Environmental Agreement 2008

If you need to reach your building-based Joint Health & Safety Committee (JHSC) members, go to: http://www.ehs.utoronto.ca/site4.aspx. If the map does not show USW representation for the building you work in, please contact Lee Jeffrey or Jennifer Blackett, Co-Chairs of the Local 1998 Health & Safety Committee. Lee can be reached at: lee.jeffrey@utoronto.ca or (416) 978-5340 and Jennifer can be reached at jennifer.blackett@utoronto.ca, or (416) 978-6413. 

CONFERENCE: "WORKERS FIRST - FOR A HEALTHY AND SAFE FUTURE"

Health and Safety Report - December 2007

The Local 1998 Health & Safety Committee generally meets on the last Thursday of each month at 12 noon to 1pm. It's a good idea to call ahead, as we sometimes have to change venues. Our mandate is to provide direction and support for our members sitting on building JHSCs. We discuss health & safety problems, set priorities and develop strategies to deal with health, safety and environmental issues faced by our members.

Health & Safety activists sit on local area or building JHSCs where they meet with management and other worker representatives, inspect our work areas to identify hazards or potential hazards, and make recommendations to resolve problems. Steelworker JHSC members may be elected or appointed by our union. Our Certified Worker JHSC members are trained in the Occupational Health & Safety Act (OHSA) and other relevant legislation through the Workers Health & Safety Centre (WHSC). This training is usually conducted on campus, once every six months. Our Local union also supports and participates in health & safety training through the Steelworker Toronto Area Council.

If you're interested in becoming involved as a Health & Safety representative in your building or as a member of our Local Health & Safety Committee, please contact the union office at: 416-506-9090.

At U of T, Local 1998 also has a Central Health & Safety Committee composed of Steelworkers and management representatives. This committee meets monthly to monitor and provide direction for the JHSCs, and to deal with broader issues that affect the health & safety of our members. Our Central Health & Safety Committee members are: Allison Dubarry, Mary Ann DeFrancis and Lee Jeffrey.