Canadian Blood Services (Technical) Collective Agreement 2021-2024

Article 30: Health and Safety

1. The parties to this Collective Agreement shall cooperate to the fullest extent in the matter of occupational health and safety and accident prevention. The Employer and Employees will take reasonable steps to eliminate, reduce or minimize all workplace safety hazards.
2. Required safety equipment and devices will be provided where necessary by the Employer.
3. 1. The Joint Health and Safety Committee at each Centre shall be composed of Employer and Employee representatives, including at least one (1) representative from the bargaining unit who shall attend each Joint Health and Safety Committee meeting or designate another member in their place.
   2. The Committee shall endeavour to meet once every three (3) months or more frequently if requested, in writing, by a member of this Committee.  Agenda items may be submitted prior to such meeting.
   3. The purpose of this Committee is to consider matters involving occupational health and safety, accident prevention, communication, education and security of Employees, exclusively.
4. Employee representatives shall not suffer any loss of pay for time spent in attendance at meetings of the Joint Health and Safety Committee.
5. The Employer shall not unreasonably deny Committee members access to the workplace to conduct safety inspections.
6. The Employer will do everything possible to provide adequate security at the place of work for those Employees required to work at any time between the hours of 2200 hours and 0700 hours.
7. Workload
   An Employee who believes that their workload is unsafe or consistently excessive shall discuss the problem with their immediate supervisor.  If the problem is not resolved in such discussion, the Employee may seek remedy by referring the issue in writing to the Manager, People, Culture and Performance for further investigation.  The Employee may also request a meeting between the Employee, Union, and Manager, People, Culture and Performance.  If the matter is not resolved, the Employee may submit it to the Regional Director for final resolution.  If the problem is not resolved in such discussion, the employee may seek remedy by means of the grievance procedure.
8. 1. Employees who are required by the Employer to wear steel-toed safety shoes/boots will be paid an allowance of four dollars and eighty-one cents ($4.81) per pay period for the purchase of steel-toed safety shoes/boots.   Employees will be required to report to duty wearing the required footwear.
   2. Employees who are required by the Employer to wear dedicated indoor shoes in line with the Biologics Workplace Standards will be paid an allowance of three dollars ($3.00) per pay period for the purchase of indoor shoes. Employees will be required to report to duty wearing the required footwear.
9. Where the Employer requires that the Employee receive specific immunization and titre, as a result of or related to their work, it shall be provided at no cost.