SAFETY AND HEALTH A. The Employer agrees to provide a safe, clean wholesome surrounding in all places of employment.
B. Each Department head shall issue instructions to all supervisory personnel to carry out the provisions of this Article.
C. When an employee reports any condition which he/she believes to be injurious to his/her health to the administrative head of a work location, the administrative head shall correct the situation if within his/her authority, or shall report said complaint to his/her supervisor.
D. A copy of the provisions of this Article shall be conspicuously posted in each work location.
E. In all new places of employment, where the Union alleges that the air quality is inferior, the person in charge of the location will make reasonable efforts to have air quality checked. If the air quality is found to be sub-standard, the person in charge of the location shall make reasonable efforts to improve it.
F. Whenever temperature inside any work location is unusually hot or cold, the person in charge of such work location shall immediately contact the person responsible for the building to determine the cause and probable length of time necessary to correct the problem.
G. The Employer will make every reasonable effort to xxxxx asbestos containing materials as recommended by the Division of Occupational Hygiene. Where such cleanup is not possible, the Employer will make every effort to avoid making work assignments, which will unduly expose employees to known hazardous materials.
H. Pregnant employees who work in conditions/situations deemed hazardous or dangerous to the pregnancy by the attending physician may request a temporary reassignment within their job description or a comparable position, and may be reassigned within two (2) weeks of notification for the duration of the pregnancy. Upon request by management, the employee will provide medical evidence. Such work assignments shall be determined by the appointing authority or his/her designee. This request must be made in writing to the Appointing Authority.
I. Grievances involving the interpretation or application of the provisions of this Article may be processed through Step III of the grievance procedure set forth in Article 23, but may not be the subject of arbitration.
Section 19.2 The Parties agree to establish a program to monitor air quality at new and existing worksites. The parties agree to negotiate over the specific provisions of such a protocol within 60 days.
Section 19.3 The parties agree to establish a safety and security committee to study all state buildings and leased property where state employees work. The mission of the study will be to establish more consistent safety and security policies to ensure the safety and security of all state employees at their work site and citizens of the Commonwealth that visit state agencies. In addition, the parties agree to establish a training program to promote the safety and security of all state employees that may include, but shall not be limited to active shooter training, front line security, and reception practices and protocol for 911 emergencies.
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.
