Safety Management System

A strong SMS starts with strong leadership. Under Nova Scotia’s OHS Act, the Internal Responsibility System (IRS) requires all employees to play a role in maintaining a safe workplace – and employers must have a written safety policy that reflects that commitment. This section guides organizations in developing a safety policy, defining management cycles, clarifying responsibilities, and establishing the IRS as a foundation for everything that follows.

Hazard Management is a proactive process to identify and control risks before they cause harm to workers, property, or the environment. Under Nova Scotia’s OHS Act, employers are responsible for hazard identification, risk assessment, and control – key pillars of any effective safety program. This section guides organizations in building a robust Hazard Management process tailored to their workplace.

Regular workplace inspections are one of the most effective tools for preventing injuries and illness – and under Nova Scotia’s OHS Act, they are a legislative requirement. This section supports organizations in developing clear policies and procedures for a consistent, effective inspection program that is a shared responsibility between management and employees.

Every incident – including near misses – is an opportunity to learn and improve. This section provides organizations with the tools to build a comprehensive incident management program covering reporting, documentation, and investigation, ensuring that no event goes unexamined and no lesson goes unlearned.

When the unexpected happens, preparation is everything. This section guides organizations through identifying potential emergency scenarios, developing response plans, securing necessary resources, and testing procedures through drills. It also addresses communication and training requirements for employees, contractors, visitors, and emergency services - so that everyone knows their role when it matters most.

Safety training is the foundation of a culture where employees at every level promote and practice safe work. Effective training programs reduce injuries, minimize liability, and ensure compliance with Nova Scotia’s OHS Act and Regulations. This section helps organizations build a structured, sustainable approach to safety education across the organization.

Safe Work Procedures provide step-by-step guidance on how to complete tasks safely – outlining hazards, risks, and the control measures needed to reduce the likelihood of injury. Safe Work Practices complement these with clear guidelines on workplace do’s and don’ts. Together, they form a practical, day-to-day framework for safe operations.

A JOHS Committee brings workers and management together to improve occupational health and safety across the organization. This section provides guidance on establishing and maintaining a productive, effective JOHSC – ensuring the committee has the structure, processes, and support it needs to fulfill its mandate under Nova Scotia’s OHS legislation.

Your duty of care extends to everyone in your workplace – including contracted workers. This section supports organizations in developing a Contractor Safety Policy and a templated contractor safety orientation, ensuring that anyone working on your site understands and meets your safety standards.

A Stay at Work / Return to Work program supports employees navigating illness or injury by improving health outcomes, maintaining meaningful work routines, and facilitating a safe and sustainable return to full capacity. This section helps organizations develop a program that addresses both short-term modifications and longer-term reintegration – reducing costs while demonstrating a genuine commitment to employee well-being.

Employees have the right to know – and share – information that affects their health and safety at work. This section helps organizations establish clear, consistent systems for communicating hazards, reporting incidents, submitting work refusals, and engaging staff in inspections and safety processes across all levels of the organization.

Proper documentation is not just good practice – it’s a critical component of a defensible, effective safety management system. This section covers how to maintain accurate, organized records at every level of the organization, ensuring that your SMS is not only well-run but well-evidenced.

A Safety Management System is never truly finished – it evolves. This section focuses on the reporting of statistics and trends through Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), helping organizations identify gaps, celebrate successes, and continuously strengthen their safety management system over time.