|
Job
Action
A
number of questions have come up related to the BCTF’s
job action. I
contacted both WorkSafeBC and the BCTF Occupational Health and Safety
Department to ensure all parties have a common understanding of how the
strike affects health, safety and wellness issues.
Joint
Occupational Health and Safety Site Committees
These
are joint committees under OHS Regulations.
They
are manadated under Part 3 Division 4 Section 125- 140 of the Workers
Compensation Act.
They
are not considered
administrative committees under the School Act.
The
JOSH Committee should
continue to be scheduled and take place as usual during job
action. The committee is jointly chaired by both the employer
and worker representative. The minutes should be posted as
soon after the meeting as possible. Additionally, there should
be a mechanism to ensure staff can make their concerns known to the
committee.
Routine
site inspections should
continue as normal.
If
your district
has a District Committee that is regularly scheduled, it may continue
to meet. It is not required to do so by the legislation. If
meeting becomes an issue you may chose to temporarily suspend the
District Committee, unless it has been accepted as a variation by WorkSafeBC.
Accident
Investigations
Accident
investigations should continue
with both an employer and worker representative in accordance with
Division 10 of Part 3 of the Workers
Compensation Act.
First
Aid Attendants
The
employer must ensure that a person who is designated as a first aid
attendant:
(a)
has successfully completed the first aid training course or first aid
examination developed or approved by the Board,
(b)
has a first aid certificate in good standing at the required level
issued by the Board or a person recognized by the Board, and
(c)
meets any other requirements determined by the Board for designation as
a first aid attendant.
[Enacted
by B.C. Reg. 348/2003, effective March 30, 2004.]
As
the First Aid attendant must have a valid certificate, they are
required to attend the training in order to continue in the position,
should their certificate lapse during job action.
What
if There is no Agreement Regarding Occupational Health and Safety
Operations?
Please call Sue Ferguson
at BCPSEA 604 730 4502
|
