Supervisors play a critical role in the workplace because they have the authority to oversee the work of others.  As such, supervisors have considerable responsibilities under Occupational Health & Safety Legislation. The Law also obligates employers to appoint competent persons as supervisors.  A supervisor is deemed competent if they are: qualified by knowledge, training and experience in the work they oversee; familiar with the Act and Regulations that apply to their workplace; and most importantly, knowledgeable about actual or potential workplace hazards, so they can in turn advise workers about these hazards.

To help workplaces understand and fulfill their significant supervisory responsibilities, the BCFED Health & Safety Centre has developed a new one-day training program.  The Supervisor Health and Safety Training reviews the specific responsibilities of supervisors under the Act and related Regulations.  Detailed attention is paid to the supervisor's role in addressing work refusals, and working with Joint Health and Safety Committees and Worker Representatives during inspections, investigations and during WCB inspections.

This new program also reviews relevant case law and provisions of the Criminal Code of Canada to help participants better identify types of work that are supervisory in nature and their related legal duties.