Article 30 : occupational health and safety

30.1 The University, the Bargaining Unit and employees cooperate in maintaining the best possible occupational health and safety conditions in an effort to prevent occupational illnesses and workplace accidents, in accordance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997 (WSIB).

30.2 The University, the Bargaining Unit and employees recognize their respective obligations under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997 to cooperate in a worker's early and safe return to work following a workplace accident or occupational illness.

30.3 Employees who are absent from work due to a work accident continue to receive their regular base salary for the duration of their absence or, at the latest, until the one-hundred-and-nineteenth (119th) calendar day of absence. During this period, the University receives the amounts payable by the WSIB directly. Should the absence extend beyond the 119th day, the employee will then receive benefits directly from the WSIB.

30.4 Employees required to supervise an unpaid student as part of their duties are not considered supervisors within the meaning of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

30.5 There shall be no loss of pay and benefits for employees attending meetings of the University joint occupational health and safety committee (UJOHSC) and all the operational sub-committees. Employee members of the UJOHSC and of all operational sub-committees shall be entitled to be absent from work for a reasonable period without loss of pay and benefits, at the University's expense, to attend identified training sessions. The UJOHSC can recommend these absences as part of its responsibilities.

30.6 When supervising employees or student of the University, an employee shall act in accordance with the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act, Section 27.

30.7 The Parties recognize their obligations under University Policy 77 "Occupational Health and Safety" and the Terms of Reference of the University Joint Occupational Health And Safety Committee.

30.8 When an inspector from Ministry of Labour arrives at the workplace to conduct an inspection, the President of the Bargaining Unit and the representatives of the Bargaining Unit on the UJOHSC are immediately notified by the University to participate in the inspection process.