Category: Health and Safety
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Public safety workers and first responders needed for mental health research study
Printable poster Dr. Megan Edgelow and her research team from the Work and Mental Health Lab at Queen’s University are inviting first responders and public safety personnel in Ontario to participate in a survey-based research study titled “Public safety personnel mental wellness: The impact of organizational factors.” This study is seeking to understand how workplaces…
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Violence and Harassment at Work: Violence against workers is the direct consequence of an unsafe workplace
Downloadable PDF This booklet was developed to help OPSEU/SEFPO locals build strength from within and organize effectively to protect members from violence and harassment in their workplaces. It contains tools and information about their rights under the Occupational Health and Safety Act and can aid in the empowerment and mobilization of members to ensure employers…
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A Worker’s Guide to the Occupational Health and Safety Act
Downloadable PDF In memory of Lisa McCaskell Senior Health and Safety Officer OPSEU/SEFPO Introduction The Worker’s Guide to the Occupational Health and Safety Act is produced by the OPSEU/SEFPO Worker Safety Unit to provide members with basic information and interpretation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) as it describes the powers of Joint…
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From Knowledge to Action: A resource for members in health care and mental health facilities dealing with workplace violence
Downloadable PDF Introduction There are over 45,000 OPSEU/SEFPO members proudly serving the Province of Ontario in a variety of workplaces in the Health Care Sector. These include Hospitals, Long-Term Care Facilities, Mental Health and Addiction Facilities, and much more. During the pandemic, there was an enormous amount of attention paid to these dedicated professionals as…
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Day of Mourning events across Ontario
The Workers Health and Safety Centre (WHSC) has compiled a list of Day of Mourning events happening across the province between Thursday, April 25 and Sunday, April 28. You can see and download the list of events here. The Canadian Labour Congress list includes events in Ontario and across the Country. And here are the WHSC’s recent accident…
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April 28 Day of Mourning events across Ontario
The Workers Health and Safety Centre (WHSC) has compiled a list of Day of Mourning events happening across the province between Thursday, April 25 and Sunday, April 28. You can see and download the list of events here. And here are the WHSC’s recent accident and fatality statistics
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Health and safety training for young workers
OPSEU/SEFPO’s Provincial Young Workers Committee (PYC) is seeking eight young workers aged 35 or younger to attend a virtual Health and Safety Training. One additional member from each Region (two additional members from Region 7) will join the committee for the training at no cost. The complete training is split between two weeks: March 22,…
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A Worker’s Guide to the Occupational Health and Safety Act-2
In memory of Lisa McCaskell Senior Health and Safety Officer OPSEU/SEFPO September 1999 – February 2019 Introduction The Worker’s Guide to the Occupational Health and Safety Act is produced by the OPSEU/SEFPO Worker Safety Unit to provide members with basic information and interpretation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) as it describes the…
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Fighting the WSIB’s Alarming Record of Denying Chronic Mental Stress Claims
The fight to advance workers’ rights includes pushing to expand and enforce just compensation for injured workers. On one front, some progress has been won to recognize chronic mental stress as a compensable workplace injury in Ontario in recent years. But the large number of denials for chronic mental stress claims have left workers without…
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KPMG’s timeline changes to WSIB appeals process will result in more lost appeals for workers: OPSEU/SEFPO Disability Rights Caucus
OPSEU/SEFPO’s Disability Rights Caucus is sounding the alarm on a new Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) process that will harm injured workers. The WSIB has unilaterally decided to implement a 30-day time limit on workers to provide supporting documents when they appeal WSIB decisions. This time limit, recommended by KPMG in a value-for-money audit,…
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WSIB Facts 5 – Work-Related Stress
PDF version Traumatic mental stress (TMS) Chronic mental stress (CMS) Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in First Responders and Other Designated Workers A worker may be entitled to benefits for work related mental stress arising out of and in the course of employment. However, a worker is not entitled to benefits for work-related stress caused by…
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WSIB Facts 4 – Return to Work
PDF version Rehabilitation and Return to Work (RTW) planning begins the day of the worker’s absence from work or when the worker requires accommodation as a result of a workplace injury or illness. The RTW process should: ensure a health recovery process for the injured worker provide a safe return to work as soon as…
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WSIB Facts 3 – Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Assistance
PDF version How The Worker Safety Unit Can Help You If you disagree with a WSIB decision denying entitlements or benefits, the first step is to complete and submit a WSIB Intent to Object (ITO) form. Please refer to WSIB Fact Sheet #2 Appealing a Workplace Safety and Insurance Decision. It is your responsibility to…
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WSIB Facts 2 – Appealing a Workplace Safety and Insurance Decision
PDF version If the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) denies or terminates your claim and you do not agree with the decision, you have the right to appeal. There are definite appeal time limits that need to be met according to the issue under dispute. Failure to meet the appeal deadlines will prevent you…
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WSIB Facts 1 – Reporting and Filing Workplace Accidents
PDF version When Should You Report an Accident/Injury/Illness? A work related accident/injury/illness should be reported immediately. If that is not possible, it should be reported to your supervisor before leaving the workplace on the day of the injury. Accidents must be reported to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) no later than 6 months…
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OPSEU/SEFPO commemorates the National Day of Mourning – April 28
April 28 is the National Day of Mourning, a solemn occasion when Canadians come together to remember and honour those who have lost their lives, suffered injury or illness on the job or have experienced a work-related injury. This day also gives us pause to reflect on the importance of workplace safety for the thousands…
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OPS Rapid Antigen Testing (RAT) memorandum of settlement
View the decision GSB# 2021-3633; 2021-4288 OPSEU# 2022-0999-0005; 2022-0999-0004 Memorandum of Settlement Between: The Crown in Right of Ontario as represented by the Treasury Board Secretariat (“the Employer”) and The Ontario Public Employees Service Union (“the Union” or “OPSEU”) Whereas as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Employer implemented The Safe Workplace Policy, which…
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Mandatory OPS Rapid Antigen Tests ruled “work” by Grievance Settlement Board (GSB)
View the decision View the memorandum of settlement here On October 26, 2022, the Grievance Settlement Board (GSB) issued a decision related to the mandatory completion and submission of COVID-19 “Rapid Antigen Tests” by employees on their own time, before attending the workplace (please see attached the decision in GSB #2021- 3633 and 2021-4288). This…