Article 34 - Preventive / protective measures
34.01 Medical examination
Any examination, immunization or treatment of employees required by the Employer takes place during their hours of work, at no charge.
Such employer-required examinations, immunizations or treatments must be related to the work to be performed or be necessary to protect individuals.
34.02 Emergency care
In the event of an emergency, the Employer provides the employee with the necessary care in the workplace, free of charge.
34.03 Healthy germ carrier
An employee who is a healthy germ carrier and who is given leave from their work duties at the recommendation of the health service or the physician designated by the Employer may be reassigned to a position for which they meet the normal requirements of the job. If no such replacement assignment is possible, the employee does not suffer any loss of salary and does not have any time deducted from their bank of sick leave. The Employer may, however, submit such a case to the Commission des normes, de l’équité et de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST), but without prejudice for the employee.
34.04 Occupational health and safety
The Employer takes all necessary steps to eliminate all hazards to employees’ health, safety or physical well-being at the source. The Union and employees co-operate in this.
34.05
A joint local health and safety committee is set up to examine problems specific to the institution and to formulate opinions and recommendations on the aspects listed in this Article. The terms for the representation of the parties, operating procedures and the committee’s terms of reference are established in local arrangements.
34.06
Employees may be given leave from their work duties with no loss of salary for hearings on their case by the appeal bodies stipulated in the Act respecting industrial accidents and occupational diseases (CQLR, c. A-3.001) (including the Bureau d’évaluation médicale, which is the medical assessment office) for employment injuries as defined in the Act that occur with the Employer.
34.07
Employees who participate in meetings of the Association paritaire pour la santé et la sécurité du travail du secteur affaires sociales (committees, general meetings, board of directors) are given leave from their work duties with no loss of regular salary.
34.08
When an employee considers that a beneficiary may pose an immediate or eventual danger for others, they report it to their immediate supervisor. The authorities take the measures that are necessary in light of the facts set out in the employee’s report.
Specific provisions for radiology technologists
34.09
Any employee exposed to radiation as a result of their work undergoes the following examinations and analyses during their hours of work and at no cost, unless the employee’s attending physician forbids it:
a) a chest X-ray (350 mm x 430 mm format) once annually;
b) a blood analysis (full cytology) every three (3) months in cases of excessive radiation exposure.
The results of this analysis must be transmitted to the director of the staff health service and to the chief radiologist. Any blood anomaly attributable to radiation detected in an employee must be investigated without delay by a hematologist or a physician qualified in that field in order to discover the cause.
34.10
The quantity of radiation received must be counted rigorously. The results of these radiation counts are posted each month in the radiology activity centre.
In order to enable the quantity of radiation received to be counted as accurately as possible, each employee agrees to wear a dosimeter.
34.11
With a view to ensuring the safety of beneficiaries and employees, the Employer undertakes to comply with the standards issued by Health Canada’s Radiation Protection Division.
If an employee’s personal dosimeter indicates that excessive doses attributable to a defect or operating flaw in radiation facilities have been received by them, the institution must immediately take remedial measures and provide the Union with information about this upon request.
34.12
If an employee’s personal dosimeter indicates that they have received excessive doses, the Employer must give the employee concerned time off. This time off in no way affects the employee’s annual vacation leave or sick leave. During this time off, the employee is paid the equivalent of what they would receive if they were at work.
34.13
The Employer gives an employee who so requests a copy of the federal report on their personal dosimeter.
34.14
Anyone who is exposed to a blood contamination hazard because of their work receives a blood test for hepatitis B during their hours of work, at no charge.