News release

March 25, 2004

PSAC launches health and safety handbook as guide for union activists

OTTAWA - The Public Service Alliance of Canada will be launching the Health and Safety Toolkit at its National Health and Safety Conference, which is taking place at the Hilton Hotel in Toronto from March 25 to 28, 2004 .

The handbook is part of the PSAC's efforts to develop its membership's capacity to ensure their employers are filling their obligations in providing safe, healthy and environmentally sound workplaces.

“The workplace health and safety issues that workers and unions are concerned about have now gone beyond just making sure that workers leave work alive,” says PSAC Regional Executive Vice-President for British Columbia Patty Ducharme.   “We now need to seriously consider how the workplace may be impacting on workers' long-term physical and mental health.”

Contents of the handbook include a guideline for investigating health and safety violations, labour laws on health and safety, complaint forms and regulations for health and safety committees and representatives.

“Workplace health and safety is the responsibility of all union members,” says PSAC Regional Executive Vice-President for Ontario Gerry Halabecki.   “This handbook will be an important tool for our members to make sure their health and safety rights are not being violated and to know what to do if they are.”

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For information:     Joselito Calugay, PSAC communications officer,
                                (613) 560-4235 or during the conference,
                                (613) 862-3298

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