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Hazard Prevention Program Guide

2. Definitions

The prevention program only covers hazards arising out of, linked with or occurring in the course of employment over which you have control, whether within or outside the work place. Hazards in the work place include:

  • work accidents
  • occupational diseases
  • hazards related to the safe occupancy of the work place
  • all other hazardous situations

2.1 Work place accidents

The Code does not provide a definition of a work place accident. It is generally agreed that a work place accident is an unpleasant and unwanted event attributable to any cause, happening to any person due to or during work and causing death, physical injury or acute poisoning when there is exposure to a toxic product over a very short period of time.

2.2 Occupational diseases

The Code does not define the term occupational disease. The term generally covers deaths and illnesses contracted due to or during work and which are a characteristic of this work or directly related to chemical, physical or biological agents that are used, produced, handled or stored at a work place and which gradually affect the health of employees. The main hazards that may give rise to health problems or occupational diseases are:

  • physical, chemical and biological agents, including controlled products
  • hazardous substances that can have long-term effects on health and reproductive health
  • poor indoor air quality
  • poor sanitary conditions
  • exposure to a toxic gas or an oxygen deficient atmosphere

In the event that employees are excessively exposed to these hazards, they may contract a short-, medium-, or long-term reversible or irreversible occupational disease.

2.3 Hazards related to the safe occupancy of the work place

Hazards related to the safe occupancy of the work place specifically mentioned in the Code and the Regulations must be covered by your prevention program, even if no person is injured or affected. These are:

  • fire hazards
  • explosion hazards
  • risks of damage to a boiler or a pressure vessel that results in fire or the rupture of the boiler or pressure vessel
  • risks of damage to an elevating device that renders it unserviceable, or a free fall of an elevating device
  • confined spaces
  • all other hazards that may require implementation of rescue, revival or other similar emergency procedures

2.4 Other hazardous situations

Where a particular work place hazard is not specifically addressed in the Regulations, the Hazard Prevention Program Regulation is designed to provide the framework to effectively address that hazard to prevent accidents and injury to health arising out of, linked with or occurring in the course of employment.

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Date Modified:
2012-03-19