Health and Safety

The Occupational Health and Safety Act of Ontario (R.S.O. 1990, c. O.1) places the onus for compliance with legislation on the workplace parties within an organization. The Act lists responsibilities for employers, directors and officers, supervisors and workers forming the Internal Responsibility System, which provides the basis for an effective Occupational Health and Safety Management System.

The workplace parties in the Internal Responsibility System at Whitby Courthouse Theatre are:

• Board of Directors
• Coordinators
• Stage Managers
• Producers

This Policy serves to:

• Formalize and clarify the health and safety responsibilities of each individual.
• Promote health and safety and reduce the risk of injury or illness.
• Provide a framework under which the Board of Directors, Coordinators, Stage Managers, and Producers must comply with their legal duties to take reasonable care to ensure compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act of Ontario and the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (S.C. 1999, c. 33).
• Provide a framework for identifying and controlling workplace hazards.
• Ensure Whitby Courthouse Theatre’s safety standards meet the requirements of any applicable legislation, code of practice, and safe use standards.

The Board of Directors, Coordinators, and production teams, share the responsibility of ensuring a safe environment. All individuals must "take every precaution reasonable under the circumstances for the protection of all” (R.S.O. 1990, c. O.1).

The Occupational Health and Safety Act of Ontario assigns specific duties and responsibilities to various parties in the workplace:

Officers and Directors
Section 32 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act of Ontario states:

“Every director and every officer of a corporation shall take all reasonable care to ensure that the corporation complies with;

1. This Act and the regulations;
2. Orders and requirements of inspectors and Directors (Ministry of Labour); and (c) Orders of the Minister (Ministry of Labour).”

The Board of Directors is responsible for ensuring that the Occupational Health and Safety System is developed, implemented, maintained, and for conducting an annual review, to assure compliance with the requirements of the Ontario Health and Safety Act.

The Executive Producer, or delegate, assumes a leadership role in promoting the Occupational Health and Safety System and has responsibility, through those reporting to them, for the following:

• The effective implementation of the Health and Safety Policy.
• To be informed of all incidents.
• Directing health and safety activities through the Board of Directors.
• Preparation of a report on environmental health and safety activities for the Board of Directors, if requested.
• Act as Whitby Courthouse Theatre’s Health and Safety Officer. The Health and Safety Officer assists individuals and departments in meeting their responsibilities by providing advice on applicable legislation and Whitby Courthouse Theatre's policies and procedures, monitoring compliance with the legislation and the Health and Safety Program and recommending policies and procedures.

During production, stage managers and producers are responsible for:

• The effective implementation of the Health and Safety policy.
• Alerting the Executive Producer, or delegate, of any health or safety issue. During performances, the Front of House Director, or delegate, shall be responsible for:
• The effective implementation of the Health and Safety policy.
• The public’s health and safety while on the premises.
• Alerting the Executive Producer, or delegate, of any health or safety issue.

All Board Members, Coordinators, staff, and volunteers must:

• Observe and promote all safety rules at all times.
• Familiarise themselves with the evacuation procedure and nearest emergency exits.
• Report any health hazard to the Executive Producer or their direct supervisor.
• Report any accident or dangerous occurrence to the Executive Producer or delegate.
• Comply with all hazard warning signs and notices displayed on the premises.
• Not obstruct any fire escape route, fire equipment or fire doors.

Following an incident, involving a member, volunteer, patron, staff person, or any other individual performing Whitby Courthouse Theatre duties the following must be completed by a Board Member, Coordinator, or delegate:

• Report the incident to the on-duty Town of Whitby staff person.
• Complete a Whitby Courthouse Theatre Incident Report Form (Appendix A).
• Forward the completed Whitby Courthouse Theatre Incident Report Form and any other pertinent information to the Executive Producer, or delegate. Records must be kept for no less than seven years.