B3. Occupational Injury and Illness

Code 7.0

Procedures and systems shall be in place to prevent, manage, track and report occupational injuries and illnesses, including provisions to encourage worker reporting, classify and record injury and illness cases, provide necessary medical treatment, investigate cases and implement corrective actions to eliminate their causes, and facilitate the return of workers to work.

Elements to Demonstrate Compliance to RBA Code

1. Policy

Ensure facility's health and safety policy includes occupational injury and illness elements including:

• a. Ensuring there is a staffed and funded program to reduce and respond to occupational injuries and illnesses, including injury reporting, recording and classification, and provision of medical treatment.
• b. Management encourages workers to report all work-related injuries and illnesses to the company.
• c. Adequate and effective first response policies and procedures are in place indicating the severity of medical emergency and response (first aid, infirmary, local external hospital).

2. Procedures & Practices

Procedures & Practices are in place such that:

• a. All required permits, programs, licenses, and testing reports for occupational injury and illness are in place, and a process is implemented to ensure permits and licenses are kept up to date at all times.
• b. First Aid kits
  • i. Appropriate and completely stocked placed /assigned first aid kits are available in designated locations.
  • ii. First aid kits are unlocked, or if locked, the first responder can access the key at all times.
• c. Appropriate and well-maintained first response equipment is available in designated locations.
• d. The facility assigns a team of trained/certified first responders who are easily identifiable, and an adequate number of first responders are available to provide initial medical treatment.
• e. Onsite emergency occupational medical clinic
  • i. If applicable, an occupational medical clinic is adequately staffed and supplied to respond to injuries.
  • ii. If the medical clinic is not open or operated 24 hours per day, alternative resources such as outside medical services are communicated to employees.
• f. Investigations to determine root cause(s) and implement corrective/preventive actions for work-related injuries and illnesses are performed, documented, communicated to affected employees, and tracked to closure.
• g. The company/facility provides workers with medical evaluations and treatment for work related injuries and illnesses.
• h. The facility assigns injured workers to their former (or equivalent) job when they are physically able to resume work.

3. Controls & Monitoring

Controls & Monitoring should include:

• a. Adequate and effective first response process indicating the severity of medical emergency and response (first aid, infirmary, local external hospital).
• b. An adequate and effective maintenance process is in place for the inspection, maintenance, upkeep, and stocking of all first response equipment and first aid kits.
• c. The frequency for all inspections is at least monthly.

4. Records

Records are maintained including:

• a. All required occupational injury and illness permits, licenses, and testing reports, available for review and valid.
• b. First aid kits have an inventory list.
• c. Inspection tracking records are available and up to date.
• d. Licenses and permits for facilities such as clinics and staff, including first responders.
• e. Near misses, first aid events, the number and type of injuries beyond first aid, and any fatalities
• f. Results of investigations, reports to authorities, and corrective/preventive actions tracked to closure.
• g. Corrective action and improvement plans including communication and training.

5. Leading Practices

• a. Providing general health and well-being communication and support via onsite clinic as all workers may not have access to materials and professionals.

6. Serious conditions that will result in a severe finding

• First aid kits are inadequate.
• First response equipment is inadequate.
• No stated process for access to First Aid kits during all times of operation.
• Inspection schedule is not followed.

1.0.0 (2021-01-01)

Changed

• Initial historical baseline — Occupational Injury and Illness (RBA Code of Conduct 7.0): Earliest imported version of the criterion, structured as four audit criteria: required permits, programs, licenses and testing reports for occupational injury and illness; root-cause investigation and corrective/ preventive actions tracked to closure; an effective first aid process with an adequate number of trained/certified first responders and onsite infirmary/clinic provisions; and adequate first response equipment and first aid kits with monthly inspection. No asbestos prohibition and no imminent-harm provisions were present at this release.