Public Service Alliance of Canada BC

source: Canwest News Services, via Anne Marie Sleeman, UEW 20729

OTTAWA - Canadians are increasingly stressed and depressed on the job, and it is costing the economy and society dearly, says a study released Thursday by Desjardins Financial Security.
According to the results, 83 per cent of Canadians report having shown up for work while sick or exhausted, and did so an average of six times in the past year.

Another 89 per cent of the 1,594 adults interviewed for the survey believe incidences of stress-related mental-health problems such as burnout, depression and anxiety have been increasing over the years.
All this is costing the economy $30 billion a year, says a 2005 study produced by the journal Chronic Diseases in Canada, quoted in the Desjardins report.

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April 28, 2008 marks the 24th anniversary of the National Day of Mourning for workers killed or hurt by workplace injuries or disease.

The Canadian Labour Congress, who were the authors of this initiative in 1984, have marked this special day with the theme of “Mourn for the Dead, Fight for the Living – Now more than ever!” It is very encouraging to see that this special day is now celebrated around the world from Azerbaijan to Zambia with more involvement being seen each and every year.

The PSAC continues to struggle to create stronger laws and regulations in support of Health & Safety and Hazard Prevention. We hope that the annual observance of this day will strengthen the resolve to establish safer conditions in the workplace for all.

Please join with the PSAC and other labour organizations at Day of Mourning events scheduled in your community.

Resources (all .pdf)

• List of 2008 events in BC, provided by the BC Fed
• Day of Mourning Event poster - Victoria
• Resource Information for 2008 Day of Mourning
• Labour Council Notes for April 28th
• PSAC BC Day of Mourning poster (1.32 MB .pdf)

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The Independent (London, U.K.), March 30, 2008

Mobile phones could kill far more people than smoking or asbestos, a study by an award-winning cancer expert has concluded. He says people should avoid using them wherever possible and that governments and the mobile phone industry must take “immediate steps” to reduce exposure to their radiation.

• Discuss in the H&S forums!
• See more Health & Safety related information.

The study, by Dr Vini Khurana, is the most devastating indictment yet published of the health risks.

It draws on growing evidence — exclusively reported in the IoS in October — that using handsets for 10 years or more can double the risk of brain cancer. Cancers take at least a decade to develop, invalidating official safety assurances based on earlier studies which included few, if any, people who had used the phones for that long.

Earlier this year, the French government warned against the use of mobile phones, especially by children. Germany also advises its people to minimise handset use, and the European Environment Agency has called for exposures to be reduced.

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Cheers to Monique Bakker, Chief Safety and Health Officer, Union of Environment Workers Local 20147 for forwarding this ergonomic self-assessment information!

1. YOUR THIGHS should be parallel to the floor: Adjust the height and/or angle of the chair seat.

2. YOUR FEET should lay flat on the floor or on a footrest: Adjust the height of the chair seat.

3. BACK OF THE KNEES should be clear of the front edge of the seat: Adjust the depth of the chair seat so that you can easily place your fist behind your knee. Be sure to specify the appropriate seat depth length when ordering a new chair.

4. YOUR BACK: lower and mid-back should be well supported: Adjust the height, tension, and angle of the backrest, to ensure the lumbar support is positioned at your waist.

5. YOUR FOREARMS should be supported and your shoulders relaxed at all times: The height of and distance between your armrests should allow freedom of movement for your forearms when performing tasks, yet provide support for them during rest periods or when using your mouse. Avoid hunching your shoulders and ensure that the elbows/upper arms remain close to your torso.

6. YOUR ELBOWS should be at approximately the same hight as the keyboard: Adjust the height of your keyboard tray or work surface so the keyboard is at the height of your elbows.

7. YOUR WRISTS should be straight at all times and your hands in line with your forearms: Adjust the angle and height of the keyboard tray or work surface to ensure straight wrists. If your keyboard tray or work surface is not adjustable, adjust your seat to ensure straight wrists. You will need to use a footrest if you have raised the seat and your feet are not flat and well supported on the floor.

8. THE MONITOR should be at a comfortable reading distance and height: The viewing distance should be within 16” to 29” (40cm-74cm). About one arm’s length. The monitor height should allow the neck to be in a neutral position when looking at the top row of text on the screen.

