Advanced Occupational Health and Safety

Course Description

In 2017, Bill 30 caught up Alberta’s OHS system with other provinces. But in 2020, Bill 47 ran important parts of the OHS rules through the paper shredder. Now, we’re in a race to make sense of the tatters that leave our workplaces less safe, and that roll back compensation for injured workers. Are we up to today’s health and safety challenges? To reduce the disturbing rates of injury and occupational disease, you’ll need to promote your rights, make the most of your joint committee, bargain for safety…and even organize co-workers to take direct action.

This course is for union stewards who want to:

• Foster a culture of safety in the workplace
• Deepen knowledge of OHS legislation and tools to resolve issues
• Hone skills to participate effectively on joint health and safety committees
• Organize co-workers to take workplace actions for safety

Prerequisites

OHS for Stewards

This course uses:

• A homework assignment before coming to Labour School
• Body mapping
• Stories from working-class history
• Videos, including case studies from AUPE’s award-winning Careful, Safe, Intact video series
• Readings and lectures
• Short presentations, public speaking, and scenario role plays
• Group discussions

Learning outcomes

• Hold your employer accountable under Alberta’s OHS legislation and resolve common health and safety issues constructively.
• Participate actively as an onsite safety representative or member of a joint worksite health and safety committee (JWHSC).
• Describe the limits of the internal responsibility system, and why you will need to file grievances, bargain for safety, and organize for safety.
• Gather information, assert workers’ knowledge of hazardous conditions, propose alternatives, and mobilize your co-workers to take workplace actions in support of safety demands.