MTO requires you the CVOR holder to have written policies, but which ones.
Written Policies Checklist Download:
CVOR Practice Test Course:
Check out CVOR.ca and see what is on special this month
Send me an email, Chris@CVOR.ca
MTO requires you the CVOR holder to have written policies, but which ones.
Written Policies Checklist Download:
CVOR Practice Test Course:
Check out CVOR.ca and see what is on special this month
Send me an email, Chris@CVOR.ca
Welcome to the CVOR podcast. This podcast is made for those a CVOR operators, such as landscapers, electricians, towing, operations, bus companies, trucking companies, anyone who has a CVOR wants to know everything that there is to know about operating a CVOR company. I'm your host, Chris Harris, thanks for joining me every week. And welcome back to the CVOR podcast, where we talk about everything, safety, fitness, and CVOR commercial, commercial vehicle operators, registration that applies really the safety fitness or the CVOR applies to all vehicles in Canada. And it's all written with the aid of the national safety code. In this episode, we are talking about developing a written safety program, and this is what's interesting here. MTO says, though, not required. It is considered a best practice to develop a written safety program. So you don't have to have a written safety program. Your insurance company will tell you, you need a written safety program and to defend yourself in court and understand that I'm not a lawyer. However, with my insurance background, I do understand that defending yourself in court does need to happen from time to time and without written documentation, it becomes extremely difficult to defend you and your company. So you really do need to have your programs in writing. You need the documentation in writing and MTO, strongly urge. Is it, your insurance provider will tell you, you need it. And any lawyer of course would also say, Hey, you really need to have these things in writing. So what policies might you have in writing? Well, you need policies and procedures that inform and direct the behavior of your CVOR driver. So you need policies that inform and direct the behavior. Also under the health and safety regulations that we have either in Ontario or in Canada, you have to tell your CVOR drivers and all your employees about all known hazards associated with the occupation. So if you're just talking about CVOR drivers, what known hazards are there. And then of course you must document that you trained. So that driver is less likely to fall victim of one of those hazards. And an example might be following distance. Of course, being a CVOR driver, following distance is very important that we always have adequate following distance. Well, what training did you do? And did you document that you have conducted so that your CVOR driver understands that tailgating is just not acceptable within your organization and it's also against the law. So you need to be able to prove all of that. For example, MTO goes on to say that a policy and procedure document outlining how to deal with a small fire in a terminal or in a vehicle will inform the staff of what they should do in such a situation. So that's what they're talking about. There was a hazard, a potential fire in a vehicle. And then what do you do? Well, you have to have a policy manual or procedure that says, Hey, driver, we've got fire extinguishers in the trucks, and we've trained you on how to use that fire extinguisher. So please use a fire extinguisher, but remember your safety is always first. If the fire is such that you don't think it's reasonable, that you can fight it with a simple fire extinguisher, then evacuate the area. Something like that. That's what you need to be thinking about. Always your CVOR operator or driver's safety training. Employers do have a legal obligation to train under the occupational health and safety act. And you've got to make sure that the staff, your CVOR drivers are properly trained for the duties for which they have been assigned. So you might be, you know, a foam blowing company or an insulation company. And you've got to document all of the training that says, they know how to do their, all of their tasks safely and successfully. You could be, geez, there's so many small vehicles, a landscaper, anything like that. You've got to document the training there. You should also have some measurements and evaluations. So for example, the driver review document that I give away on the safety dog website, it has a scoring mechanism as part of the road test. So you can score. That's what they're talking about in writing as well. You also want your discipline policy. You want your CVOR operators and drivers to understand that if they do go offside, that there are consequences and most companies have a policy that say 1, 2, 3, 4, and four is out the door. So one might be a verbal warning and don't misunderstand me when I say verbal warning. It needs to be documented. I know that's an oxymoron, but a verbal warning does need to be documented. The second step may be a written warning. Third step would be suspension and fourth step for a same or similar violation within a certain period of time would be termination. So that's how you might write that policy, by the way, your discipline policy. You got to explain that it's a four step policy and for the same or similar violations are the words that I like to use. I also like to assign a timeframe if I'm going to a good employer and I keep a driver for years, it's not fair to that driver to get disciplined for having two speeding tickets over a 10 year period as an example. So I always like to have a reasonable timeframe in there, things like that. So you need to have a discipline policy that is reasonable and protects you and also protects your drivers. So with that, I think that's enough about writing of the policies. Please click like and subscribe if you're getting value from this program. And don't forget, leave me your comment and ask me, or tell me what you would like me to hear like you to hear as a way of a subject. If I pick your subject for a podcast episode, I will say thank you by giving you a, the course, the Canadian, sorry, the Ontario driver file course, because everybody needs to have CVOR driver files. And I will say thank you by gifting that to you. Thank you. As always at the end of the CVOR podcast, we ask a CVOR test question. You can get a link, or there is a link in the show notes down below where you can purchase the CVOR practice, test all 110 questions. But here is one of those questions. It is a true false question. The result of a facility audit will be recorded on an operator's CVOR record, true or false. And of course, that one is char Ru. All right. So yes, it is true. The results of a CVOR audit or of a facility audit are absolutely recorded on your CVOR and you will have to live with those results. So if you need help preparing for a CVOR auditor or a facility audit, please reach out to safety. Diag, glad to help you prep. Thanks so much, Chris Harris safety dog I'm out Hey, thanks for sticking with us. This is the CVOR podcast. We talk about everything. See if you are related, if you're getting value, please click a like and subscribe. And don't forget about our contest. Leave me a comment. And if I choose your suggestion for content on another episode, I will be thankful and give you a access to the CVOR driver file course. All right. So leave me a comment with suggestions for topics. All right. That's it for this week safety dog and the CVOR podcast is out.