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.
ARTICLE HEALTH AND SAFETY The Region shall endeavour to observe all reasonable precautions and provide necessary safety devices, clothing or equipment that may be required for the protection of its employees. The employees will co- operate by observing safety practices. Joint Health and Safety Committee Under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, there is to be Joint Health and Safety Committee to monitor health and safety in the Workplace and provide recommendationsto the Region in the interest of a safe and health work environment. The parties acknowledge that a Joint Health and Safety Committee can only be successful where everyone on the committee is committed to health and safety in the workplace. The parties agree to undertake to ensure the members of the committee operate in accordance with the full intent of the Occupational Health and Safety Act. The Region agrees to provide, upon request of the committee, information as prescribed in the Occupational Health and Safety Act. Employees shall be required to report all on-the-job accidents or illnesses, whether they result in lost time or health care or not. An employee receiving Workers' Compensation payments shall accumulate seniority and be entitled to all benefits of this Agreement. Provided the employee is utilizing accumulated sick leave to top up Workers' Compensation payments and the cheque is being sent to the Employer, the Employer continues to pay its share of all employee benefit plans. The Employer agrees that an employee who is injured whilst at work, shall, upon return to work, be reinstated to the position, shift, and rate held at the time of the injury provided the employee is capable and qualified to perform the former employment. The Employer will attempt to apply the modified duties plan subject to the abilities of the injured employee and the work available. Where permitted by the Occupational Health and Safety Act an employee may exercise his or her right to refuse unsafe work. Where an employee chooses to exercise his or her right to refuse unsafe work, the employee shall immediately report this refusal to his or her supervisor who shall immediately initiate an investigation in conjunction with a worker member of the Joint Health and Safety Committee or, where such a member is not available, a person designated by the Union. The investigation shall be conducted as per the requirement of the Occupational Health and Safety Act. The company agrees that no employee shall be discharged, penalized, coerced, intimidated, threatened or disciplined for exercising his or her right to refuse unsafe work or where he or she has worked in compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act or the Regulations. The Region agrees that, for the duration of this agreement, to apply Part V Right to Refuse or to Stop Work Where Health or Safety in Danger of the Occupational Health and Safety Act that is in force at the time of this agreement.
