Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee The Employer and the Union recognize the role of the joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee in promoting a safe and healthful workplace. The parties agree that a Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee shall be established for each Employer covered by this Collective Agreement. The Committee shall govern itself in accordance with the provisions of the Industrial Health and Safety Regulations made pursuant to the Workers’ Compensation Act. The Committee shall be as between the Employer and the Union, with equal representation, and with each party appointing its own representatives. Representatives of the Union shall be chosen by the Union membership or appointed by the Union. All minutes of the meetings of the Joint Occupational Health & Safety Committee will be recorded in a mutually agreeable format and will be sent to the Union. The Union further agrees to actively pursue with the other Health Care Unions a Joint Union Committee for the purposes of this Article. The Employer agrees to provide or cause to be provided to Employer members of the Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee adequate training and orientation to the duties and responsibilities of committee members to allow the incumbents to fulfil those duties competently. The Union agrees to provide or cause to be provided to Union members of the Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee adequate training and orientation to the duties and responsibilities of committee members to allow the incumbents to fulfil those duties competently. Such training and orientation shall take place within six (6) months of taking office.
Occupational Health and Safety Act The Employer, the Union, and the Employees recognize they are bound by the provisions of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, S.N.S. 1996, c.7, and appropriate federal acts and regulations. Any breach of these obligations may be grieved pursuant to this Agreement.
Occupational Health and Safety Committee
(a) The parties agree that a joint occupational health and safety committee will be established. The Committee shall govern itself in accordance with the provisions of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations made pursuant to the Workers Compensation Act. The Committee shall be between the Employer and the Union, with equal representation, and with each party appointing its own representatives. The Union agrees to actively pursue with the other Health Care unions, where more than one union is certified with the Employer, a joint union/employer committee for the purposes of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations.
(b) Employees who are members of the Committee shall be granted leave without loss of pay or receive straight-time regular wages while attending meetings of the Joint Committee. Employees who are members of the Committee shall be granted leave without loss of pay or receive straight-time regular wages to participate in joint workplace inspections and joint accident investigations at the request of the Committee pursuant to the WCB Occupational Health and Safety Regulations. Committee meetings, workplace inspections and accident investigations shall be scheduled during normal working hours whenever practicable.
(c) The Occupational Health and Safety Committee shall have as part of its mandate the jurisdiction to receive complaints or concerns regarding workload problems which are safety-related, the right to investigate such complaints, the right to define the problem and the right to make recommendations for a solution. Where the Committee determines that a safety-related workload problem exists, it shall inform the Employer. Within 21 days thereafter, the Employer shall advise the Committee what steps it has taken or proposes to take to rectify the safety-related workload problem identified by the Committee. If the Union is not satisfied with the Employer's response, it may refer the matter to the Industry Trouble shooter for a written recommendation.
(d) No employee shall be disciplined for refusal to work when excused by the provisions of the
Environmental, Health and Safety Matters (a) Comply in all material respects with all applicable Environmental Laws, including, without limitation, obtaining and complying with and maintaining any and all licenses, approvals, notifications, registrations or permits required by applicable Environmental Laws. For purposes of this Section 5.12(a), material noncompliance by the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any tenant or subtenant, with any applicable Environmental Law shall be deemed not to constitute a breach of this covenant provided that, upon learning of any actual or suspected material noncompliance, the Company and the relevant Subsidiaries shall promptly undertake all reasonable efforts to achieve material compliance (or contest in good faith by appropriate proceedings the alleged violation or applicable Environmental Law at issue and (to the extent required by GAAP) provide on the books of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, as the case may be, reserves in accordance with GAAP with respect thereto), and provided further that, in any case, such noncompliance, and any other noncompliance with applicable Environmental Law, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Promptly comply in all material respects with all lawful orders and directives of all Governmental Authorities regarding applicable Environmental Laws, except to the extent that the validity thereof is currently being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and (to the extent required by GAAP) reserves in accordance with GAAP with respect thereto have been provided on the books of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, as the case may be.
(c) Defend, indemnify and hold harmless the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and their respective parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, employees, agents, officers and directors, from and against any claims, demands, penalties, fines, liabilities, settlements, damages, costs and expenses of whatever kind or nature, known or unknown, contingent or otherwise, arising out of, or in any way relating to the violation of, noncompliance with or liability under any Environmental Laws applicable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective operations or properties, or any orders, requirements or demands of Governmental Authorities related thereto, including, without limitation, attorney’s and consultant’s fees, investigation and laboratory fees, response costs, court costs and litigation expenses, except to the extent that any of the foregoing arise out of the gross negligence or willful misconduct of (or, as determined pursuant to a claim initiated by the Company, breach in bad faith of its express obligations under the applicable Loan Documents by) the party seeking indemnification therefor, in each case, as determined by a final non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction. This indemnity shall continue in full force and effect regardless of the termination of this Agreement.
