Good Samaritan Society Collective Agreement 2020-2024

Article 20: Occupational Health and Safety

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.  The Employer and Employees will take reasonable steps to reduce or minimize all workplace safety hazards.

2. A Care Home or program Occupational Health and Safety Committee (“Committee’) will be established and the Union will have the right to designate one (1) member of the bargaining unit as a member 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.

3. The Basic 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 time and date.  The Co-chair persons may call a special meeting of this Committee to deal with urgent matters and, in addition, shall meet within ten (10) days of receiving a written complaint regarding occupational health or safety. The terms of reference will determine the procedure for dealing with such matters. These terms of reference of the Committee shall be agreed upon by the Union, Employer, and other employee groups. The employee representatives of the Union may request the attendance of guest(s) at an Occupational Health and Safety Committee meeting(s), and this shall not be unreasonably denied.

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 the 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, or occupational diseases that occur at the work site.

7. The Parties will provide available relevant information to all applicable Parties, endeavouring to provide the relevant information at least five (5) days prior to any discussions or meetings to ensure meaningful discussion of safety concerns, incidents, and issues. Relevant information that is being referred to in this article may include, but is not limited to:
   
   •    Incident reports,
   •    Employer policies and procedures,
   •    Assessment reports (e.g. hygiene, environnemental, etc.),
   •    OHS Officer reports.
    

8. 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.

9. The 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.  Should adequate steps not be taken within twenty-eight (28) calendar days from the date the recommendation is made, the Committee may request and shall have the right to have their recommendations presented to the Manager of Employee Wellness, or their designate.

   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. Should the issue remain unresolved by the Committee; the issue shall be referred to the Vice President with accountability for OH&S.  A resolution meeting between the Union and the Vice President, or designate(s), shall take place within twenty-eight (28) calendar days of the issue being referred to the Vice President.  The Vice President (or designate) shall reply in writing to the Union within fourteen (14) calendar days.

   3. Should the issue remain unresolved following the Vice President’s written response, the Union may request and shall have the right to present its recommendation(s) to the governing Board. A resolution meeting shall be held within thirty (30) calendar days of the issue being referred to the Board.  The governing Board shall reply in writing to the Union within twenty-eight (28) calendar days of the presentation by the Union.

10. An Employee’s rights shall be respected in accordance with the Alberta 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 immunization and titre as a result of or related to their work, it shall be provided at no cost.  

13. Employer policies, plans and procedures related to Occupational Health and Safety shall be reviewed annually by the Committee and the Committee may make recommendations to the employer in that regard.

14. The Employer, Union and Employees are committed to supporting a harassment and bullying free work environment. The Employer shall have in place a bullying and harassment prevention plan that can include policies, procedures, training materials, posters and other resources. Aspects of this plan shall be reviewed annually by the Committee.