Occupational health and safety
In spite of an agreement reached between HSA and other health care unions and the Ministry of Health last week, some members continue to get pressure to either produce evidence of vaccination against seasonal influenza, or wear a mask during the flu season, which was declared open December 1. For members information, at the meeting held between the Ministry of...
Alberni Valley Times The B.C. government has temporarily backed away from a controversial plan to force thousands of provincial health workers to get a flu shot before they can work with patients. Instead of forcing workers to wear a mask or have the mandatory flu vaccination, the B.C. Health Ministry said it will work towards voluntary compliance from workers in...
On the eve of the implementation of a new province-wide policy that threatened to fire health science professionals who refused to declare whether they had been vaccinated against seasonal flu, Health Sciences Association has negotiated an agreement that sees the government back off on the policys punitive aspects. This year, the Ministry of Health will focus on educational efforts and...
How do we work together against violence in health care workplaces? For the first time ever, the annual international conference to counter violence in the health sector is taking place in North America. More than 470 participants from around the world have gathered at the Sheraton Airport Hotel in Richmond to hear from experts and take part in workshops at...
Health Sciences Association, on behalf of the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association (HSPBA), is calling for the withdrawal of a province-wide policy that threatens to fire health science professionals who refuse to declare whether they have been vaccinated against seasonal flu. -HEABC has introduced a policy unprecedented anywhere in Canada. The policy forces virtually anybody who works in health care...
The Report: September 2012 vol.33 num.3 Bill 14 is being heralded for making BC a leader on workplace mental health and stress. But in practice it will make life harder for employees facing mental stress. Before the BC Liberals -deconstructed" workers compensation in 2002, it was possible to be compensated for workplace bullying and harassment, as well as any other...
BCs Provincial Health Officer Perry Kendall yesterday announced new measures for influenza prevention among health care workers and patients. As in previous years, health care workers who work in patient care areas are strongly encouraged to be vaccinated annually against influenza. However, under the new policy, if health care workers chose not to be vaccinated they will be required to...
In May 2012, FORME Ergonomics was contracted by Marty Lovick, Senior Labour Relations Officer, Health Sciences Association of British Columbia, to investigate a query from a number of members regarding insufficient information on cardiac ultrasonography contained in the Best Practices for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers package recently released by the Health Sciences Association. The objective was to complete a brief review...
All workers and their families are invited to pay tribute to workers who have been injured or killed on the job, or stricken with occupational disease. HSA President Reid Johnson said injury and fatality rates in BC are still far too high. "On the Day of Mourning, we honour workers who have died -- and we recommit to the fight...
Health Sciences Association of BC offers its condolences to members, their families, and community as they deal with the devastating tragedy of the fire at the Lakeland Sawmill in Prince George "On behalf of all HSA members, I offer our thoughts and prayers to our colleagues and their families in Prince George," said HSA President Reid Johnson. -The tragedy in...