January 5, 2022
- Adoption of Agenda
The agenda was adopted. - Update from the Sub-Committees:
- OHS Training/Learning Sub-Committee
A. Peart reported that the Sub-Committee has been continuing to meet with the Canada School of Public Service (CSPS) to provide specific input related to scenarios and ensuring the right questions are being asked for the learners. The Sub-Committee has reviewed the three (3) courses related to the Work Place Harassment and Violence Prevention Regulations (Regulations). It has been a successful and collaborative effort to produce a quality product. - Harassment and Violence Prevention Tools Working Group
C. Seeton reported that the working group has met four (4) times and has examined the Health Canada Risk Assessment (RA) tool through a presentation and has been reworking and updating existing tools on the NJC website. The group is also developing a document related to domestic violence including available resources, as well as a FAQ related to Harassment and Violence Investigations. C. Seeton advised the focus of the next few meetings will be to gather information on available RA tools and combine efforts with CSPS who are also looking to create a RA tool. C. Seeton advised the Committee that the intent is to provide the Committee with a package of the various tools rather than present the tools individually in a piecemeal fashion. It is anticipated that the package should be ready to bring forward at the next SWOHS meeting in September.
- Legalization of Cannabis
The Committee Advisor reported that the joint Sub-Committee will be meeting on July 29 to receive a presentation from the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) on the Z1008 Standard and to proceed to working on a communiqué. It is hoped that the joint Sub-Committee will have something that can be shared with departments and agencies in the fall.
A. Peart indicated that the standard is more a managing substance use standard, which may not address the needs of the departments.
- OHS Training/Learning Sub-Committee
- Standing Items
- Asbestos
Nil report.
- Harassment
A. Peart referenced the results of Treasury Board Secretariat’s (TBS) survey on the level of compliance with the Regulations from May and would be interested in the results of a more recent survey to determine where departments and agencies are now in developing their policies, appointing and training Designated Recipients, etc.
A. Peart advised that at eight (8) months after the Regulations came into effect, the majority of this work should be completed or in progress, and would like to discuss who is responsible for ensuring compliance and providing support to departments and agencies who are perhaps struggling in the process.
- Legionella
Nil report.
- Asbestos
- Round table
Y. Fournier questioned the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) list and how to determine the specific qualifications of the various investigators. A. Peart indicated that the investigators meet the specific criteria outlined in the SWOHS-produced Statement of Work and Investigator Qualifications documents, however the department or agency will need to do due diligence to ensure that the investigator selected has experience in fields such as Human Rights or Domestic Violence, etc. by using the tags on the CCOHS list. Y. Fournier indicated there has been an identified issue with the people on the list being unavailable which is placing stress on the person reporting the incident. A. Peart suggested that it may be that there may only be one or two investigators with a specific tag and that if there is a group of incidents related to that tag, the investigations may bottleneck. F. Murphy suggested contacting the policy committee co-chairs to discuss specifics.
N. Porteous reminded the Committee that the national occupational health guidance related to COVID protocols are still in effect, regardless of the provincial indications. The national guidance still recommends wearing a mask, distancing and frequent hand washing, etc. for employees in the workplace.
C. Fraser indicated she is having issues with navigating the workplace harassment policy with the employer, has contacted TBS and the Labour Program, and is looking forward to any tools that are being produced for policy committees or Designated Recipients or any intended audience. A. Peart noted that the 60-days begins counting down once the Designated Recipient issues a Notice of Investigation, however F. Murphy also noted that the Regulations require that the issue be completed within one year of the Notice of Incident. F. Murphy advised that the Labour Program might be able to do training for C. Fraser and any managers on this topic.
A. Peart advised that there are no protections, requirements or process to follow up on harassment and violence for anyone who is not an employee, such as stakeholders. She indicated that next steps may be to ensure their policies include frequent contacts with a department who are not employees. C. Seeton indicated that as a regulatory body, CFIA has been looking at the procedure when their employees are harassed by a third party, but not from that specific perspective.
The Committee Advisor provided an update on potential presenters, reminding the Committee to advise of any potential presentations they would like to have. She also reminded the Committee that the NJC E-Filing Service is available and that the Committee members must register in order to access it. A. Peart indicated that perhaps the Labour Program and potentially the Federal Public Service Labour Relations and Employment Board (FPSLREB) could provide information on how reprisals are dealt with from the administrative perspective. - Next Meeting
The next meeting is scheduled for September 16, 2021.