Common use of Joint Occupational Health & Safety Clause in Contracts

Joint Occupational Health & Safety. (a) The Employer shall comply with all applicable federal, provincial and municipal health and safety legislation and regulations. All standards established under the legislation and regulations shall constitute minimum acceptable practice to be improved upon by agreement or the employee/Employer Health and Safety Committee or negotiations with the Union. The Employer shall take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances for the protection of a worker and when faced with occupational health & safety decisions, the Employer will not await full scientific or absolute certainty before taking reasonable action(s) that reduces risk and protects nurses. (b) The Union and the Employer shall co-operate in establishing rules and practices which promote a safe and healthy occupational environment and which provide protection from factors adverse to employee health and safety. The Employer shall co-operate in providing necessary information to enable the Joint Health and Safety Committee to fulfill its function. (c) A Joint Health and Safety Committee shall be established which is composed of employee and Employer Representatives, but with a minimum of one (1) representative selected or appointed by the Union; at least fifty percent (50%) shall be employees. When a regular member of the Committee is not available, she may be replaced by an alternate, appointed by the Union. The Joint Health and Safety Committee shall hold meetings regularly as requested by any Committee member for jointly monitoring, inspecting, investigating and reviewing health and safety conditions and practices and to improve health and safety conditions and practices. Minutes shall be taken of all meetings and copies shall be sent to the Employer and the Union. (d) All time spent by a member of the Joint Health and Safety Committee attending meetings of the Committee and carrying out her duties shall be deemed to be work time for which she shall be paid by the Employer at her regular or premium rate as may be proper and she shall be entitled to such time from her work as is necessary.