Health and safety
Agriculture Union National Policy Health and Safety Committees
As many health and safety issues go beyond a single work place, there is a need for a more strategic or global approach for their resolution. Employers who employ 300 or more employees are legally required to establish a Policy Health and Safety Committee. The purpose of the Policy Committee is to handle issues that are organization-wide in nature.
List of employer-specific Committees and their members
Employers who employ 300 or more employees are required under the provisions of the Canada Labour Code to establish a policy health and safety committee. The purpose of the policy committee is to handle issues that are organization-wide in nature. As, these types of issues go beyond a single work place, there is a need for a more strategic or global approach for their resolution. Current Committees and their Agriculture Union members are listed below in alphabetical order:
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
- Co-Chair: Patrick St-Georges
- Members: Sherry Hunt, Gus Mardli, Stewart Spence
- Alternates: Nadia Sokal, David Pearson, Angela William, Robinson Joseph
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
- Co-Chair: Randy Olynyk
- Members: Audrey St-Germain, Jan Pennington, Jannick Beaurivage
- Alternates: Bralavan Krishnakumar, Séverine Guérineau, Curtis Veale, Don Jeansonne, Dorothy McRae
Canada School of Public Service
- Co-Chair: Milton Dyck
- Members: Renelle Chalifoux
- Alternate: Patrick St-Georges
Canadian Grain Commission
- Co-Chair: Milton Dyck
- Members: Aaron Swerdlyk, Randy Morawski, Kristin Bowler, Serge Thiffault
Department of National Defence
- Co-Chair: Patrick St-Georges
- Alternates: Milton Dyck
Public Service Commission
- Co-Chair: Patrick St-Georges
- Member: David Jones, Rachel Baker
Mental Health
National Steering Committee Reports
Minutes
National Occupational Safety and Health Policy Committees, with representation from both the Agriculture Union and the employer, meet regularly to deal with a wide range of safety and health issues.
Minutes for National Occupational Health and Safety Committee meetings with Agriculture Union employers
NOSH Policy Committee meeting minutes with our various employers listed below can be downloaded by clicking on the appropriate date.
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
- June 2017
- March 2017
- December 2016
- September 2016
- June 2016
- March 2016
- December 2015
- September 2015
- June 2015
- March 2015
- December 2014
- October 2014
- June 2014
- March 2014
- September 2013
- June 2013
- March 2013
- December 2012
- September 2012
- June 2012
- March 2012
- December 2011
- September 2011
- June 2011
- March 2011
- December 2010
- September 2010
- June 2010
- March 2010
- December 2009
- September 2009
- June 2009
- February 2009
- November 2008
- September 2008
- June 2008
- April 2008
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
- January 2016
- October 2015
- July 2015
- May 2015
- February 2015
- November 2014
- May 2014
- January 2014
- October 2013
- July 2013
- April 2013
- January 2013
- October 2012
- July 2012
- May 2012
- January 2012
- October 2011
- July 2011
- April 2011
- January 2011
- October 2010
- July 2010
- April 2010
- January 2010
- November 2009
- September 2009
- July 2009
- January 2009
Canadian Grain Commission
Public Service Commission of Canada
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Directives
National Joint Council and Treasury Board Health and Safety Directives.
View all directives on health and safety
Asbestos
Due to its insulation and fire-retardant properties, asbestos was and is used for insulation in buildings and as an ingredient in such products as roofing shingles, water supply lines, fire blankets, plastic fillers, and medical packing, as well as clutches and brake linings, gaskets and pads for automobiles. All forms of asbestos are carcinogenic to humans. Globally, more than 100,000 people die each year from asbestos-related lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis resulting from occupational exposure.
Information on the important issue of asbestos in the workplace
A Hidden Workplace Killer
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The Agriculture Union is most concerned with the possible health impacts of asbestos in federal government workplaces. Howard Willems, a former Agriculture Union national officer and long-time health and safety activist, was himself diagnosed in 2010 with mesothelioma, a once-rare lung cancer linked to workplace exposure to asbestos. Howard was instrumental in establishing the Saskatchewan Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization. This group is actively working to establish a public registry reporting the condition of asbestos in schools, public and commercial buildings, and providing information to victims of asbestos-related diseases. The following links provide an excellent introduction to the dangers posed by asbestos in the workplace:
Health and Safety bulletin
The Agriculture Union produces periodic issues of Health and Safety, a bulletin containing information of specific concern and interest to all or parts of our membership. The bulletin is printed and sent to all Locals for distribution to the membership.
Download editions of Health and Safety
- Jan 2015 – Harassment and Bullying : Forms of Workplace Violence
- Nov 2015 – CFIA : Workplace Violence Prevention Policy
- Dec 2012 – Health Evaluations and Independent Medical Examinations
- May 2012 – Workplace-Related Diseases, Disorders and Injuries
- Feb 2011 – Health and Safety in the Workplace
- Dec 2010 – Maternity-Related Reassignment or Leave|PSAC Health and Safety Training Selection of Health and Safety Committee Members and of Representatives Using ‘Managerial Functions’ as Criterion Lock-Out and Tag-Out Program
- Jan 2010 – H1N1 Flu Virus and Your Rights at Work Workplace Harassment
- Sept 2009 – Hazard Prevention Program Job Safety AnalysisHealth and Safety Committee and Representative Training
- Apr 2009 – April 28 National Day of Mourning North American Occupational Safety and Health Week Definition of ‘a workplace’ Relationship and flow of Information between various levels of occupational health and safety committees
- Dec 2008 – OHS Policy Committees
- Aug 2007 – Hazard Prevention Program Chart
- June 2007 – Workplace Accidents
- Dec 2006 – Hazard Prevention Program Injury-on-Duty Leave
- June 2006 – Protective Footwear Hazard Prevention Program