Christenson Communities Ltd. (Royal Oak Manor, Lacombe) Collective Agreement 2020-2024

Article 37: Worksite Health, Safety, and Wellness

1. The parties to this Collective Agreement will co-operate to the fullest extent in the matter of occupational health, safety and accident prevention, and the Employer agrees to provide safety equipment when required and to install devices where necessary.
2. A site Joint Worksite Health and Safety Committee will be established and the Union will have the right to designate at least two (2)  members of the bargaining unit as members of this Committee.  This Committee may include representatives from other employee groups.  The number of Employer representatives on the Committee shall not exceed the number of representatives from the Union and other employee groups. The employee representative of the Union may in advance request the attendance of guest(s) at a Health and Safety Committee meeting(s), and this shall not be unreasonably denied.
3. The applicable rate of pay will be paid to such Employee for time spent in attendance at a meeting of this Committee.
4. The Committee shall meet at least quarterly at a mutually acceptable hour and date.  The Co-chairpersons may call a special meeting of this Committee to deal with urgent matters.
5. The Committee will select two (2) co-chairs, an employer co-chair and an employee co-chair, for the committee. The employee co-chair shall be selected by the employee members of the committee. Co-chairs shall alternate chairing of meetings.

6. The Employer will co-operate with the Committee by providing:

   1. materials and equipment necessary to carry out its functions in accordance with its terms of reference;
   2. data pertaining to workplace health and safety conditions;
   3. access to information pertaining to accidents, incidents, serious incidents, work refusals, or occupational diseases that occur at the work site;
   4. Employer health and safety related policies and procedures;
   5. assessment reports (e.g. hygiene, environmental, etc.)
   6. Alberta OHS Officer reports, notices, and Orders.

   Available relevant information will be provided to all applicable parties at least five (5) days prior to any discussions or meetings to ensure meaningful discussion.

7. The Committee shall assist the Employer:

   1. by identifying situations which may be unhealthy or unsafe in respect of the work site and make appropriate recommendations;

   2. in the development and promotion of measures to protect the safety and health of Employees in the facility and to check the effectiveness of such measures.

8. The Health and Safety Committee shall also consider measures necessary to ensure the safety of each Employee on the Employer’s premises and may make recommendations to the Employer in that regard. 

9. Should the recommendations not be implemented and adequate steps not taken towards implementation within thirty (30) calendar days from the date the recommendation is made, the Joint Worksite Health and Safety Committee may request and shall have the right to have their recommendations presented to the Executive Management Committee.

10. An Employee’s rights shall be respected in accordance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

11. The Employer shall not unreasonably deny Committee Members access to the workplace to conduct safety inspections, including monitoring.

12. Where the Employer requires that the employee receive specific communicable disease testing, immunization, and titre as a result of or related to their work, it shall be provided at no cost. Reasonable time shall be paid at the applicable rate of pay to complete the above. Should a member be required to travel to a location other than their worksite to complete the above requirements, the member will be paid as per Transportation Allowance Article 15.

13. The Employer shall implement a psychological health and safety plan consistent with the current CSA Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace Standard. Aspects of this plan relevant to a particular workplace may be reviewed annually by the Health and Safety Committee.

14. The Employer shall have in place a harassment prevention plan. Aspects of this plan shall be reviewed annually by the Committee.

15. The Employer shall have in place a policy supporting zero tolerance of workplace violence. The Employer shall post signage supporting this policy in all Employer public areas.  Aspects of this policy may be reviewed annually by the Committee.

16.  

    1. OHS education, training and instruction shall be provided to employees, at the applicable rate of pay, to fulfill the requirements for training, instruction or education set out in the Occupational Health and Safety Act, Regulation or Code. 

    2. The Employer shall provide training at no cost to all employees on the Committee to assist them in performing their duties on the Committee. Such training shall be provided at the employee’s applicable rate of pay. 

17. The Employer recognizes fatigue as a health and safety concern and will take meaningful measures to prevent fatigue from affecting all Employees in accordance with the OHS Act, Regulations and Code.