Workplace Health, Safety & Environment Committee

Every worker has the right to a workplace that is safe, healthy, and free of harassment. FPSE’s Workplace Health, Safety & Environment Committee (WHSEC) brings together representatives to learn about legal rights, to identify issues and trends in the post-secondary education sector, and to work with other labour organizations for improvements to workers’ compensation and occupational health and safety laws. More information about your rights can be found under Health & Safety.

Chair

Thompson Rivers University Faculty Association
Lindsey McKay

Staff Rep

 Steve Kwon

Local Reps

  

Local 1

Capilano University Faculty Association
David Geary

Local 2

Thompson Rivers University Faculty Association
Lindsey McKay (Chair)

Local 3

Faculty Association of the College of New Caledonia
Irina Doering

Local 4

Douglas College Faculty Association
Matthew Larson

Local 5

Kwantlen Faculty Association
Jeffrey Meyers

Local 6

College of the Rockies Faculty Association
Tim Ross

Local 7

University of the Fraser Valley Faculty & Staff Association
Opeyemi Adesina

Local 8

Vancouver Island University Faculty Association
Amber Hieb

Local 9

Okanagan College Faculty Association
Howard Hisdal

Local 10

Selkirk College Faculty Association
Jason DaCosta
 

Local 11

Academic Workers’ Union (Coast Mountain College)
Reto Reisen

Local 12

Camosun College Faculty Association
Emah Christiansen

Local 14

Langara Faculty Association
Valerie Lloyd

Local 15

Vancouver Community College Faculty Association
Scott Urquhart

Local 16

North Island College Faculty Association
Alix Carrel

Local 17

TRU Open Learning Faculty Association
Marie Low

Local 19

Nicola Valley Institute of Technology Employees’ Association
 

Local 21

Education & Training Employees' Association
Vacant

Local 22

Emily Carr University of Art + Design Faculty Association
Justin Novak
Local 24

Quest University Faculty Union
Vacant

Exec Liaison

FPSE Member-at-Large
Sharon Mansiere

NRFC Liaison

Camosun College Faculty Association 
Erin Dibattista

The Workplace Health, Safety & Environment Committee shall assist FPSE locals to identify and assess the current and future occupational health and safety needs of their members, and shall promote means of enabling FPSE members individually and collectively to develop their own occupational health and safety activities.

  1. To create an awareness of occupational health and safety issues among the members of FPSE locals.
  2. To gather and disseminate information to member locals on occupational health and safety needs, activities, and services.
  3. To maintain ongoing contact with each member local Occupational Health & Safety Committee through a designated representative at each local.
  4. To work to correct safety deficiencies in the workplace.
  5. To recommend changes to provincial and federal health and safety legislation and regulations.
  6. To form an Occupational Health & Safety Committee in each local that complies with the Workers’ Compensation Health and Safety Regulations, which shall take such actions necessary to promote safety awareness amongst the members of the local.
  7. To actively work to prevent accident and injury in the workplace.
  8. To assist FPSE to lobby governments to improve safety regulations.
  9. To create an understanding of the Workers’ Compensation Act and other legislation that affects the health and safety of the workers.
  10. To join with other external groups to promote occupational health and safety.
  11. To create a consciousness of and to correct environmental hazards dangerous to female instructors and students.
  12. To promote development of First Aid/Emergency procedures and facilities in the colleges and institutes.
  13. To work with other committees to gather and disseminate information on occupational health and to liaise.
  14. To recommend contract language on occupational health and safety matters to negotiating committees for incorporation in collective agreements.

Reporting: Reports regularly to the FPSE President and the Presidents’ Council.

Composition: Each local shall name a specific member as their designated representative to the Committee. The Non-Regular Faculty Committee may appoint one person to the Committee.

A member will be appointed by the Executive Committee, with voice but without vote, to act as liaison between the Standing Committee, the Executive, and Presidents' Council. 

Term of Appointment: Locals shall endeavour to elect or appoint representatives for a two year term.

Chairperson: The Committee shall elect a new Chairperson at the last meeting of the Committee held prior to the convening of the Annual General Meeting and Convention.

The Committee shall endeavour to elect a Chairperson who has served on the Committee a previous term as a local representative.

The Chairperson or designate shall have observer status at meetings of the Presidents’ Council with voice but no vote. The responsibility of the Chairperson includes attendance by the Chairperson or designate at the Presidents’ Council meeting immediately subsequent to a meeting of the Committee or upon request of the FPSE President.

The Chairperson shall attend the Annual General Meeting and Convention. The Convention shall provide orientation and planning opportunities for Committee Chairpersons and facilitate their meeting as a group.

The duly elected Chairperson of the Committee must be the designated representative of a local to continue being Chairperson. 

Meetings: Such meetings as are required to fulfill its responsibilities, limited only by the funding allocated to the Committee. The Committee may substitute or include a workshop or conference for a meeting.

Observers: By invitation of the Chair.

Quorum: A majority of locals.

Voting: Positions adopted by consensus among designated representatives; otherwise by simple majority of those voting 
(By-Law #6).

Funds: As allocated in the annual budget.