May 12, 2014
IBB National Health & Safety Committee Update
On April 28th, the National Health & Safety Committee met to discuss health & safety issues that face Boilermakers across Canada.
National IBB H&S Committee Members pose for a photo with the Paul Douglas monument (Lodge 359 member) that was erected by Worksafe BC. (Left to right) Jason McInnis (National H&S), Grant Jacobs (NTTF), Rod Lauzon (Industrial Sector), Jonathan White (NTTF), Darrel Bray (L-555), and Randle Shaw (L-146). In the front center is Sharon, the wife of Paul Douglas. Photo by Richard MacIntosh (IR)
National IBB H&S Committee Members pose for a photo with the Paul Douglas monument (Lodge 359 member) that was erected by Worksafe BC. (Left to right) Jason McInnis (National H&S), Grant Jacobs (NTTF), Rod Lauzon (Industrial Sector), Jonathan White (NTTF), Darrel Bray (L-555), and Randle Shaw (L-146). In the front center is Sharon, the wife of Paul Douglas. Photo by Richard MacIntosh (IR)
Jason McInnis, National Director of Boilermakers Health & Safety, presented a full package of information for the committee members who participated in the meeting including:
- Updates - Updates from various jurisdictions including summary ticketing offenses in Alberta and Saskatchewan, occupational exposure limits and legislative updates across Canada.
- Boilermaker Health & Wellness Initiative - Committee discussed progress to date on the Boilermaker Total Health (BTH) initiative. The goal of the program is to maintain and promote Boilermaker health on and off the job. This program has two branches under development by the Boilermaker National Labour Management. The H&S Committee discussed the functional abilities assessment (under development) as a baseline for apprentices coming into the trade, currently targeting field verification of core task PDA. Once complete, a pilot project will be done prior to finalizing the program. A health and wellness component will be incorporated to encourage existing members towards annual medicals and overall health and wellness promotion. Committee members will have an opportunity to directly shape the health & wellness roadmap currently under development through Context Research.
- Day of Mourning - Committee discussed the Day of Mourning, Canada's continued rise in occupational fatalities and opportunities for improvement within our industry. The Committee attended the Day of Mourning ceremony in Vancouver to remember the Canadians who lost their lives due to workplace accidents.
- Presumptive Coverage - Committee discussed the Boilermaker presumptive coverage pilot project currently under development with L359. There was an update on lobbying efforts and possible strategies to promote presumptive coverage. Current activities include developing a compendium of Boilermaker exposures, literature review and possible national epidemiological survey.
- Diagnostic Toolkit Promotion - Committee discussed the merits of promoting the diagnostic toolkit for Boilermakers and their family doctors which goes largely unused across Canada. The Committee agreed to develop a jobsite poster to promote its use as well as contacting the various medical associations directly with the information.