Workplace Safety and Health Committee

As of April 12, 2010, the Workplace Safety & Health Committee has met three times.

The committee members have also attended four WSD Central Committee meetings and will attend one more in May.

The chair has attended four divisional co-chair meetings and will attend one more in May. The chair and one committee member attended an MTS sponsored regional WSH meeting. The chair and one committee member attended a Manitoba Teachers' Society Workplace Safety and Health seminar and regional Committee meeting on a Saturday in February. The chair has written three Workplace Safety & Health newsletter articles, in October, November and April.

The Workplace Safety and Health Committee compiled and distributed information from a fall survey, given to WTA Council Representatives. The survey responses were shared with members in the November WTA WSH newsletter article.

Through association, regional and divisional meetings, the WTA WSH Committee strives to:

• Keep WTA members aware of their WSH rights and responsibilities.
• Ensure WSH concerns are addressed effectively and in a timely fashion.
• Act in a proactive fashion by bringing forward potential WSH concerns.
• Inform WTA members regarding WSH.
• Monitor and implement WSH policies, legislation and regulations.

Recommendations for next year:

1. Review of WSH incident reporting to WTA and incident review for members.
2. WTA Vice-President chair the WTA WSH Committee.
3. Newsletter article(s) regarding process and forms for WSH concerns.
4. Meeting(s) with lab assistants regarding their WSH concerns.
5. Presentation to Council on WSH by: MFL Occupational Health Centre, WSD WSH officer(s) and MTS WSH Provincial Executive Chair.

Respectfully submitted by,
Melinda Guenther-Balodis, Chair

Other members:

Chris Pammenter, Gary Comack, Patrice Lyng, Jean-Pierre Grosemans