Respond to the situation:

In your initial meeting with the store manager, she is clear about your responsibilities. "Health and Safety is critical for us", she said, "we based our entire business on promoting well-being and we would be remiss if we did not value the well-being of our employees." The manager then expresses her concern, that most of the employees have experience in retail and many seem to possess the view that retail work is safe and therefore Well-Mart does not need a health and safety program.

The supervisors also share this view. The manager asks you to conduct some research and write a report outlining Well-Mart's legal obligations and general duties under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, supporting the need for a comprehensive health and safety program at Well-Mart, including the formation of a joint health and safety committee. The manager is counting on this information to assist her in conveying to both management and staff, the importance of health and safety and how it affects and benefits the entire workplace.

Instructions:

1. write a sample report for the manager, that includes the following:

a. Describe five (5) of the general duties or obligations of employers (may include supervisors) under the OHSA, citing the relevant section of the Act, and provide a brief statement as to how each would be specifically relevant to Well-Mart and support their need for a health and safety program.

b. Explain the requirements of a joint health and safety committee, outlining how it might be implemented at Well-Mart, and the benefits it would have to both the employer and employees.

c. Address the concept of 'safety leadership' to help the managers and supervisors understand the role that they play in creating a workplace climate focused on safety.