Read more in these two pdf’s: Ergonomics - adjusting and adapting your computer workstation and Ergonomics - self assessment

Minutes - BRUSH Committee Meeting - January 23, 2008 (amended)

Chair

• Joy Hennen CEIU

In Attendance

• Floyd Knelsen CRA
• Chuck Leech ALTERNATE - USGE
• Gail Jewsbury - UEW
• Tom Gallager GSU
• Gordon Law WESTERN ECONOMICS
• Melvin Dureen - USGE
• Stephen Chessor CUDA
• James Little BC PSAC, Regional Representative
• Robert Hellenius Commissionaire
• Raheman nur Mohamed CIUE
• Ray King
• Neil MacKay
• Kelly Legacy - Vernon - CEIU
• Carolyn McGillivray - White Rock CBSA
• Gwen Williams - SSO, NAT
• Sam Weise - CEIU
• Monique Bakker

Regrets

• Wayne Little UTE

Agenda Items:

1. BC PSAC Health and Safety webpage and forum.
2. New COSH Regulation XX Violence update.
3. New COSH Hazard Prevention Regulation XIX amendments (Ergonomics).
4. Report from the PSAC National H&S Rep’s Meeting.
5. Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) Infections.
6. Work Reorganization and Call Centres.
7. Succession Planning.
8. H&S Logo Contest
9. PIPS participation in the PSAC BRUSH Committee.
10. Lancaster House Audio Conference - Benefits for Disabled Workers Navigating the Maze

Roundtable of introductions

Agenda Item #1 was moved to the end of agenda

Acceptance of previous minutes - m/s/c chuck/ floyd

1. COSH Regulation XX, Violence - The COSH has created a new Regulation to address Violence in the workplace. Violence Prevention in the Work Place forms Part XX of the Canada Occupational Health and Safety (COHS) Regulations, which are made pursuant to Part II of the Canada Labour Code (Code), the purpose of which is: to prevent accidents and injury to health arising out of, linked with, or occurring in the course of employment in the federal jurisdiction. The regulations appear in the December 15, 2007, edition of the Canada Gazette Part I (see volume 141, no 50, pages 3455 to 3459).

2. New Ergonomic Regulation Update - The COSH Regulation XIX Hazard Prevention has been amended to include Ergonomics. The brand new regulation is now law, the PSAC provided input into the regulation however much of our input was not included in the final document. The new regulation is available on the BC PSAC Website and Forum page.

3. Report from the PSAC National H & S rep’s meeting - The PSAC Regional H&S Rep’s have been meeting twice a year to discuss issues related to H&S. We have two national officers who, among other things review regulatory amendments negotiate the NJC agreements on H&S.

NJC covers broad based issues of concern to all employees in the government - all unions, not just PSAC. NJC is conducting a cyclical review of the H&S directives. We have the opportunity to provide input into the process. They have just completed directive A and are now working on B, C and D. These directives are very specific in nature and deal with things like Elevated Work Structures, Motor Vehicle Operations, Materials Handleing, PPE’s and Electrical Safety. The PSAC National H&S Officers would like us to look at the directives and see if we have any concerns about them or the language in them. The information will be provided on the BC PSAC H&S Website and Forum Page. We have until the end of summer 2008 to complete the task at which time Denis St. Jean, the national officer responsible for this, will do the final write up.

4. Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) Infections - The Commissionairs in Vancouver had a serious problem with MRSA’s and some immigrant detainees. The Commissionairs currently run the detention cells for CBSA dealing with immigrant detainees. Rob Hellenius is familiar with MRSA via other sources. Gloves and hand washing do not enough protection against the spread of infection as suggested by the health nurse at the jail. There appears to be lots of misinformation about MRSA. Management thought that they had a spider infestation. There are two types of MRSA, facility acquired and community acquired. This can cause loss of limb, skin facetious, lung facetious. In Canada we do not have any protocols. Rob has asked PSAC for help. Initially we were close to a Section 128 “right to refuse” situation - but there were some protocols introduced and there probably was not imminent danger.. We needed to bring this to the attention of the employer, the commissionaires, and CBSA and ensure the safe transfer individuals. We have decided to follow the Section 127 “internal complaint resolution process” at this time.

