Health and Safety Year End Report - Toronto

ZB7.4

STAFF REPORT

To: Board of Management

From: Robin D. Hale Chief Operating Officer

Subject: HEALTH & SAFETY YEAR END REPORT

Date: 2016-02-09

Summary:

This report will brief the Board on the Toronto Zoo's Occupational Health & Safety Programs and safety initiatives were carried out in 2015. In 2016 we will continue our prevention efforts by maintaining our current training programs, revising current policies, and introducing new safety programs to assist in meeting legislative changes and ensure continued due diligence. Recommendation:

It is recommended that this report be received for information.

Background:

The Health & Safety Year End Report for the period January to December 2015 is attached hereto.

When compared to 2014, there has been a decline of three employee accidents in 2015. While the number of accidents has declined in 2015, the number of WSIB lost time claims has increased by one and the number of lost days associated with those claims has decreased from 30.5 days to 21.5 days. This has resulted in a decrease to our accident frequency and severity rates, and placed us in a rebate position with respect to our WSIB Neer statement. In 2015 the Workplace Safety & Insurance Board issued a total rebate of $60,716.87.

Our efforts in 2016 will continue to focus on reducing workplace accidents and making improvements to our health & safety programs to address issues of accident prevention and hazard recognition.

R. D. Hale Chief Operating Officer

List of Attachments: 2015 Health & Safety Report

TORONTO ZOO 2015 HEALTH & SAFETY REPORT

ZB7.4 Attachment 1

JOINT HEALTH & SAFETY COMMITTEE

A. Committee Activities:

In 2015 the Toronto Zoo's Joint Health & Safety Committee (JHSC) held eleven meetings. A total of 34 new agenda items were raised through inspection or reporting systems. Eighteen items were discussed and actions were taken to resolve issues by management staff.

Some key issues discussed before the Committee included: Noise audit, cold stress policy and annual WHMIS audit.

Division Heads are briefed on current issues discussed at the JHSC on a regular basis.

B. Inspections, Orders & Charges: None

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH & SAFETY TRAINING PROGRAMS

C. General Safety Training Programs:

In 2015, the Safety & Security Branch conducted Occupational Health & Safety related training programs for employees. The course type and total number of employees trained are identified below.

Course

Staff Trained

Administered Seasonal Refresher Exams

297

Back Care & Repetitive Strain Injury

218

Robbery Prevention

65

Health & Safety Orientation

62

Standard First Aid/ AED/CPR C

49

Lyme Disease

45

WHMIS

38

Safe Driving Program (New drivers)

32

Zoomobile Driver Training

28

Ladder Safety Training

27

Defensive Driving

20

Contractor/Intern Health & Safety

16

Firearms Safety Training & Qualification Shoot

16

Take Your Kid to Work Day

11

Permanent Orientation

10

Mandatory Occupational Health &Safety Awareness Training

6

Smart Serve

2

Total Participants 942

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A total of 942 participants attended training sessions instructed by staff of the Safety & Security Branch. Attaining participation in training programs continues to be a significant challenge due to operating requirements, however mandatory and legislated training remains a priority for staff.

SAFE DRIVING PROGRAM

D. Safe Driving Program ? Evaluations:

In accordance with the Safe Driving Program, all Zoo and Food Service employees that are required to drive a vehicle on site must fulfill the following requirements that are administered by the Safety & Security Branch. Following the completion of a driver's abstract, the employee's supervisor orientates the employee to the vehicles he/she is required to drive. The Safety & Security Branch then administers a written exam to ensure basic knowledge of Zoo policies and road awareness. Lastly, an in-vehicle evaluation is conducted by Safety & Security's licensed Driving Instructor.

During 2015, a total of 32 new drivers were processed by the Safety & Security Branch. The majority of these were seasonal employees.

E. Zoomobile Training:

An in-house Zoomobile Training Program has been in operation since 2003. This program includes classroom training combined with field experience and driver evaluations conducted by the Safety & Security Driving Instructor.

During 2015, two courses were held for 28 returning and new employees participating in this program.

F. Defensive Driving Training:

The Defensive Driving Program is open to all Toronto Zoo drivers and includes theoretical and practical classroom discussions concerning driving habits. The intention of the Defensive Driving Program is to make drivers aware of issues that will aid in improving their personal driving skills. Drivers that have had a motor vehicle collision are directed to attend these training sessions.

