Health and Safety
Student health and safety is a shared responsibility among NSCC, the employer and the student. Insurance and risk management practices are of the utmost importance in ensuring the health and safety of our students. To demonstrate NSCC’s due diligence, it is important that a risk assessment is completed, required forms are reviewed and signed, and safety plans are in place. NSCC maintains several insurance policies to protect employees, students, and the organisation. These include errors and omissions, general liability, and student accident insurance should any accidents or incidents occur.
Student Insurance
Most students are automatically included in and covered by existing NSCC insurance plans during their participation in work experience courses. The Student Insurance Program (SIP) offers protection in case of workplace accidents, covering certain expenses that may not be addressed by the Nova Scotia Medical Services Insurance Program (MSI). Students, who’s Canadian residency is from another Canadian province, will have coverage through the equivalent provincial health coverage insurance plans gram in their home province. It is your responsibility to ensure you are aware of what this coverage is. The same arrangement applies to Nova Scotia students undertaking work experiences in other provinces.
As paid employees, students are covered by the employer’s WCB (Workers Compensations Board) account while on their work experiences. Additionally, students engaged in paid experiences are protected by existing NSCC insurance plans during their Work-integrated Learning activities. Health & Human Services program students also benefit from medical malpractice coverage.
NSCC’s General Liability insurance protects students and the College if a student causes bodily injury or property damage to a third party while on work experience.
For information on insurance for international work experiences and/or international students please refer to the international sections of this guide International Work Experience (Work Experience Outside of Canada and International Students (Work Experience in Canada.
Employer Insurance
For the safety and protection of our students, NSCC typically requires employers to carry a general liability insurance policy of at least $2 million dollars. This ensures that employers promote safe workplace practices and effective risk management. In some cases, employers may not carry the minimum general liability insurance required. In such instances, NSCC may still consider work experiences with these employers, subject to a thorough assessment process:
- The student, supervising faculty, and the employer jointly complete the Work Integrated Learning Agreement form.
- The assessment is reviewed by the Academic Chair, who assesses the level of risk involved.
- If the Academic Chair is comfortable with the level of risk, they consult with NSCC’s Occupational Health and Safety team to confirm their assessment of the risk.
- With all in agreement, the Academic Chair and supervising faculty sign-off on the agreement.
Exceptions to this process are NOT possible for work experiences in industrial, construction, healthcare, aviation, or other high-risk settings.
For more detailed information, please refer to the Work-Integrated Learning Insurance Guidelines available under the Hire a Student section on NSCC’s website.
By collectively prioritizing health and safety, we can create a secure and nurturing environment that fosters exceptional learning experiences for our students. Your commitment to promoting workplace safety is greatly appreciated as we strive to prepare our students for success in their future careers.
Risk Management
A vital component of work experience is ensuring that our students are placed in safe work environments with proper risk management practices in place.
Before commencing any work experience, the employer must complete the Risk Assessment and Compliance Section of the Work Integrated Learning Agreement. This section helps identify potential job hazards and control measures, determine the need for personal protective equipment, and verify the employer’s appropriate liability insurance. The completed agreement must be submitted to the Academic Chair, by the faculty, who will keep it on file throughout the student’s work experience.
Creating a Safe & Respectful Environment
At NSCC, we are fully committed to fostering safe and respectful learning and working environments, where discrimination and harassment have no place, and where learning and teaching can flourish. We are dedicated to treating all members of our community with fairness and equity, maintaining the academic integrity of our programs and curriculum, and ensuring an academic climate that supports learning, free from disruptive or inappropriate behaviour.
To gain deeper insights into NSCC’s unwavering dedication to providing safe and respectful work environments, we invite you to explore our Respectful Community Policy. This policy reflects our commitment to cultivating a positive and inclusive atmosphere for everyone involved in the NSCC community.