Rob advises that a1/3 of the Canadian population carries MRSA and surfaces can remain infectious for up to two weeks.

CL has gone through this a couple of times at Matsqui. Senior management was notified by the hospital, health team called, and the person was isolated.

MD - currently CSC is coming up with a draft of a pandemic response paper. Generally it is after the fact, rather than preventative. They are dealing with infectious diseases such as Hep C, Hep B,

The H&S Rep for BC PSAC contacted Health Canada, and spoke with occupational health nurse (Ruth Nicholson). She does a lot of training for customs people at the airports around this issue. She would be willing to do some training around this issue for other concerned employees

There was a general discussion around the need for protocols and the proper use of PPE’s in relation to MRSA’s

5. Work Reorganization and Call centres - CEIU - Neil and Rahmen work as EI call centre agents in harbour centre. They raise the issue of work conditions in call centres and the impact that it has on call centre workers. Characterized by stress, burn out, and absenteeism. The PSAC has raised the issue of poor work conditions with management but with no success. Most issues are best addressed via H&S. The CEIU (Service Canada) members want to draw attention to the following issues (work environment, tethered to a desk, monitoring and surveillance of the work force, high call volumes, non stop, on phones 6.5 hours out of 7 hours. 2 sec break, etc). The employers emphasis is on quantity not quality. The results are burn out, frustration, hi turn over rate, hi absenteeism, managements insistence on doctor’s notes, low morale and intense work environment.

CBSA has a large call centre in Winnipeg and CRA have several call centres across the country. In the most recent minutes of the National Board of Directors (NBoD) meeting the PSAC President reported on Work Reorganization and Call Centres was one of his top issues. He indicated that the PSAC has one of the two seats representing the House of Labour on the Board of Govenors for Contact Centre Canada the sector council for organizations the are involved in the contact centre industries. The BC PSAC H&S Rep talked to Howie West the National Rep responsible for Work Reorganization, who informed us that there is a National PSAC working group on call centres. They have conducted a survey and the results are near completion. The PSAC Components are well represented in the working groups however; they have not met in quite some time.

The BC PSAC H&S Rep will contact Howie again to determine the names of the representatives on the call centre working group. Joy indicated that CEIU is looking for a new building to house 500 - 700 people as a call centre with processing. Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is available for members.

ACTION:

Joy - will get in touch with the CEIU group involved with call centres.
James - will contact Howie for names of members on the working groups.
Rahmen - will again raise the issue at his local H&S committee and raise the issue to the regional and national level.

6. Succession Planning - Joy is not running for a second term and any candidate for the BC Regional Council seat for H&S must be a member of the BRUSH.

7. BC PSAC H&S LOGO Contest - The canary in the cage is a good H&S symbol and it must be incorporated into all Logo Contest entries. The contest should conclude prior to the BC Regional Convention in April so that the wining entry can be revealed at the Convention.

8. PIPSC Participation - We have received a request from PIPS members in BC who wish to participate in our BRUSH meetings. Some thoughts were our need to be cautious and that we should contact PIPSC to determine if they have any objections. The REVP BC PSAC was informed and she wants the committee to decide. Some members would like to be inclusive and others are opposed.

Action: James - will contact Denis St. Jean to see if they have any concerns.

9. Lancaster House Audio Conference - Benefits for Disabled Workers Navigating the Maze - We purchased the audio tape of some of this conferences. This subject matter deals with WCB, DI and other benefits (EAP, fit to work) and is about 1 hr to 1.25 hours. We would like to schedule a time and place for airing the audio conference and we would like to hold the meeting in conjunction with the Human Rights Committee. Try something new for people who cannot get to the office. It will be broadcast on the DVD player and then will go over the conference call via the speakers.

10. BC PSAC Health and Safety Website and Forum - www.psacbc.com - We introduced the new BC PSAC Website and Forum page and explained how to access and register for the Forum. We feel that a lot of our current issues can be addressed in this new format and we will be inviting the rest of the PSAC members to also join in the discussions.

Meeting Adjourned

The purpose of this notification is to request any and all PSAC members to submit proposals for consideration in the upcoming review of Group B, C, and D of the National Joint Council OHS Directives.

