Rectification of Safety Hazard (a) Where, because of the existence of a safety hazard, a site has been stopped for a defined period of time and Employees sent off site by agreement between Site Managers and any combination of Union Official/s, Health and Safety Committee, those people who remain on site to do rectification work will be paid at the rate of double time for all such work.
(b) This would not be applicable on normal de watering (see clause 32.6 hereof) or normal housekeeping work or where a section of the site has been declared unsafe and normal rectification occurs whilst the remainder of the site carries on working. It is agreed that any โhousekeepingโ work performed on Projects is to be paid at single time rate.
Function of Joint Health and Safety Committee All incidents involving aggression or violence shall be brought to the attention of the Joint Health and Safety Committee. The Employer agrees that the Joint Health and Safety Committee shall concern itself with all matters relating to violence to staff.
Accident Prevention Health and Safety Committee (a) The Company and the Union agree that they mutually desire to maintain standards of safety and health in the Company in order to prevent accidents, injury and illness.
(b) Recognizing its responsibilities under the applicable legislation, the Company agrees to accept as a member of its Accident Prevention Health and Safety Committee at least one representative selected or appointed by the Union from amongst bargaining unit employees.
(c) Such Committee shall identify potential dangers and hazards, institute means of improving health and safety programs and recommend actions to be taken to improve conditions related to safety and health.
(d) The Company agrees to cooperate reasonably in providing necessary information to enable the Committee to fulfil its functions.
(e) Meetings shall be held every second month or more frequently at the call of the chair if required. The Committee shall maintain minutes of all meetings and make the same available for review.
(f) Any representative appointed or selected in accordance with (b) hereof shall serve for a term of one calendar year from the date of appointment which may be renewed for further periods of one year. Time off for such representative(s) to attend meetings of the Accident Prevention Health and Safety Committee in accordance with the foregoing shall be granted and time so spent attending such meetings shall be deemed to be work time for which the representative(s) shall be paid by the Company at his regular or premium rate as may be applicable.
(g) The Union agrees to endeavour to obtain the full cooperation of its membership in the observation of all safety rules and practices.
(h) Pregnant employees may request to be transferred from their current duties if, in the professional opinion of the employee's physician, the pregnancy may be at risk. If such a transfer is not feasible, the pregnant employee, if she so requests, will be granted an unpaid leave of absence before commencement of the maternity leave referred to in Article 15.04.
(i) Where the Company identifies high-risk areas where employees are exposed to Hepatitis B, the Company will provide, at no cost to the employees, a Hepatitis B vaccine.
(j) The Company will recognize April 28 as the annual day of remembrance for workers killed, injured or have contracted a work related disease on the job. Subject to the requirements of patient care, the Company agrees to stop work and provide a minute of silence for all employees at 11:00 A.M. April 28, in memory of workers killed or injured on the job. The Company will announce on its public address system at 11:00 a.m., April 28 that all employees will be observing a minute of silence in memory of workers killed or injured in the job.
Health and Safety Committees In order to provide a safe and healthful workplace, local unit level LMCs shall establish Health and Safety Committees. Each committee will be composed of an equal number of representatives appointed by the Union and the Employer and will be co-chaired by a Union and Employer representative. A Union representative must be a member of the unit but either party may be accompanied by staff and/or other subject matter experts who may participate, but not vote, at meetings. Each party shall prepare and submit an agenda to the other party one week prior to any scheduled meeting. If neither party submits an agenda, the meeting shall be canceled. Each committeeโs general responsibility will be to provide a safe and healthful workplace by recognizing hazards and recommending the abatement of hazards and educational programs. Each committee will:
1. meet on an established schedule;
2. arrange periodic inspections to detect, evaluate and offer recommendations for control of potential health and safety hazards;
3. appoint members of the committee to participate in inspections, investigations, or other established health and safety functions to the extent necessary;
4. receive and review a quarterly summary of job-related health and safety reports including accident reports and make appropriate recommendations;
5. investigate all types of employee job-related accidents and all types of occupational illnesses and make recommendations;
6. promote health and safety education;
7. study the use of VDTs and make appropriate recommendations to ensure the health and safety of employees regarding such use;
8. maintain and review minutes of all committee meetings; and
9. review the availability and adequacy of first aid supplies and equipment and address any inadequacies. In cases where summary reports are provided, a committee member may request and receive an individual case file or report. In no case will an employeeโs records be provided when the law forbids disclosure. In addition, employeesโ names will normally be deleted but may be provided to all committee members in instances where committee members need to know the name(s) of employee(s) to effectively represent the bargaining unit(s) and disclosure of name(s) is not prohibited by law. The Employer may require committee members and Union representatives to sign confidentiality statements. Members of each Health and Safety Committee will be paid by the Employer while performing committee duties, including travel time, and will also be paid for any time spent in committee approved training related to health and safety. The Committee will develop an annual training program for its members. Each Health and Safety Committee will establish rules consistent with the above principles. A mechanism to coordinate the efforts of individual Health and Safety Committees will be established at each agency.
Recognition of Union Stewards and Grievance Committee In order to provide an orderly and speedy procedure for the settling of grievances, the Employer acknowledges the rights and duties of the Union Stewards. The โโโโโโโ shall assist any Employee, which the โโโโโโโ represents, in preparing and presenting her grievance in accordance with the grievance procedure.
