your health and safety program manual - Pathology and Laboratory

UBC Pathology & Laboratory MedicineHealth and Safety Program-UBC site Revised April, 200810. PERSONAL SECURITY AND PUBLIC SAFETYAll members of the University Community including Unit, staff and students shall be provided with anenvironment safe from violence or the threat of violence.Unit RequirementsThe University is committed to taking appropriate action(s) whenever possible to eliminate or minimizethe risk or threat of violence to Unit, staff, students and visitors. Where the risk or threat of violenceexists, the Unit must develop a Preventing Violence in the Workplace Program.A Preventing Violence in the Workplace Program must include the following four components:1. Risk Assessment2. Policies and Procedures3. Instruction of Workers4. Response to IncidentsRisk AssessmentThe Unit’s Safety Program Administrator (SPA) must conduct a risk assessment in any workplace inwhich a risk of injury to workers from violence arising out of their employment may be present.When conducting the risk assessments the SPA should consider:• The nature of interactions between workers and the public• The nature of the work environment• The attributes of workers/clients• Past history of incidents of violence in your workplace and in similar operationsThis could include but is not limited to:• A work site walk-about with affected staff• An employee personal security survey• Selected interviews with workers• A review of crime or incident reportsMembers of the Health and Safety Committee should review the risk assessment to ensure that it wasproperly conducted. The Head of Unit or delegate is responsible for the implementation ofrecommendations.Policies and ProceduresPolicies and procedures have been developed to address threats to personal security. These includeUBC’s Discrimination and Harassment Policy #3 and Threatening Behaviour Policy #14. Also, the28