• Interested in Health and Safety issues? Visit the Health and Safety minisite or forum.

In order to ensure full consideration of any recommendations made by our members, it is requested that all recommendations be submitted by June 2, 2008.

Group B includes:
1. Part IX - Sanitation;
2. Part X - Hazardous Substances;
3. Part XII - Personal and Protective Equipment and Clothing;
4. Part XIV - Materials Handling; and
5. Pesticides Directive.

Group C includes:
6. Part III - Elevated Work Structures;
7. Part IV - Elevated Devices;
8. Motor Vehicle Operations Directives
9. Part XIII - Tools and Machinery; and
10. Part XI - Confined Spaces.

Group D includes:
11. Part V - Boilers and Pressure Vessels;
12. Part VI - Lighting (currently not detailed in directives);
13. Part VII - Noise Control (Levels of Sound); and
14. Part VIII - Electrical Safety.

You will find attached the NJC proposal templates (pdf) that you may wish to use to assist you in capturing your input.

Should you have any questions please contact James Little, PSAC BC. Your completed forms should be sent to either James Little or Denis St-Jean

Thank you for your cooperation, James Little

The new (amended) Canadian Occupational Health and Safety Regulation XIX Hazard Prevention is now available. The regulation was amended to include Ergonomic Activities.

• Download the amended section here (pdf) the new language is in bold type. The full regulations are available at laws.justice.gc.ca

• Visit the Health & Safety ‘minisite’. Discuss health & safety issues in the forum.

Members in Victoria recently had the opportunity to attend a Workplace Health & Public Safety Programme (WHPSP) Seminar put on by Health Canada. The seminar was designed to instruct members on the following issues:

* WHPSP’s “Occupational Health Assessment Guide” (OHAG)
* Treasury Board’s “Occupational Health Evaluation Standard”
* Health Canada’s WHPSP Health Assessment Services
* The other services WHPSP offers

For those of you that were unable to attend Health Canada has provided us with a copy of the following OHAG Workshop Powerpoint Presentation.

Q: What is the definition of “to work alone or in isolation?”

A: “To work alone or in isolation” is defined as working in circumstances where assistance would not be readily available to the worker (a) in case of an emergency, or (b) in case the worker is injured or in ill health.

The following document, a series of frequently asked questions prepared by the BC Fed may be useful if anyone has any questions concerning the new BC Occupational Safety and Health Regulation - New Requirement Part 4 - Working Alone Regulation. Download the working alone or in isolation FAQs here (pdf).

Upcoming courses put on by the BC Federation of Labour Health & Safety Centre. For more information, course descriptions or registration call the Fed @ 604-430-1421, 1-888-BCFL NOW or visit www.bcfed.ca. There is an $85 registration fee for most courses.

• Accident/Incident Investigations OHS Course Cranbrook - Feb 21
• Workplace Ergonomics OHS Course Fernie - Feb 22
• Basic OHS Course Greater Vancouver - Feb 26
• Basic OHS Course Nanaimo - Feb 27
• Prevention of Violence in the Workplace OHS Course Victoria - Feb 28
• Workplace Ergonomics OHS Course Parksville - Mar 4
• Basic OHS Course Campbell River - Mar 5
• Basic OHS Course Salmon Arm - Mar 6
• Accident/Incident Investigations OHS Course Revelstoke - Mar 7
• Accident/Incident Investigations OHS Course Surrey - Mar 7
• Prevention of Violence in the Workplace OHS Course Greater Vancouver - Mar 11
• Workplace Toxins OHS Course Greater Vancouver - Mar 12
• Basic OHS Course Powell River - Mar 13
• Basic OHS Course Kimberley - Mar 14
• Stress in the Workplace OHS Course Victoria - Mar 25
• Accident/Incident Investigations OHS Course Duncan - Mar 26
• Advanced OHS Course Greater Vancouver - Mar 28
• Workplace Ergonomics OHS Course Chilliwack - Mar 31
• Whole Body Vibration OHS Course Greater Vancouver - Apr 2
• Workplace Ergonomics OHS Course Greater Vancouver - Apr 3
• Accident/Incident Investigations OHS Course Nanaimo - Apr 8
• Stress in the Workplace OHS Course Surrey - Apr 14
• Basic OHS Course Abbotsford - Apr 17
• Advanced OHS Course Victoria - Apr 21
• Basic OHS Course Courtenay - Apr 23
• Advanced OHS Course Parksville - Apr 24
• Accident/Incident Investigations OHS Course Creston - Apr 29
• Accident/Incident Investigations OHS Course Prince George - May 1
• Basic OHS Course Prince George - May 1
• Advanced OHS Course Prince George - May 1
• Workplace Ergonomics OHS Course Prince George - May 1
• Whole Body Vibration OHS Course Victoria - May 6
• Workplace Ergonomics OHS Course Surrey - May 9
• Stress in the Workplace OHS Course Greater Vancouver - May 12
• Accident/Incident Investigations OHS Course Powell River - May 15
• Accident/Incident Investigations OHS Course Chilliwack - May 20
• Prevention of Violence in the Workplace OHS Course Nanaimo - May 22
• Accident/Incident Investigations OHS Course Greater Vancouver - Jun 4
• Accident/Incident Investigations OHS Course Campbell River - Jun 5
• Accident/Incident Investigations OHS Course Abbotsford - Jun 9

