Université de Sherbrooke
PA-15: Workplace Health and Safety

The Université de Sherbrooke has Health and Safety Policy and Guidelines that it keeps up to date (https://www.usherbrooke.ca/smsp/politiques-directives-et-procedures) accordingly the relevant regulation updates. These documents describe the prevention programs that are in place and are revised periodically.

In summary, the 14 members of the Division de la santé et sécurité en milieu de travail et d'études (SSMTE) [EN: Work and Study Environment Health and Safety Division] are active on the ground in the application of our various programs (e.g., office ergonomics, safe asbestos management, mould remediation, indoor air quality, biosafety, drugs and controlled substances, radiation safety, laser safety, chemical safety, respiratory protection, industrial hygiene, lockout/tag out, construction site safety, transportation of dangerous goods, students clubs, FabLabs, etc.). All the programs are based on the hazards identification and control, following the classical hierarchy of controls pyramid.

To ensure worker participation, there are also a total of 18 Health and Safety Committees spread across each sector or department where there are hazards and risks. Inspections of laboratories and workshops are also carried out on a regular basis (yearly or every three years, depending on the risk analysis or the regulations requirements) by members of the Division SSMTE and those responsible for these premises. Lastly, there is an online form for reporting any hazardous situations that may arise (https://www.usherbrooke.ca/smsp/securite/declaration-de-situation-dangereuse).

All occupational injuries or illnesses must be reported to the Security Division, and a Security Officer writes a factual report for this accident or incident. For each report received, a follow-up is made and, if necessary, an investigation is carried out by a specialized member of the SSMTE Division.

At every two-month period, verification is made to ensure the concordance between all accident reports received by the Security Division, the SSMTE Division, the Human Resources Services, and the declarations received by the Commission des normes, de l'équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST) [EN: Labour Standards, Pay Equity and Workplace Health and Safety Board]. It should be noted that accidents suffered by students, as well as incidents without injury (near miss) that are reported, are also followed up. A report in this regard is presented every two months to the University Executive Committee. Finally, an annual report of accidents and incidents as well as all the results obtained in the prevention programs that are under the responsibility of the SSMTE division (see description of key components above) is presented to the Board of Governors.

The 18 recordable incidents of work-related injury or ill health represent the total number of injuries accepted at the CNESST, lost-time and no-time-loss injury, between January 1 and December 31, 2021.

The number of full-time equivalent employee enrolment considered in this credit was compiled for the fiscal year from May 1, 2021, to April 30, 2022, in relation to the period during which the number of recordable incidents of work-related injury or ill health was compiled. These data therefore differ from those presented in Credit PRE5, which represents the year 2020-2021.