Northern Contaminated Sites Program: Environment, Health and Safety Policy

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Approved on May 1, 2026

The health, safety, and well-being of employees, as well as the protection of the environment from pollutants and harmful impacts, remain core priorities of the Northern Contaminated Sites Program (NCSP) within the Northern Affairs Organization (NAO) of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC). This Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) policy was developed to guide decisions and actions to ensure that the intended EHS outcomes are achieved. These intended outcomes shall include:

1. Management demonstrates its commitment to provide safe and healthy working conditions for the prevention of work-related injury, illness or disease and maintenance of a healthy environment by ensuring that:
   1. all program activities meet EHS requirements
   2. the guidance provided by this EHS Policy and other EHS guidance documents are fully implemented and monitored
   3. all staff, third party contractors, visitors and local communities working on or visiting CIRNAC sites, as applicable, are not adversely impacted by environmental, health, and/or safety risks associated with contaminated sites
   4. EHS responsibilities and performance expectations are clearly defined, communicated, and integrated into planning and operational decision-making
   5. sufficient resources are allocated to meet its commitments
2. All program activities comply with the Canada Labour Code – Part roman numeral 2II, applicable Territorial and Federal EHS legislation and regulations, Treasury Board policies, and the requirements of CIRNAC's NCSP Management Framework. Whenever feasible and beneficial, best practices that go beyond compliance are adopted to demonstrate due diligence.
3. An EHS Management System is maintained to ensure that all contaminated site activities, including assessment, remediation, risk management, and monitoring, are aligned across all levels of the organization. This system also provides a framework for establishing and reviewing EHS objectives and targets at the program, regional, and project levels.
4. An Internal Responsibility System (IRS) is implemented to foster a safe and healthy work environment where all individuals share responsibility. Everyone is expected to follow safe work practices and comply with relevant regulations, while being held accountable for implementing and adhering to the requirements of the EHS Management System.
5. Workers, workers' representatives and/or other key stakeholders are consulted in the identification of EHS aspects and hazards, the assessment of their risk and the development and implementation of controls.
6. Mandatory and needs-based training is provided at all levels of the organization to ensure employees understand the risks associated with their work and their responsibilities. This training supports the safe execution of duties, and the prevention of accidents, injuries, and environmental harm.
7. EHS programs, projects, and practices are regularly monitored, measured and evaluated against established performance standards. Continuous improvement efforts are undertaken to identify and act on opportunities to reduce risks to human health and the environment.