Minutes - BC Regional Union Safety & Health meeting

Attending:

• Bob Jackson
• Monique Bakker
• Mel Dureen
• Jason Komaromi
• Wayne Little
• Floyd Knelson
• Chuck Leach
• Bill Pleming
• Thomas Gallagher
• Steven Chesser
• Mandi Schubert
• Gail Jewsbury
• Sam Weiss
• Kelly Megasi
• Joy Hennen (Chair)
• James Little (Staff H&S Rep)

Previous minutes accepted as reviewed. Bob Jackson, Jason Komaromi M/S.

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The BRUSH Committee will be meeting on January 23, 2008 at the Renaissance Hotel, 1128 West Hastings Street, 5:00 p.m. in the Harbour Side II room. Those that can not attend in person are welcome to join in on the discussion via teleconference  - please contact James Little for details.

We will be launching our brand new BC PSAC - H&S Website and Interactive Forum

Tentative Agenda Items

• BC PSAC - H&S Website and Forum
• The new Ergonomics Regulation XX update
• Regulation XIX Hazard Prevention amendment to include Violence
• Succession Planning
• Report from the PSAC National H&S Rep’s Meeting
• H&S Logo Contest

The BC Fed Health & Safety Centre promotional video is now available on the WorkingTV website. Please have a look by clicking here.

Dear Sisters and Brothers:

The B.C. Federation of Labour is pleased to announce that the BC Fed Health & Safety Centre is continuing the Occupational Health & Safety and Labour Education Program into the 2007/2008 school year.

For the past four years, the Centre has been training young workers from various affiliates to facilitate high school sessions across the province.

In 2003, the B.C. Federation of Labour and the BC Teachers’ Federation introduced this Program to prepare young workers to talk to the students in the high schools about their rights in the workplace. Since then, over 30,000 high school students have participated in the workshops, and over 40 young union members have been trained to deliver these workshops. The success of the Program is due to the commitment and passion of these young facilitators.

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via BC Federation of Labour

The WCB has introduced new regulations this year aimed at improving safety for late night retail workers working alone. The regulations include a risk assessment for workers working alone who are at risk of violence, and prepayment of gas. There will also be requirements for employers to ensure the safety of workers by separating workers from customers with a barrier such as a locked door, and to have two people on during the late night hours.

• Email the WCB and tell them you support tougher laws to protect late night retail workers.

WCB will be holding public hearings in June 2007 to review these regulations. For more information visit the BC Federation of Labour.

“Farmworkers are Canada’s forgotten workers. They work in the fields and harvest the crops that feed us. They work in slave-like conditions for 12-14 hours a day and are paid piece rate. They travel in overcrowded buses to the fields or live in converted chicken coops. Many suffer chronic health problems because of exposure to pesticides during every working day.” - CFU spokesman Charan Gill, June, 1994

When farmworkers in British Columbia’s fertile Fraser Valley started organizing in the 1970s, the main issues were low pay, poor housing, unsafe working conditions, exclusion from labour and safety legislation, lack of childcare and racial discrimination. Those are still the major issues today for the 28,000 workers in the fields.

