Associated Ambulance & Services (Whitecourt) Ltd., Collective Agreement 2020-2025

Article 40: Critical Event Responses

1. Following a Critical Event an Employee may request to be provided with a minimum of one (1) hour off duty with pay following the completion of the critical event. This shall not be unreasonably denied. A critical event is defined as an event or a series of events that has a stressful impact enough to overwhelm the usually effective coping skills of either an individual or a group.
2. In cases of a critical event an Employee feels that they are unable to complete the remainder of their shift as a result of the impact of the critical event, they will be relieved of duty and allowed to leave their shift without penalty to their pay, sick bank/personal leave bank and/or vacation bank.
3. For each claim the Employer, and the Employee shall complete the appropriate WCB documentation if the difficult or critical call results in an absence from the workplace beyond the day of the incident or necessitates health care intervention.
4. Where critical incident or stress debriefing is requested by an Employee, it shall be provided as soon as practicably possible, and the Employee will suffer no loss of earnings for the duration of the shift. If an Employee requests mental health services, the Employer will make reasonable efforts to inform the Employee of resources available throughout the Company. Any request by the Employee for such services shall not be unreasonably denied.