CapitalCare Collective Agreement 2020-2024

Article 42: Workplace Health, Safety and Wellness

1. The parties to this Collective Agreement will cooperate to the fullest extent in the matter of occupational health, safety and accident prevention.  Required safety equipment and devices will be provided where necessary by the Employer. The Employer and Employees will take reasonable steps to eliminate, reduce or minimize all workplace safety hazards.
2. The Employer shall establish Health and Safety committees which shall be composed of representatives of the Employer and at least one (1) Employee representative of the Union and may include representatives of other Employee groups as well as an occasional guest, if appropriate.  These committees shall meet in accordance with the terms of reference established by the committees or within ten (10) days of receiving a written complaint regarding occupational health or safety.
3. The number of Employer representatives on the committees shall not exceed the number of representatives from the Union and other Employee groups.  The committees will, on an annual basis, discuss and determine the most effective means of chairing meetings.
4. The Basic Rate of Pay shall be paid to an Employee representative for time spent in attendance at a meeting of these committees.
5. The Employer shall not unreasonably deny committee members access to the workplace to conduct safety inspections.
6. The committees shall consider such matters as Occupational Health and Safety including responsibility for communication and education as required.  A representative of the Union may make recommendations to the Employer in that regard. 
7. 1. If an issue arises regarding Occupational Health or Safety, the Employee or Union shall first seek to resolve the issue through discussion with the applicable immediate Supervisor in an excluded management position. If the issue is not resolved satisfactorily, it may then be forwarded, in writing, to the committee.
   2. The Health and Safety committees shall also consider measures necessary to protect the security of each Employee on the Employer's premises and may make recommendations to the Employer in that regard.  Should the recommendations not be implemented and adequate steps taken towards implementation within one (1) month from the date the recommendation is made, the Health and Safety committees may request and shall have the right to have their recommendations presented to the Site Director of the Employer.  The Site Director will reply in writing to the applicable Health and Safety Committee within thirty (30) days of the receipt of the recommendation.
8. 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.
9. Where an Employee is assigned to work alone, the Employer shall have in place a policy and procedure to support a working alone safety plan.
10. The Employer shall implement a psychological health and safety plan consistent with the current Canadian Standards Association (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.
11. The Employer shall have in place a violence and harassment prevention plan.  Aspects of this plan shall be reviewed annually by the Health and Safety Committee.