Did You Know: FSA Members Play a Key Role in OH&S
This post was updated in February 2020 to change the name of BCIT’s manager in charge of health and safety.
Did you know FSA members participate on many of BCIT’s Joint Occupational Health and Safety (“JOHS”) Committees? The committees are mandated by provincial law, and require committee members (at least half of whom must be workers) to meet regularly, and perform the following duties:
- Identify unhealthy or unsafe situations
- Consider and respond to complaints relating to health and safety
- Consult with workers and the employer regarding safety and health
- Make recommendations to the employer for the improvement of occupational health and safety
- Make recommendations to the employer on educational programs promoting the health and safety of workers
- Advise the employer on proposed changes to the workplace, g. where significant changes to equipment, machinery, and work processes may create a hazard
- Ensure accident investigations and regular inspections are carried out
- Participate in inspections, investigations and inquiries as provided for in the Workers Compensation Act.
FSA members sit on JOHS committees located at the Burnaby (BBY) and Downtown (DTC) campuses, and at the Centre for Advanced Research and Innovation (CARI). As well, there are various advisory committees dedicated to specific schools or programs, such as the School of Computing and Academic Studies.
To learn more about BCIT’s JOHS committee structure, Anna Matheson, the Institute’s manager in charge of health and safety, can be reached at (604) 456-8011. Or reach out to the FSA at (604) 432-8695, particularly if you are interested in participating on a JOHS committee.
- For more information on Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committees, the BC Federation of Labour maintains this website.
- As well, WorkSafeBC has this useful webpage.