1. UNDE NL/NB Regional Conference
10 July 2009
Bruce Christianson Civilian Health and
Return to Work Coordinator
Bruce Christianson: I have recently joined D safe G as the Civilian Health and Return to Work Coordinator. The knowledge that I bring to DND in relation to RTW is my experience in disability management. I acquired it helping over 1500 injured workers reintegrate their jobs when I worked as a physiotherapist. My most recent work experience with Health Canada’s Workplace Health and Public Safety Program has allowed me to apply my RTW knowledge to the Federal Public Service’s H&S legislation.

2. D Safe G
Mission
“… to develop, coordinate, promulgate and administer the DND/CF General Safety Program…”
Vision
“… reduce accidents in order to add to the operational effectiveness of DND and the CF, minimize personal suffering… and contribute to the morale and well-being of all personnel.”

3. Overview Safety Governance Workplace Health and Safety Committees
Health and Safety Issues
Violence in the Workplace
Workplace RTW Committees
RTW Training
Workplace RTW Committees Concerns

4. General Safety Program Functional Authority Framework
VCDS
National Safety Policy Committee
CLC Part II
DND/CF Safety Council
D Safe G
National Return to Work Committee
Steering Ctte
Consultative Group
Working Group
General Safety Consultative Framework
Chain of Command
1. General Safety Council 2. Workplace Committee Return to Work Ctte.
Workplace Committee
Command / Group GSOs
CLC Part II
1. General Safety Council 2. Workplace Committee Return to Work Ctte.
Formation / Base / Wing GSOs
LEGEND:
Red: Legislation
Greens: DND Policy / Program & Governance
Blue: Program Delivery
Unit GSOs
Workplace Committee

5. Workplace H&S Committees
Mandate
“…addressing health and safety matters that apply to individual work places.” CLC Part II section 135.
Authority
“…a workplace health and safety committee is required where 20 or more Public Service employees normally work.” General Safety Program, volume 1, chapter 3, section 45 a.

6. Workplace H&S Committees
Membership
Fifty percent or more representation chosen by the bargaining agents and the remainder by the unit CO.
Reflect ratio of military vs. Public Service employees
Reflect ratio of different occupations in workplace
For public service employees a term of office is two years, but may serve for more than one.
Two alternating chairpersons

7. Workplace H&S Committees
Roles and Responsibilities – Terms of Reference
Deal with H&S complaints of employees
Implement and monitor DND’s H&S programs
Develop, implement and monitor H&S programs that have hazards unique to workplace
Participate in all inquiries, investigations, studies or inspections pertaining to H&S
Implement and monitor PPE program
Ensure adequate records of complaints, work accidents, injuries and health hazards

8. Workplace H&S Committees
Roles and Responsibilities – Terms of Reference
Cooperate with H&S Officers
Implement of changes that may affect OHS
Assist employer in investigating & assessing exposures to hazardous substances
Inspect each month all or part of workplace, so every part is inspected at least once each year
Render a recommendation on all health and safety issues prior to submitting them to a higher authority
Required to meet at least 9 times/year
Become familiar with A-GG /AG-001, General Safety Program, Workplace Safety and Health Committee Guide.

9. Workplace H&S Committees
Training
The Canada Labour Code, Part II, Art 125.(1) (z.01)states that the employer:
“must ensure that members of workplace committees and health and safety representatives receive the prescribed training in health and safety and are informed of their responsibilities under this Part”.
Basic Safety Officer Training Course
Safety Management Course
Occupational Health Course
Safety Program Evaluator’s Course
Hazardous Occurrence Investigation Training

10. Workplace H&S Committees
Recourse to Resolve Issues
CLC Part II
Chain of Command

11. VIOLENCE PREVENTION IN THE WORK PLACE
Bruce Christianson: I have recently joined D safe G as the Civilian Health and Return to Work Coordinator. The knowledge that I bring to DND in relation to RTW is my experience in disability management. I acquired it helping over 1500 injured workers reintegrate their jobs when I worked as a physiotherapist. My most recent work experience with Health Canada’s Workplace Health and Public Safety Program has allowed me to apply my RTW knowledge to the Federal Public Service’s H&S legislation.

12. Violence Prevention in the Workplace
Regulation
8 May 2008
The Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations (COHS Regs) were amended by adding Part XX:
Violence Prevention in the Workplace

13. Definition Workplace Violence
“constitutes any action, conduct, threat or gesture of a person towards an employee in their work place that can reasonably be expected to cause harm, injury or illness to that employee” (COHS Regulations, Part XX, Section 20.2)

14. Benefit of Regulation
“The Violence in the Work Place Regulation provides a specific instrument to allow for improved prevention programs and enforcement that are specific to work place violence.”
(Liaison Bulletin No.74, HRSDC- Labour Program)

15. Related Activities to Date
Working Group
Draft Policy
Guidance
Presentation at the H&S Policy Committee

16. Next Steps Reconvene Working Group Determine OPI Policy Framework
Define Roles & Responsibilities
(Chain of Command)
Impact Assessment
Timelines

17. Local RTW Committees
At the local level RTW issues can be addressed through a committee in one of two ways:
The first is establishing a RTW Committee with a management rep, union reps from all bargaining agents, RTW Program Advisor, HRO and the Unit’s HR Business manager.
OR assign RTW duties to one of the existing committees.

