Service-Wide Committee on Occupational Health and Safety

The role of the Service-Wide Committee on Occupational Health and Safety (SWOHS) is to participate in the development and review of all Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat policies, programs and issues relating to occupational health and safety. The SWOHS Committee provides advice and leadership to the departmental or agency policy committees.

SWOHS Communiqués

Committee Advisor: Eden Bédard

Quarterly Report to the National Joint Council (December 2024)

Regular activities:

• The Committee has met two (2) times since the last Council meeting.
• The Committee wishes to note the departure of an Employer Side representative, Nancy Porteous, from Health Canada and to thank them for their contributions to the Board.
• The Committee received a presentation on menopause in the workplace, outlining its impact and considerations that the Government of Canada may wish to explore, from a health and safety perspective.
• The Committee received a presentation from the Office of the Chief Human Resources Officer (OCHRO) regarding the “Pathway to Success: Step-by-step Guidance for Establishing & Maintaining a Psychological Health and Safety Management System in the Federal Public Service” and was asked to provide feedback on the contents of the guide presented. OCHRO intends to return to SWOHS for its endorsement once a final product is approved.
• The Committee received a presentation from the Workplace Hazardous Materials Bureau at Health Canada regarding Workplace Hazardous Products Program, which provided the Committee with an overview of the program.
• The Committee continues to monitor concerns surrounding the issues of respiratory infections, harassment and violence, mental health, among other hazards.
• SWOHS sub-committees continue to actively work on developing resources and materials which will assist departments, agencies, and Policy Committees.
  1. Harassment and Violence Prevention (HVP) Tools Working Group – the sub-committee has met three (3) times since the last Council meeting. The sub-committee completed their work on the guides for employees and managers to assist them in navigating the Work Place Harassment and Violence Prevention Regulations. The guides were presented to the full-Committee for approval in November.
  2. Sub-committee on Climate Change – the sub-committee has not met since the last Council meeting.

Outstanding item(s):

• The Committee continues to monitor the progress on implementation of the Work Place Harassment and Violence Prevention Regulations.

Next meetings: March 20, 2025, May 22, 2025