards from workplace violence, a means of summoning immediate assistance and a process for managers and guards to report incidents, or raise concerns as follows:

1) UBII has adopted a new behaviour management bylaw in 2014. This by-law requires the following of members, associates and guests: “All posted rules, opening hours, schedules, sign-up lists and the instructions of the Corporation’s lifeguards and staff must be observed.” [Section 17, UBII BY-LAW NO. 1] Inappropriate behaviours are also defined in Schedule B and copy of this list is posted in the guard office.

2) Waterloo Regional Police will respond to an emergency. Managers and guards are to ensure their personal safety and are not to confront violent individuals. Dial 911!

3) To report incidents contact the pool coordinators and the UBII executive as soon as possible. Contact information should be known to the pool managers and is available on the UBII website.

UBII as the employer, will ensure this policy and the supporting program are implemented and maintained and that all managers and guards have the appropriate information and instruction to protect them from violence in the workplace.

Managers will adhere to this policy and the supporting program. Managers are responsible for ensuring that measures and procedures are followed by guards and that guards have the information they need to protect themselves.

Every guard must work in compliance with this policy and the supporting program. All guards are encouraged to raise any concerns about workplace violence and to report any violent incidents or threats. There will be no negative consequences for reports made in good faith.

The UBII executive and pool coordinators pledge to investigate and deal with all incidents and complaints of workplace violence in a fair and timely manner, respecting the privacy of all concerned as much as possible.

UBII Workplace Harassment Policy

The executive and pool coordinators of UBII are committed to providing a work environment in which all individuals are treated with respect and dignity.

Workplace harassment will not be tolerated from any person in the workplace. Everyone in the workplace must be dedicated to preventing workplace harassment. Managers, guards, members, associates and guests are expected to uphold this policy, and will be held accountable by the UBII executive.

Workplace harassment means engaging in a course of vexatious comment or conduct against a worker in a workplace — a comment or conduct that is known or ought reasonably to be known to be unwelcome. Unacceptable behaviours are also listed in the UBII Inappropriate behaviours document posted in the guard office.

Harassment may also relate to a form of discrimination as set out in the Ontario Human Rights Code, but it does not have to.

This policy is not intended to limit or constrain the reasonable exercise of management functions in the workplace. Workers are encouraged to report any incidents of workplace harassment to the pool coordinators and the UBII executive. Contact information is available on the UBII web site. There will be no negative consequences for reports made in good faith.

The UBII pool coordinators and UBII executive will investigate and deal with all concerns, complaints, or incidents of workplace harassment in a fair and timely manner while respecting workers’ privacy as much as possible.

Nothing in this policy prevents or discourages a worker from filing an application with the Human Rights Tribunal on a matter related to Ontario’s Human Rights Code within one year of the last alleged incident. A worker also retains the right to exercise any other legal avenues that may be available.

Signed: Geoff McMurdo and David Werezak, co-Presidents, Date: May, 2014