18. Local RTW Committees Membership OR Assign RTW Duties:
Management Representative
Union Representatives
RTW Program Advisor/GSO
Human Resource Officer
Unit’s HR Business Manager
OR Assign RTW Duties:
Workplace Health and Safety Committee
Injury on Duty Leave Committee
Employee Assistance Program
At the local level RTW issues can be addressed through a committee in one of two ways:
The first is establishing a RTW Committee with a management rep, union reps from all bargaining agents, RTW Program Advisor, HRO and the Unit’s HR Business manager.
OR assign RTW duties to one of the existing committees.

19. Local RTW Committees Mandate Authority
“… provide policy, direction, and procedures for the organization’s Return to Work Program.” RTWP Manual, chapter 3, section 9.
Authority
“Each Base, Wing, and major unit with more than 20 civilian employees must establish a committee or assign return to work duties to one of the previous mentioned committees in order to provide resources, policy direction and help the Return to Work Program Advisor manage the Return to Work Program.” RTWP Manual, chapter 3, section 8.
Although the local RTW committees establish their own terms of references, their main mandate remains the same department wide. That is to provide policy direction and procedures for the organization’s RTW Program.
The General Safety Program’s RTW manual states that each base, wing, and major unit with more than 20 civilian employees must establish a committee or assign RTW duties to one of the previously mentioned committees.

20. D safe G Funded Training Locally Funded Training
RTW Program
Resources
D safe G Funded Training
RTW Advisors Course
RTW Committees Course
RTW Awareness Course
Locally Funded Training
RTW Employee Awareness Course
Now that we have looked at how the RTW program is administered and governed nationally and locally through its respective committees, lets examine the RTW program’s training resources.
Four courses are available to educate the various stakeholders about the RTW Program. The RTW Advisors Course, RTW Committees Course and RTW Awareness Course are funded by D safe G.
The RTW Employee Awareness Course is locally funded.

21. RTW Program Agreement Process Supervisor / Employee
Supervisor / Employee / Employee Representative
Supervisor / Employee / Employee Rep / RTWP Advisor
Local RTW Committee
Case Manager
One of the important features that is highlighted in all of the RTW Training courses is the agreement process. Most RTW processes are resolved in the first 2 steps. A small number of cases need resolving by the last 2 steps.

22. RTW Program Challenge Action National Lead Absence Training Needs
Local Committees’ Issues
Action
D safe G Priority
Updated and Scheduled
Seek Feedback of Stakeholders
All though the National RTW Committee and D safe G are seldom involved in the challenges faced during the agreement process, other challenges that need resolution, have been identified. These include:
National Lead Absence: The National RTW Coordinator position has been vacant or assigned as an acting position for a total of 3 years in the last 4 years. And the National RTW Committee did not meet for a span of 16 months.
D safe G has made it its priority to improve the RTW Program by hiring a permanent National RTW Coordinator and getting National RTW Committee meetings back on track. In fact, last Tuesday the Committee members met in Ottawa.
Training needs: A RTW Assessment questionnaire was sent 13 Jan 09 to all RTWP Advisors. It was identified that training for employees, supervisors, committee members and RTWP advisors is needed. Discussions with RTWP Advisors, course contractors and auditing the supervisors course as shown that the courses should be updated.
All of the RTW courses will be updated and RTW training for advisors and committee members will be provided in the coming months.
Local Committees’ issues:
Some local programs have no RTW Committee, others are inefficient in resolving RTW issues. Some are running in isolation of union reps.
D safe G will need unions help in identifying such committees and making the necessary recommendations to improve the situation.

23. RTW Program Success Several Local RTW Programs have established:
Communication;
Collaboration; and
Trust Between All RTW Stakeholders.
The same RTW assessment questionnaire has highlighted some successful Local RTW Programs. These local programs have all mastered the basics in RTW, effective communication and collaboration between all stakeholders.

24. RTW Program Vision Establish Departmental RTW Best Practices By:
Sharing Lessons Learned;
Gathering Employee Satisfaction Questionnaires; and
Continually Monitoring the Program’s Performance.
Building from the lessons learned of these successful Local RTW Programs, D safe G’s vision is to continually improve the National RTW Program. As union representatives you have direct contact with the key stakeholders, therefore in order to achieve our common vision, D safe G will need your continued support.