HSA lawyers Tonie Beharrell and Randy Noonan and HEU’s Kaity Cooper appeared in the Supreme Court of Canada today to challenge the decision of the BC Supreme Court and BC Court of Appeal to overturn a decision of the BC Workers’ Compensation Appeal Tribunal (WCAT). The WCAT had recognized three cases of breast cancer contracted at Mission Memorial Hospital as...
HSA REPORT MAGAZINE, DECEMBER 2015 BY DAVID DURNING, HSA OHS OFFICER A recent survey of emergency department staff at Abbotsford Regional Hospital indicated that more than half of those who had recently experienced violence on the job didn't report those events. This finding supports other similar surveys and anecdotal evidence from HSA members indicating that underreporting of violence and aggression...
Last month over 50 RPNs from around BC came together for the RPN Summit on Workplace Violence at the HSA Head Office. Today, we’re releasing a video featuring HSA RPN members as they share their experiences with violence in the workplace. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YllMK-vdn0&feature=youtu.be The day-long solutions oriented summit featured hands-on workshops and presentations on the Provincial Summit on Workplace Violence from...
HSA REPORT MAGAZINE, OCTOBER 2015 BY DAVID DURNING, HSA OHS OFFICER Recent amendments to the Workers Compensation Act are meant to improve workplace health and safety and to provide stronger tools to WorkSafeBC officers for enforcing the Act and the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation. Bill 9 received Royal Assent on May 14, 2015 and makes a number of changes...
Just last week we were alerted to another instance of violence in the workplace. Another RPN was assaulted on the job. These situations are all too common. But violence in the workplace does not need to be inevitable. We know that workplace violence can be prevented with proper planning, protocols and procedures that involve meaningful input from frontline health care...
HSA REPORT MAGAZINE, JUNE 2015 HSA member David Bland was a vocational counsellor who worked at Richmond Mental Health Services. At the end of an otherwise ordinary work day in January of 2005, as David left his workplace, a former client was waiting in the parking lot – and fatally stabbed David. To honour his memory, the union established the...
Every year, thousands of Canadians are killed or injured on the job or die from work-related diseases. Yet, this is something few of us think about when we mark our ballots at election time. This year, Canadians have an opportunity to elect a new federal government. Let's make sure that the people we vote for will go to Parliament and...
HSA President Val Avery said she is pleased to have attended today's BC government summit on violence in the health care system. The summit, hosted by Health Minister Terry Lake in response to Avery's recent call for action, included representatives from other health care unions, health authorities, occupational health and safety experts and other industry stakeholders. "Violence has affected health...
Following HSA President Val Avery's proposal, Health Minister Terry Lake will convene a summit to address the continuing problem of violence in health care workplaces. The provincial government has invited HSA to help conduct the day-long solutions-oriented discussion Tuesday April 7 in Richmond. "In December, HSA called on government to bring together health care workers, employers and workplace safety experts...
Members at a number of affiliate employers under the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association, the Nurses Bargaining Association and the Community Bargaining Association collective agreements.will soon be participating in the Enhanced Disability Management Program. EDMP, which is already supporting thousands of HSA members working in health authorities, has a proven track record of helping members who are absent from work...