Overall Rating Gold
Overall Score 75.39
Liaison Stephanie MacPhee
Submission Date Feb. 5, 2025

STARS v2.2

Dalhousie University
PA-15: Workplace Health and Safety

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 0.61 / 2.00 Stephanie MacPhee
Executive Director
Office of Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Part 1. Health and safety management system

Does the institution have an occupational health and safety management system (OHSMS)?:
Yes

Does the system use a nationally or internationally recognized standard or guideline?:
No

The nationally or internationally recognized OHSMS standard or guideline used:
---

If no, provide:

A brief description of the key components of the custom OHSMS:

The Environmental Health and Safety Office functions within the portfolio of the Vice President of Finance, and Administration to support Dalhousie University's Environmental Health and Safety Program and operates to: 

  • Offer advice to the University's Senior Management on ways in which the University can strengthen its efforts to provide a healthy and safe environment in support of the entire range of University activities; 

  • Support the activities of the University's Environmental Health and Safety Committee; 

  • Support the Deans, Directors, and Chairs of Departments as they discharge their responsibilities for health and safety within their units; 

  • Liaise with regulatory agencies and their organizations to keep the University informed of developments that could impact the Environmental Health and Safety Program; 
    Ensure inspections, testing, and training are carried out as needed to ensure the university is operating in accord with legislation; 

  • Coordinate the disposal of hazardous waste created by teaching and research programs, and by the University's operations; and 

  • Provide support services for biosafety, chemical safety, environmental protection (hazardous materials), industrial safety, ergonomic assessments, fire safety, life safety, radiation protection, and occupational safety. 

Dalhousie University has created programs to address the core health and safety risks at the university. 

These core programs include: 

  • Biological Safety 

  • Radiological Safety 

  • Laboratory Safety 

  • Fire and Life Safety 

  • Industrial Safety 

  • Hazardous Waste Disposal 

This EHSMS outlines a common structure for each of these risk programs including the following key elements: 

  1. Document and Record management 

  1. Communication 

  1. Competency, Training and Awareness 

  1. Hazard Identification and Risk management 

  1. Inspections 

  1. Auditing 

  1. Contractor Management 

  1. Emergency Management 

  1. Management review 
     

https://www.dal.ca/dept/safety.html


Part 2. Incidents per FTE employee

Annual number of recordable incidents of work-related injury or ill health:
185

Full-time equivalent of employees:
6,091

If the institution wishes to report on other on-site workers, provide:

 

Full-time equivalent of workers who are not employees, but whose work and/or workplace is controlled by the institution:
---

A brief description of the methodology used to track and calculate the number of recordable incidents of work-related injury or ill health :

During April 2022- March 2023, there were ~185 accident/incident reports received by the EHS Office. 

We have finalized the University-wide launch of our online Incident reporting tool. This eliminates the need for paper forms, allows better statistical tracking and analysis, and integrates with HR (Human Resources) groups such as accessible employment and FM HR to share appropriate information automatically when an incident occurs.  

The Accident Reporting and Investigation Policies outline the methodology of tracking and reporting. https://www.dal.ca/dept/safety/programs-services/fire-life-safety/accident-incident-reporting.html 

Policies are available at: https://www.dal.ca/dept/university_secretariat/policies/health-and-safety/accident-reporting-policy-.html  


Annual number of recordable incidents of work-related injury or ill health per 100 FTE employees:
3.04

Optional Fields

Website URL where information about the occupational health and safety program is available:
https://www.dal.ca/dept/safety.html

Additional documentation to support the submission:
---

Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

The workplace accident number is variable year to year. Some related factors include the level of full reporting of incidences, and activity on campus, etc. 


The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.