On October 20-21 the BCGEU and the BC Public Service Agency facilitated a health and safety workshop for OHS committee co-chairs and wardens from all nine provincial custody centres. Also attending were Component 1 executive members and Corrections Branch headquarters staff.

“This first ever workshop was jointly agreed to by Component 1 and the employer,” says Corrections and Sheriffs Component Vice President Dean Purdy. “Working together collaboratively is crucial to making our prisons safer and healthier for the men and women who work there.”

On Day 1 Edie Reiman from Homewood Human Solutions presented a workshop on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Dr. Mike Yamanaka spoke on the issues of blood and body fluids exposures and Ebola.

On Day 2 participants discussed the four fundamental OHS rights with particular attention on the right to refuse unsafe work and members’ role in exercising this right.

Other topics covered included improving the effectiveness of written recommendations, workplace violence risk assessments and incident investigations.

The day wrapped up with the co-chairs working on a strategic plan for their committee.

Dean Purdy

Vice President - Corrections and Sheriffs Component