Service-Wide Committee on Occupational Health and Safety

The role of the Service-Wide Committee on Occupational Health and Safety (SWOHS) is to participate in the development and review of all Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat policies, programs and issues relating to occupational health and safety. The SWOHS Committee provides advice and leadership to the departmental or agency policy committees.

SWOHS Communiqués

Committee Advisor: Karen Kruger

Quarterly Report to the National Joint Council (March 2024)

Regular activities:

The Committee has met once (1) since the last Council meeting.
The Committee wishes to note the departure of Bargaining Agent Side representative, Marvin Zaluski, from the Research Council Employees’ Association (RCEA), and to thank them for their contributions to the Committee.
The Committee welcomed a new Bargaining Agent Side representative, Bernard Holbrook, from RCEA.
The Committee received a presentation on the final report and recommendations from the Committee on Mental Health Support Mechanisms (CMHSM). The Committee appreciated the leadership of the co-chairs and looks forward to the CMHSM’s communications plans.
The Committee continues to monitor concerns surrounding the issues of respiratory infections, harassment and violence, mental health, among other hazards.
SWOHS sub-committees continue to actively work on developing resources and materials which will assist departments, agencies, and Policy Committees.
1. Harassment and Violence Prevention (HVP) Tools Working Group – the sub-committee has met twice (2) since the last Council meeting. The sub-committee finalized an updated FAQ and flowcharts which are being prepared for publication.
2. Sub-committee on Climate Change – the sub-committee has not met since the last council meeting. The Committee plans to discuss resources they have gathered that may be useful during a climate change related event.

Outstanding item(s):

The Committee continues to monitor the progress on implementation of the Work Place Harassment and Violence Prevention Regulations.

Next meeting: May 23, 2024

Employer Side	Bargaining Agent Side
Co-Chair Charles Vézina Acting Executive Director, Labour Relations Operations Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat (TBS)	Co-Chair Milton Dyck National President Agriculture Union Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC)
Marc Gosselin Senior Program/Policy Analyst Employment Conditions and Labour Relations Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat (TBS)	Jamey Mills Regional Vice-President British Columbia Region Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC)
Nancy Porteous Director General Specialized Health Services Directorate Health Canada (HC)	Yves Fournier President Federal Government Dockyard Trades & Labour Council East (FGDTLC-East)
Chantal Seeton Executive Director Workplace Health & Diversity Directorate Human Resources Branch Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)	Bernard Holbrook President Research Council Employees’ Association (RCEA)
Christopher Robinson A/Senior Director, Environment, Health and Safety Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC)	Andrea Peart National Health and Safety Officer Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC)
Aline Taillefer-McLaren Director Labour Relations Programs Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat (TBS)	Dejan Toncic Employment Relations Officer Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC)
	Dominique Vidmar Labour Relations Officer Canadian Association of Professional Employees (CAPE)