OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH & SAFETY

Whether it's at the workplace or at the provincial level, the BCGEU has been a leader in pushing for better health and safety rules. The union works with other members of the labour community to build public support for improved health and safety conditions.

Members of the union's health and safety committee meet at union headquarters. Members of the committee: Mike Clarke (Chairperson), Craig MacKay (Vice-Chairperson), Tony Tessari (Local 105), Kim Keys (203), Patsy Harmston (309), Joanne Jordan (409), Sandy Terlecki (609), Stu Seifert (702), Mike Prystae (1009), Barb Peters (1202), James Swank (1703), George Foisy (2006), Cameron Gerard (304 – Young Worker), Gerry Gault (Grain Workers' Union, Local 333), David Clarabut (Compensation Employees' Union), Jan Florian (BC Ferry and Marine Workers' Union), Sheila Moir (Secretary).

Become a Health & Safety Representative

Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) is a great way for union members to contribute in a meaningful way. Workers have a right to a safe workplace. As a BCGEU safety committee member you will help ensure that your employer is following health and safety regulations. You can raise the profile of health and safety and make a real difference, by improving the quality of your working environment.

Click here if you are interested in serving as an OHS Committee Rep.

BCGEU Occupational Health and Safety E-News

Click here for back issues of the OHS E-News.

2012 Occupational Health and Safety Courses - Feb - June 2012.

For a description of the courses, see below.

"Leaders in Safety" BCGEU/CEU conference, March 15, 2011

"Prevention of Workplace Violence" presentation

"WorkSafeBC. You! And the board officer!" presentation

"Exposure control plans (ECP)--Compliance with the OHSR" presentation

"Exposure Control Plan for Bloodborne Pathogens for Occupational First Aid Attendants (OFAAs)"

"Genric ECP"

"Bullying in the workplace" presentation

Health and safety questions? Not sure who to ask?

Send your question by e-mail.

Health and Safety Handbook

The union has recently updated the Health and Safety Handbook. Read it here.

Health and Safety Committee Training  

For members of Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committees or health and safety representatives. In this two-day session participants learn about:

• The laws regulating work place safety and health;
• How to conduct safety inspections in the work place; and
• How to make OH&S committees work effectively.

JOHS Committee members in the public service may enrol in this joint course at the Public Service Agency website.

OH&S Committee members employed in the broader public sector and the private sector should contact their BCGEU Area Office for more information on upcoming sessions. 

Violence Prevention Training 

For Joint Occupational Health and Safety (JOHS) Committee members.  This one-day course shows how to use office design, work organization, engineering measures as well as workplace policies and procedures to reduce the risk of workplace violence. 

In the public service, JOHS Committee members may enrol in this joint course at the Public Service Agency website.

Committee members employed in the broader public sector and the private sector should contact their BCGEU Area Office for more information on upcoming sessions. 

OH&S Facilitator Training  

For public service JOHS Committee members.  Activists are recommended by their respective component executives.

The five-day course trains activists to facilitate and instruct the JOHS Committee Training course. Participants gain their teaching skills and valuable teaching experience and expand their knowledge of the legislative and historical framework of current health and safety regulations. 

A separate one-day course teaches facilitators how to deliver an Office Ergonomics Assessment course.

Both theses facilitator training courses are delivered jointly by the public service employer and the union.

Occupational Health and Safety Committee

The committee provides a resource for BCGEU members. For more information on the committee and its terms of reference click here.