BC’s Public Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced yesterday new public health orders for mandatory vaccination against COVID-19 for all employees working in acute care settings. This includes acute care health care professionals who deliver patient care in the community, including in people’s homes.
 
HSA members working in these settings will be subject to the order, which requires COVID-19 vaccination as a condition of employment. This follows a similar order for long-term care settings announced last month.
 

BC’s Public Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, today announced a new public health order for mandatory vaccination as a condition of employment for all employees working in long-term care or assisted living facilities.

This new public health order will impact HSA members working in these settings.

Health Sciences Association of BC has contracted Viewpoints Research to conduct an on line survey to explore members' priorities and concerns as your union begins negotiations for your next contract. Viewpoints Research an industry leader with 30 years of experience conducting research for unions and other progressive organizations. Using an experienced third-party professional research firm for this membership survey ensures confidentiality and the highest quality of data.

The Canadian Labour Congress, in partnership with the Centre for Research and Education on Violence Against Women and Children at Western University and the University of Toronto, has launched a survey on violence and harassment in the workplace.

Every year, the HSA Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) Committee awards the David Bland Award to an HSA member who has demonstrated leadership to improve occupational health and safety at their worksite and beyond.

The award was established in 2007 and honours the memory of David Bland, a vocational counsellor and HSA member from Richmond Mental Health who was killed at work by a former client. His death is an important reminder to take action to prevent workplace violence. 

By Tristyn Kellner
HSA Member

HSA is again calling on employers to improve supply of personal protective equipment and preventative occupational health and safety measures for health care workers working through the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
In addition, all members are advised to ensure they have access to appropriate PPE, and to exercise their right to refuse unsafe work if the appropriate PPE is not provided.
 

Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace – Level One Mental Health and the CSA Standard

Dates:  October 8, 2020 or November 12, 2020
Time:  9am – 4:30pm
Location: Virtual WebEx – Details to follow

Each year in Canada, one in five people will experience a mental health problem or illness. Over a lifetime that number increases to 1 in 3. The cost of mental health problems or illness costs our economy more than 51 billion dollars.

COVID SAFETY PLANS
 

Dates: October 7, 2020 or October 29, 2020
Time: 9am – 4:30pm
Location: Virtual WebEx – Details to follow