House Next Door Society Collective Agreement 2012-2026

Article 23: Workplace Health, Safey, 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. The applicable rate of pay will be paid to such Employees for time spent, in attendance at a meeting, and in completing duties of this Committee.
3. The Committee shall meet approximately once a quarter at a mutually acceptable hour and date. Either co-chair may mutually call a special meeting of this Committee to deal with urgent mailers.
4. The Co-chairs of the Committee and terms of reference shall be as set out in the Occupational Health and Safety Legislation.
5. 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 and information pertaining to workplace health and safety conditions.
6. 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 Institution and to check the effectiveness of such measures.
7. The Employer shall not unreasonably deny committee members access to the workplace to conduct safety inspections, including monitoring.
8. The Health and Safety Committee shall also consider measures necessary to ensure the safety of each employee at the work site and may make recommendations to the Employer in that regard in writing.  The Employer shall reply in writing to the Health and Safety Committee within thirty (30) days of receipt of the written recommendation.
9. Dangerous Work
   1. No Employee shall:
      1. carry out work if, on reasonable and probable grounds, they believe that there exists a dangerous condition to the health or safety of that Employee;
      2. carry out any work if, on reasonable and probable grounds, they believe that it will cause to exist a dangerous condition to the health or safety of that Employee or another Employee or another person present at the work site; or
      3. operate any tool, appliance or equipment if, on reasonable and probable grounds, they believe that it will cause to exist a dangerous condition to the health or safety of that Employee or another Employee or another person present at the work site.
   2. In this Article, “dangerous work” means in relation to any occupation:
      1. a danger which is not normal for that occupation, or

      2. a danger under which a person engaged in that occupation would not normally carry out their work,

      3. a situation for which the worker isn’t properly trained, equipped or experienced.

The Employer acknowledges the importance of a psychologically safe and healthy workplace. Recommendations and any enhancements to psychological safety will be addressed at the Workplace Health and Wellness Committee.