Staying Safe at Camp this Summer
Warm weather is upon us and we're heading into the great outdoors. If you're managing a summer
camp, you are likely busy preparing fun filled, memorable and safe experiences for your campers. And
you are likely hiring staff to support this great experience. But have you considered the health and
safety of the staff you hire?
Summer camp jobs can be a great fit for young workers and summer students, but these workers may have
limited job experience and limited health and safety knowledge. This can be risky, especially if these staff
are supervising or directing others. It's important that all the staff you hire are familiar with their health and
safety rights and responsibilities, the hazards they are exposed to, and how to fulfill their responsibilities
under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. Here are some tools to help get you started:
Health and Safety Posting Requirements 6-19 employees
Health and Safety Posting Requirements 20-49 employees
The Effective JHSC Ontario – Guide to Getting Started
Health and Safety Awareness Training (OHSA) – Ontario Supervisors
Health and Safety Awareness Training (OHSA) – Ontario Workers
Worker Handbook Generator
What Does Safety Look Like at Camp?
One of the challenges for summer camps is the variety of environments, facilities and services provided.
Camps often have kitchens and dining areas, tuck shops, health care centres, sports & recreation buildings,
maintenance and storage buildings, overnight cabins, waterfront and other outdoor activity areas.
Within the camps there are various hazardous pieces of equipment, tools, chemicals and even vehicles
that may cause harm. The outdoors and remote location of the camp may create additional concerns.
Not only is it important to identify and control the hazards at camp, but also to develop emergency
procedures for when things go wrong and what to do in the event of an incident or injury.
Summer Camp Safety Resources Toolkit
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