G. Motor Vehicle Collisions:

In 2015, there were 24 motor vehicle collisions compared with 37 in 2014. Of the 24 collisions, 23 were deemed preventable. Twelve resulted from failing to correctly judge surroundings, nine are from failure to be aware of surroundings, one was from failing to maintain sufficient care of vehicle and the remaining one was from failing to drive to weather conditions.

All collisions reported were single vehicle incidents where only minor damage was reported as drivers made slight contact with rocks, signs, garbage cans etc. The decrease can be likely be attributed to fewer number of vehicle collisions that occurred during lighter snow/winter conditions.

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The 24 collisions occurred in the following Units: Horticulture (13), Retail & Rides (3), Facilities & Services, Safety & Security, and Wildlife Care each had (2). Wildlife Nutrition and First Aid each with (1).

The areas that had decreased motor vehicle collisions in 2015 when compared to 2014 were Horticulture (13 vs. 17), Safety & Security (2 vs 4), and Retail & Rides (3 vs 8). Areas that increased were First Aid (1 vs. 0), and Wildlife Nutrition (1 vs 0). Facilities & Services and Wildlife Care remained unchanged (2 vs 2).

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH & SAFETY PROGRAMS

H. Policy & Program and Testing Initiatives:

Air Quality Mold Sampling was conducted in four major pavilions in 2015 including African Rainforest, IndoMalaya, Australasia, Americas and Education portables. These tests are used as indicators of microbiological contamination that would cause health risks to employees. No such indications were reported in the tests conducted. With respect to the Education Portables, the C02 concentration was reported at a level where complaints could occur, although no complaints have been received. Toronto Zoo Facilities & Services staff are currently investigating ways of increasing fresh air supply to the area to lower the CO2 levels.

The Safety & Security Branch continues to strive towards increasing safety awareness among staff as well as visitors. Programs with respect to public and staff site inspections, defensive driving, and general safety awareness continue to be delivered and developed.

I. New & Pending OH&S Developments:

The Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS), has been Canada's hazard communication system for workplace chemicals since 1998. The system is changing to adopt new international standards for classifying hazardous chemicals and providing information on labels and safety data sheets. The new standards are part of the Globally Harmonized System for the Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) and are being phased in between February 2015 and December 2018. The new GHS will be introduced in three phases between 2015-02-11 to 2018-11-30. In phase one, which we experienced in 2015, suppliers were permitted to begin introducing WHMIS labels and Material Safety Data Sheets from either system.

In 2016, the Toronto Zoo will be updating our WHMIS training to include information pertaining to the new GHS.

ACCIDENT HISTORY

In 2015, there were 93 employee accidents. This represents a decrease of three employee accidents in 2015 when compared to 2014. The charts and graphs in this report will provide a means of comparing accident frequencies, injury types, as well as lost time, and claims management.

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J. Year End Branch Accident Summary:

The Branch Accident Frequency Rate (BAF) is determined by dividing the number of accidents a Branch has by the budgeted number of full time equivalent employees (FTE's including permanent and non-permanent staff). The BAF can be useful in identifying accident trends while excluding the effect of staffing levels and, is therefore, a relevant manner of comparing reported accidents by Branch.

Branch

2015 B.A.F. 2014

B.A.F.

Wildlife Care Facilities & Services Horticulture Retail & Rides Wildlife Health Safety & Security Education Projects & Exhibitry Member & Guest Services Human Resources Finance Curatorial & Records Wildlife Nutrition Public Relations

Totals:

26

.29

39

.44

22

.24

11

.16

9

.25

8

.22

9

.27

5

.14

8

.49

10

.62

8

.27

8

.26

2

.11

5

.28

2

.29

2

.30

2

.07

1

.03

2

.30

0

0

2

.15

0

0

1

.05

1

.05

0

0

3

.36

0

0

3

.16

93

96

Decreases in the frequency of accidents in 2015 versus 2014 were reported by Wildlife Care (26 vs 39), Wildlife Health (8 vs 10), Education (2 vs 5), Wildlife Nutrition (0 vs 3) and Public Relations (0 vs 3).

Increases in the frequency of accidents in 2015 versus 2014 were reported by Facilities & Services (22 vs. 11), Horticulture (9 vs. 8), Retail & Rides (9 vs 5), Member & Guest Services (2 vs. 1), Human Resources (2 vs. 0), Finance (2 vs 0).

Safety & Security remained consistent with eight each for 2015 as well as 2014. Projects & Exhibitry remained consistent with two for both years and Curatorial & Records with one for each year as well.

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