BY DAVID DURNING, HSA OHS OFFICER

HSA’s Occupational Health and Safety Conference held in June provided a great opportunity for OHS activists to connect with each other, share information and plan for the future.

Keynote speakers Dr. Joti Samra and Al Bieksa contributed significantly to a two-day event designed to provide tools, resources and planning opportunities for nearly 100 HSA joint occupational health and safety committee representatives from all across the province.

In this issue:

Safety Week this year is from May 4 to 10.  HSA chapters are encouraged to organize or participate in Safety Week activities planned for your sites. These events are usually organized by the facility Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committees and provide a great opportunity to profile the role of your Committee in your workplace.

This conference is open to any HSA member representing the union on a Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee.  Wage loss, travel and hotel costs will be covered according to HSA policies.

On-line registration is open until midnight, Sunday, May 25

The proposed agenda is as follows:

DAY 1:  Monday, June 16th

Across Canada, April 28 has been designated the Day of Mourning, a time when workers, families, employers and others come together to remember those who have lost their lives to work-related incidents or occupational diseases.

HSA REPORT, MARCH 2014

In response to escalating police involvement in what has been called a mental health crisis, the Vancouver Police department recently produced a report which points to a steady increase in mental health related police incidents and proposed an action plan aimed at moving away from a crisis response model to a more community based, stakeholder driven model.

HSA REPORT, MARCH 2014

BY DAVID DURNING

In British Columbia workplaces, employers are required to undertake investigations into any accident or incident that:

Take Action Against Domestic Violence

Over a recent 5 year period, an estimated 183,000 British Columbians were victims of domestic violence. Domestic violence impacts victims and their families and has a serious effect on those who witness it. Health care costs related to domestic violence in Canada are estimated to be in the billions of dollars. Social and emotional costs are significant.

Domestic violence occurs in all cultures and communities and is considered to be a major contributor to increased absenteeism, sick leave and lost productivity at work.

2014 Basic Steward Training

Stewards play a vital role in the union. Particularly important is the steward's role in contract interpretation, organizing and the grievance procedure. In recognition of the need for educating new stewards in these areas, HSA is offering four 3-day Basic Steward Training workshops at the HSA office as follows -

Dates: January 13 – 15, 2014

              February 3 – 5, 2014

              February 24 – 26, 2014

              March 10 – 12, 2014

Location: HSA Office, 300 – 5118 Joyce Street, Vancouver