Safety+ Resources
Comprehensive workplace safety for arts, culture, and heritage organizations and professionals.
About Safety+
As museums act as agents of change in their communities, workers become at risk to backlash and pushback. They deserve to be prepared to manage these situations in a safe way. As the sector prioritizes more equitable and decolonial practices and programming, it is important that professionals and volunteers are equipped with the skills and resources required to reduce harm for themselves, their team, their collections, and their community.
The BCMA is developing a new collection of resources and workshops that meet the rising need for expanded safety training for museum workers that look beyond basic working conditions to explore the severely neglected community aspects of Health & Safety. Over the next year, the BCMA will collaborate with experts to make learning opportunities geared towards institutions of all sizes on the following topics:
- Protecting Staff/Volunteers/Visitors From In-Person and Online Harm
- Bystander Interventions
- Workplace Occupational Hazards
These resources will be developed and delivered in a Safety+ Toolkit for Museums as a direct response to the increasing demand that we support museum staff, community, and collection safety.
The B.C. Museums Association gratefully acknowledges funding support of this project.
Topic 1: Biological Hazards
BCMA Webinar: Safety+ Biological Hazards Policy
Join the BCMA and Anand Kanna, Principal Consultant at OneElevenSafety, for this engaging webinar on organization safety and biological hazard policies. This webinar will cover biological hazards, workplace responsibilities, hazard procedures, and employee training.
Biological Hazard Exposure Control Policy Template
This policy is to ensure that our workers and volunteers are protected from occupational exposure to biological agents in a manner that complies with the B.C. Workers Compensation Act and Occupational Health and Safety Regulation, as well as human rights legislation.
Topic 3: Working in Isolation
BCMA Webinar: Safety+ Hazards of Working Alone or in Isolation
Join the BCMA and Anand Kanna, Principal Consultant at One Eleven Safety, for the second in a series of webinars in support of BCMA’s Safety+ program. This time, we'll focus on the hazards of working alone or in isolation. We’ll cover the regulatory requirements and the new policy created for members. This webinar will explain employer responsibilities, how to assess the risk of working alone, and what procedures must be implemented to mitigate the risk.
Working Alone or in Isolation Policy Template
A fillable policy to ensure that our workers and volunteers are protected while working on worksite(s) in a manner that complies with the B.C. Workers Compensation Act and Occupational Health and Safety Regulation, as well as human rights legislation. This includes times when workers are working alone or in isolation, either at the organization’s workplace or remotely from home.
Appendix A: Working Alone Risk Assessment Form
The interval between checks is based on a risk assessment of the workplace. This worksheet (APPENDIX A) can be used for this risk assessment.
Appendix B: Working Alone Information Form
If a worker is working alone, they will complete the Working Alone Information Form (APPENDIX B) with their supervisor.
Appendix C: Working Alone Check-in Record
If a worker is working alone, they will complete the Working Alone Information Form (APPENDIX B) with their supervisor, and a record of checks will be maintained. This Check-in Form (APPENDIX C) may be used for this purpose.
Safety+ Upcoming Topics
Violence in the workplace
New & Young Workers Orientation
Emergency Response
If you have questions about the Safety+ resources, please contact Lorenda at programs@museum.bc.ca.
In the meantime, check out our collection of resources about climate change and emergencies to support organizational safety!
Climate and Emergency Resources
The BC Museums Association is proud to feature a collection of learning resources developed by – and for – our members.
We hope you will find sources of inspiration and practical tools here.
