• News
    • UCCO-SACC-CSN News
    • Press Releases
    • In the News
  • Priorities
    • Mental Health Resources and Awareness
    • Structured Intervention Units (SIUs)
    • PNEP
    • Phoenix
    • Negotiations
  • Vigilance
  • Videos
  • Photos
  • Resources
    • Agreements
    • Constitution
    • Forms
    • Publications
    • Useful Links
  • About
    • About Us
    • National Executive
    • Staff Members
    • Medias
  • Contact
  • English
    • English
    • Français
Menu
  • News
    • UCCO-SACC-CSN News
    • Press Releases
    • In the News
  • Priorities
    • Mental Health Resources and Awareness
    • Structured Intervention Units (SIUs)
    • PNEP
    • Phoenix
    • Negotiations
  • Vigilance
  • Videos
  • Photos
  • Resources
    • Agreements
    • Constitution
    • Forms
    • Publications
    • Useful Links
  • About
    • About Us
    • National Executive
    • Staff Members
    • Medias
  • Contact
  • English
    • English
    • Français
  • June 15, 2023

Health and safety report – NHSPC June 2023

Meeting of Regional Representatives in Health and Safety

The National Health and Safety Policy Committee was convened this past June 6, with regional health and safety representatives meeting in person to discuss the issues at stake.

Significant exposure to bodily fluids

According to information obtained from representatives, the statistics provided by the employer underestimate incidents of exposure to bodily fluids. This type of attack is on the rise again.

Whenever you are attacked in this manner, it is essential to report the incident to the employer and your local union branch as promptly as possible. We must ensure that the employer investigates the incident at work expeditiously and completes form LAB1070. In order to generate more reliable statistics, it is important to report such situations.

In addition, the Ontario UCCO-SACC-CSN region is attempting to arrange a meeting with MP Mark Gerretsen (Kingston) to revive the blood-sampling bill.

Vehicle fleet

The country’s vehicle fleet looks increasingly decrepit. This point will be discussed at the Safety Committee meeting on June 23. If you see vehicles in a sorry state with tie wraps or other signs of DIY repairs, take photos and send them to your regional OHS representative.

Distribution of medication

Representatives discussed regional and local differences in medication distribution across the country. The health sector is trying but failing to reproduce a community model in our institutions. Our role in the distribution of medication is to ensure access to the boxes containing medication, and that is all. Under no circumstances should we provide access to these boxes when the infirmary is open, and nursing staff are present. The health sector is working on new guidelines. We look forward to the official consultation on this matter. Being a CX is one job; being a nurse is another.

Institutional cleanliness

The representatives highlighted problems of cleanliness and hygiene in control zones, toilets, offices, gangways, and changing rooms. These areas must be kept clean at all times. The law is clear on this issue: our facilities must be cleaned regularly. The employer must stop relying on inmates to carry out tidying and cleaning tasks efficiently. Our regional representatives will collect comprehensive data for all sites in the weeks ahead.

Regional OSH representatives

Pacific: Chris Wright

Prairies: Brad Smith and Chase Mayer

Ontario: Martin McAllister

Québec: Frédérick Desjardins and Stéphan Dicaire

Atlantic: Dave Joudrey

National Health and Safety Policy Committee

Here is what the National Health and Safety Policy Committee discussed. The union’s regional OHS representatives and the national representatives for UCCO-SACC-CSN attended this meeting.

Respiratory program

The employer wishes to conduct a formal risk assessment of tasks and work environments in conjunction with an industrial hygienist, thereby enabling the employer to determine what protection factor is required for these tasks as well as what PPE. At present, SCBA is the required PPE. The employer cannot, however, explain the scientific reasons that led to this choice of PPE at the time.

Concurrently, the CSC sits on CSA Group subcommittees concerning the Z94.4 standard. Many federal, provincial, and municipal departments and agencies face the same challenges with the Z94.4 standard. This standard will be reviewed at a later date, but the review process is time-consuming.

The union has stressed the importance of this issue. Many of our members wear beards for religious or other reasons. The employer refuses to allow them to occupy certain positions because of the requirements of the CSC respiratory program and the Z94.4 standard.

The subject will be discussed again at the next meeting of the National OHS Committee meeting.

Prison Needle Exchange Program (PNEP)

Not surprisingly, we discussed PNEP once again. The union once again emphasized that overdose-prevention sites are a far better solution on all fronts than PNEP. The employer wishes to pursue the deployment of both models concurrently. We continue to comment on the program, guidelines, and work orders. In recent weeks, we have sent a report to the Minister of Public Security, Marco Mendicino, on the issues relating to harmful aspects of the needle-exchange program. Also, during our lobbying day with the Liberals, the Minister lingered at the kiosk, demonstrating the harmful effects of the needle-exchange program. The subject will be back on the agenda in September.

Brief updates

The Office of Informal Conflict Resolution gave a presentation on informal conflict resolution.

The employer has shared new guidelines for automated external defibrillators. We will assess and comment.

In solidarity,

Your Union Reps.

PDF Version HERE
Health and Safety

SHARE THIS

MORE NEWS

Les Partis politiques répondent à nos questions

Political parties answer our questions

National Health and Safety Policy Committee | March 2025

Minister Champagne approved pilot project for use of frequency jammers at select correctional facilities

Union of Canadian Correctional Officers
Syndicat des Agents Correctionnels du Canada
Confédération des Syndicats Nationaux – CSN

QUICK LINKS

  • News
  • Vigilance Magazine
  • Videos
  • Photos
  • Press Releases
  • Forms
  • Agreements
  • Contact

FOLLOW US

Facebook-f Twitter Youtube Instagram

© 2025 UCCO-SACC-CSN • Tous droits réservés. All rights reserved.