Bruce Christianson Civilian Health and Return to Work Coordinator

UNDE NL/NB Regional Conference

10 July 2009

Mission

“… to develop, coordinate, promulgate and administer the DND/CF General Safety Program…”

Vision

“… reduce accidents in order to add to the operational effectiveness of DND and the CF, minimize personal suffering… and contribute to the morale and well-being of all personnel.”

D Safe G

• Safety Governance

• Workplace Health and Safety Committees

• Health and Safety Issues

• Violence in the Workplace

• Workplace RTW Committees

• RTW Training

• Workplace RTW Committees Concerns

Overview

General Safety Program Functional Authority Framework

VCDS

National Safety Policy Committee

DND/CF Safety Council

D Safe G

National Return to Work Committee

General Safety Consultative Framework

Command / Group GSOs

Formation / Base / Wing GSOs

Unit GSOs

Chain of Command

Workplace Committee

1. General Safety Council 2. Workplace Committee 3. Return to Work Ctte.

Workplace Committee

1. General Safety Council 2. Workplace Committee 3. Return to Work Ctte.

CLC Part II

1. Steering Ctte

2. Consultative Group

3. Working Group

LEGEND:

Red: Legislation

Greens: DND Policy / Program & Governance

Blue: Program Delivery

CLC Part II

http://vcds.mil.ca/dsafeg/PolPgms/ImportantDocs/programdocuments/00native/Functionaldirection_e.pdf

Mandate

“…addressing health and safety matters that apply to individual work places.” CLC Part II section 135.

Authority

“…a workplace health and safety committee is required where 20 or more Public Service employees normally work.” General Safety Program, volume 1, chapter 3, section 45 a.

Workplace H&S Committees

Workplace H&S Committees

Membership• Fifty percent or more representation chosen by the bargaining agents and the

remainder by the unit CO.

• Reflect ratio of military vs. Public Service employees

• Reflect ratio of different occupations in workplace

• For public service employees a term of office is two years, but may serve for more than

one.

• Two alternating chairpersons

Roles and Responsibilities – Terms of Reference• Deal with H&S complaints of employees

• Implement and monitor DND’s H&S programs

• Develop, implement and monitor H&S programs that have hazards unique to workplace

• Participate in all inquiries, investigations, studies or inspections pertaining to H&S

• Implement and monitor PPE program

• Ensure adequate records of complaints, work accidents, injuries and health hazards

Workplace H&S Committees

Roles and Responsibilities – Terms of Reference

• Cooperate with H&S Officers• Implement of changes that may affect OHS• Assist employer in investigating & assessing exposures to

hazardous substances• Inspect each month all or part of workplace, so every part is

inspected at least once each year• Render a recommendation on all health and safety issues prior

to submitting them to a higher authority • Required to meet at least 9 times/year

• Become familiar with A-GG-040-005/AG-001, General Safety

Program, Workplace Safety and Health Committee Guide.

Workplace H&S Committees

TrainingThe Canada Labour Code, Part II, Art 125.(1) (z.01)states that the employer:

“must ensure that members of workplace committees and health and safety representatives receive the prescribed training in health and safety and are informed of their responsibilities under this Part”.

• Basic Safety Officer Training Course• Safety Management Course • Occupational Health Course • Safety Program Evaluator’s Course

• Hazardous Occurrence Investigation Training

Workplace H&S Committees

Recourse to Resolve Issues

• CLC Part II

• Chain of Command

Workplace H&S Committees

VIOLENCE PREVENTION IN THE WORK PLACE

Regulation

8 May 2008

The Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations (COHS Regs) were amended by

adding Part XX:

Violence Prevention in the Workplace

Workplace Violence“constitutes any action, conduct, threat or gesture of a person

towards an employee in their work place that can reasonably be expected to cause harm, injury or illness to that employee” (COHS Regulations, Part XX, Section 20.2)

Definition

“The Violence in the Work Place Regulation provides a specific instrument to allow for improved prevention programs and enforcement that are specific to work place violence.”

(Liaison Bulletin No.74, HRSDC- Labour Program)

Benefit of Regulation

• Working Group

• Draft Policy– Guidance

• Presentation at the H&S Policy Committee

Related Activities to Date

Next Steps

• Reconvene Working Group

–Determine OPI

– Policy Framework

–Define Roles & Responsibilities

(Chain of Command)

– Impact Assessment

• Timelines

Local RTW Committees

Membership• Management Representative

• Union Representatives

• RTW Program Advisor/GSO

• Human Resource Officer

• Unit’s HR Business Manager

OR Assign RTW Duties:1. Workplace Health and Safety

Committee

2. Injury on Duty Leave Committee

3. Employee Assistance Program

Local RTW Committees

Mandate“… provide policy, direction, and procedures for the

organization’s Return to Work Program.” RTWP Manual, chapter 3, section 9.

Authority“Each Base, Wing, and major unit with more than 20

civilian employees must establish a committee or assign return to work duties to one of the previous mentioned committees in order to provide resources, policy direction and help the Return to Work Program Advisor manage the Return to Work Program.” RTWP Manual, chapter 3, section 8.

Local RTW Committees

Resources

D safe G Funded Training• RTW Advisors Course

• RTW Committees Course

• RTW Awareness Course

Locally Funded Training• RTW Employee Awareness Course

RTW Program

Agreement ProcessSupervisor / Employee

Supervisor / Employee / Employee Representative

Supervisor / Employee / Employee Rep / RTWP Advisor

Local RTW Committee

Case Manager

RTW Program

Challenge

National Lead Absence

Training Needs

Local Committees’ Issues

Action

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Updated and Scheduled

Seek Feedback of Stakeholders

RTW Program

Success

Several Local RTW Programs have established:

• Communication;

• Collaboration; and

• Trust Between All RTW Stakeholders.

RTW Program

Vision

Establish Departmental RTW Best Practices By:

• Sharing Lessons Learned;

• Gathering Employee Satisfaction Questionnaires; and

• Continually Monitoring the Program’s Performance.

RTW Program