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY 34.01 The parties recognize the need for a safe and healthy workplace. The Employer shall be responsible for providing safe and healthy working conditions. The Employer and Employees will take all reasonable steps to eliminate, reduce or minimize all workplace safety hazards. Occupational health and safety education, training and instruction provided by the Employer, shall be paid at the Basic Rate of Pay, to fulfill the requirements for training, instruction or education set out in the Occupational Health and Safety Act, Regulation or Code.
(a) There shall be an Occupational Health and Safety Committee (Committee), which shall be composed of representatives of the Employer and representatives of the Local and may include others representing recognized functional bargaining units. This Committee shall meet once a month, and in addition shall meet within 10 days of receiving a written complaint regarding occupational health or safety. An Employee shall be paid the Employee’s Basic Rate of Pay for attendance at Committee meetings. A request to establish separate committees for each site or grouping of sites shall not be unreasonably denied. The Employer shall provide training at no cost to all Employees on the Committee to assist them in performing their duties on the Committee. Training shall be paid at the Employee’s Basic Rate of Pay.
(b) Minutes of each meeting shall be taken and shall be approved by the Employer, the Local, and other bargaining groups, referred to in (a), prior to circulation.
(c) The purpose of the Committee is to consider such matters as occupational health and safety and the Local may make recommendations to the Employer in that regard.
(d) If an issue arises regarding occupational health or safety, the Employee or the Local 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.
(e) The Committee shall also consider measures necessary to ensure the security of each Employee on the Employer’s premises and the Local may make recommendations to the Employer in that regard.
(f) (i) Should an issue not be resolved by the Committee, the issue shall be referred to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). A resolution meeting between the Local and the CEO, or designate(s), shall take place within 21 calendar days of the issue being referred to the CEO. The CEO or designate(s) shall reply in writing to the Local within seven (7) calendar days of the resolution meeting.
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 committee’s 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 employee’s records be provided when the law forbids disclosure. In addition, employees’ 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.
Federal Occupational Safety and Health Law Contractor represents and warrants that all articles and services shall meet or exceed the safety standards established and promulgated under the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, as amended (29 U.S.C. Chapter 15).
Health and Safety Committee Where required a committee will be formed and will meet where required by the Employer’s safety policies and by statute.
HEALTH AND SAFETY 25.01 The Employer is subject to the provisions of the Occupational Health and Safety Act of the Province of Ontario and its regulations, including the provision that calls for a worker representative selected by the Union on the University Joint Health and Safety Committees. It is agreed that the University and the Union will cooperate to the fullest possible extent in the prevention of accidents and the promotion of safety and health at University workplaces. To this end, the parties acknowledge and agree that all University Employees on University and third-party premises where Employees work, are required to comply with work- site specific policies, procedures, regulations, and standards relating to health and safety.
25.02 The Employer recognizes the right of workers to be informed about hazards in the workplace, to be provided with appropriate training, and the right to refuse unsafe work in accordance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act where there is an immediate danger to the Employee’s health and safety or to the health and safety of others.
25.03 The Union will select a worker representative for each applicable Joint Health and Safety Committee formed under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. Time spent attending meetings of the Committee or carrying out duties as a worker representative shall be considered time worked.
25.04 A worker representative on a Joint Health and Safety Committee may become a certified worker representative on the Committee. The University will provide the required training for certification at no cost to the Employee or the Union. Time spent in such training shall be considered time worked, as outlined in Article 13 – Hours of Work and Overtime.
25.05 When a worker representative on a Joint Health and Safety Committee ceases to be employed in the Bargaining Unit, he/she will cease to be a worker representative on the Committee.
25.06 The University will supply, and Employees will wear and/or utilize, personal protective equipment and the other devices that the University requires Employees to wear and/or utilize.
25.07 The Employer shall provide information, training and supervision to an Employee to protect the health and safety of that Employee. With reference to Article 13, time spent in such training shall be considered time worked, as outlined in Article 13 – Hours of Work and Overtime.
25.08 The name and contact information of the Health and Safety Officer in each Academic Unit shall be posted in the Department/Academic Unit.
25.09 In accordance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act, persons with authority in the workplace, including any Employees, shall ensure that persons under their authority are informed of health and safety hazards, and advised of policies and procedures associated with the safe handling of materials and equipment.
Work Health and Safety (a) The employer and employee acknowledge their responsibilities under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 and Work Health and Safety Regulations 2012.
(b) Where there is a Work Health and Safety Representative they must be elected and will carry out the tasks associated with the role of Work Health and Safety Representative set out within the Work Health and Safety Act 2011.
