Safety and Health Week 2020 to Focus on COVID-19

Next week is North American Occupational Safety and Health Week. This annual event helps to remind and educate employers, employees and the public about the importance of workplace injury and illness prevention.

The current COVID-19 pandemic means health-care workers' personal safety is more is important than ever. BCNU stewards and elected leaders will be reaching out to members across the province through the week of May 3-9 and reminding them about the occupational health and safety (OHS) rights that are in place to protect them - such as the right to know about hazards and controls in the workplace, the right to refuse unsafe work, and the right to participate in OHS activities and be free from discrimination if doing so.

This education initiative comes at a critical time. The health-care system's ongoing shortage of adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) has raised serious concerns about health employers' ability to safely manage the COVID-19 crisis.

Nurses know that delivering safe patient care means working in a safe and healthy environment, and the need for adequate infection control and occupational health and safety practices, including engineered and administrative controls along with access to PPE, has never been more important.

It is vital that BCNU members understand their OHS rights given the unprecedent risk of disease exposure and transmission that the coronavirus outbreak brings. All health-care workers should have access to appropriate PPE and should have their professional judgment respected when assessing the need for this equipment.

Safety and Health Week will also see BCNU stewards educating members about their legislated OHS rights, including the right to be fully aware of the risks in their workplace, the right to participate in OHS processes and the right to refuse unsafe work, including the steps they should take when they have reasonable cause to believe there is an undue hazard in their workplace.

Members are encouraged to visit the BCNU website and view our COVID-19 Resources page to learn more about how the union is helping them during this public health crisis.

A BCNU health and safety phone line has also been established to respond to members who have OHS concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic. This phone line is available to all members who require urgent assistance 24 hours per day, seven days per week.

Call 604-433-2268 (press 1) or toll free 1-800-663-9991 (press 1).

FEB 2021 UPDATE:
The health and safety phone line hours have been adjusted to 9am - 5pm Monday to Friday. Urgent safety issues should be reported immediately to your employer with a follow-up call to BCNU when you are able to at 604-433-2268 or 1-800-663-9991 (press 1).