• Related: New regulations important step to protect farmworkers from employer abuse, says Sinclair, but they remain second-class citizens
• Related:BC farmworkers deserve protection not exploitation

Just outside Vancouver, considered one of the world’s “most livable” cities, farmworkers, mostly immigrants from Punjab, India, and most of those women, work long hours in the open fields harvesting the food we eat. They work in the third most hazardous industry in the province, behind logging and mining. The mortality rate is seven times higher than in the manufacturing sector.

Read (lots) more at www.vcn.bc.ca/cfu/

Sisters and Brothers:

In 1984, the Canadian Labour Congress, and its affiliated Unions, including the PSAC, established April 28th as the National Day of Mourning to honour workers killed or injured on the job.

At that time, according to the official figures listed by the Association of Workers’ Compensation Boards of Canada (AWCBC), 744 workers were listed as having died from workplace injuries. In 2005, the last year that the AWCBC has released statistics for, 1,097 workers were killed on the job due to workplace injuries.

However, we know that these statistics are grossly underestimated and that the real number of deaths resulting from occupational illness and disease, and other workerplace factors are never included in these official statistics, as it is extremely difficult to prove that deaths that are caused by occupational disease, such as cancer, are caused by exposure to hazards in the workplace.

Since 1984, it is estimated that more than 19,000 workers have been killed on the job and more than 20,000,000 workers have been injured while at work.

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To: PSAC members in BC

As you may know, Bill 257 (Anti-scab legislation) was defeated on March 21 during the 3rd reading in the House of Commons 177 votes to 122 votes. Despite this, we have a lot to be proud of. The CLC coordinated a well organized campaign of which the PSAC played a key role both in BC and in Ottawa. And we couldn’t have done so without your participation.

Many of you took the time to write, phone, fax and email your MP to build support for the bill. In particular, our Area Councils sent letters to each MP in their region identifying the number of PSAC members in their riding affected by the bill.

I want to thank all of you: your hard work and positive response to our repeated requests for support are much appreciated. While I’m disappointed that more MPs did not support working people on this issue (and we will remember them at election time, scroll down to see how they all voted) I truly believe that our union is stronger from this experience.

Thanks again. In Solidarity, Kay Sinclair, REVP BC

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Relatives, unions decry declining standards.

Did Amarjit Kaur Bal, Sarabjit Kaur Sidhu and Sukhwinder Kaur Punia die in vain? The results from a meeting held March 15 in downtown Vancouver may determine the answer to that question.

• B.C. Fed submits recommendations to improve working conditions & safety of BC farmworkers
• Read a history of BC farmworkers

Family members of farmworkers killed in the roll-over accident of an overloaded labour contractor’s van last week and leaders of the B.C. labour movement met on the morning of March 15 with Minister of Labour Olga Ilich and Minister of Agriculture Pat Bell in Vancouver. They presented a comprehensive list of 30 proposals to remedy safety and employment standards abuses in B.C. fields and greenhouses. The submission to the ministers also calls on the government to strike down a controversial memorandum signed by the BC Liberals and the province’s large agricultural organizations, which critics say has paved the way for lax enforcement of safety and employment standards protections in the industry.

Read more at thetyee.ca.

PSAC members want better health, safety and environmental regulations and more rigorous enforcement

PSAC members must make use of every forum available to speak out against deregulation and the implementation of measures that weaken their health and safety protection and their environment.

This was one of the messages heard at the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) National Health and Safety Conference held in Ottawa from January 19 to 21, 2007. PSAC National President, John Gordon, told delegates that “Canadians need a government that responds to the public’s needs, not to the desires of large corporations. We all need quality public services provided by our unionized members, who enjoy good health and safety protection. It’s our challenge, but it’s also our right,” he added.

• You can also read John Gordon’s speech at the Conference.
• See some pictures of the Conference.

More than 300 PSAC members attended the Conference, the theme of which was “Regulation Works”. Together union members devised strategies to: counter the federal government’s push to scale down occupational health and safety and environmental regulations; improve enforcement of health and safety legislation to better protect workers; and, dispel the myth of the careless employee. Members also debated resolutions some of which will be forwarded to the Alliance Executive Committee for action and the rest will be forwarded to the next PSAC Triennial Convention.

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