ARTICLE 6
SAFETY

6.01 Both the employer and employees recognize their responsibilities to develop and maintain a safe work environment and the intent of relevant health and safety legislation shall apply.

6.02 (a) Where an employee considers his/her work or worksite to be unsafe, s/he shall immediately report the condition to his/her supervisor who will remedy the concern. If it cannot be remedied it is to be reported to the Environmental Health and Safety Officer.

(b) The employee shall not be required to work on the particular job that is considered unsafe until the unsafe condition has been corrected. The employee may request that the site be inspected by the Environmental Health and Safety Officer.

(c) If in the opinion of the Environmental Health and Safety Officer, an expert opinion is required, appropriate persons shall be contacted including, but not limited to, the Alberta Government's Workplace Health and Safety and Strategic Services Division. Alternatively, or in combination with the above, a Department of Labour Safety Inspector shall be called in by the Environmental Health and Safety Officer.

6.03 Where an employee considers that another person is performing his/her work in an unsafe manner s/he shall report the unsafe act to his/her supervisor immediately.

6.04 (a) Where it is a requirement of the job, employees shall be provided with protective equipment and clothing. While the employee is responsible for the purchase of his/her own eyeglasses, the additional cost for standard clear hardex lenses will be paid for by the University.

(b) Where the AVP(HRS) (pursuant to the Occupational Health and Safety Act) determines that safety footwear should be provided, the University shall either provide the actual safety footwear or reimburse each eligible employee for the actual cost of the safety footwear.

(c) Where employees, in the interests of safety and on recommendation of the Environmental Health and Safety Officer, elect to wear safety shoes or boots, they shall be subsidized to a maximum of sixty dollars ($60) per employee in each full year. Where working conditions are such that deterioration of safety shoes or boots occurs during the year, the subsidy for safety footwear may be extended to provide for more than one subsidy per annum on the recommendation of the Environmental Health and Safety Officer to the Department Head.

(d) The provision of safety footwear in Clause 6.04 (c) applies to full-time and part-time regular employees only.

6.05 An employee shall have the right to refuse to enter or leave an area if, in his/her opinion, his/her personal safety may be endangered in so doing. Such an employee's failure to report for duty or to carry out his/her official duties shall not be considered a violation of this Agreement nor shall it be grounds for docking his/her pay or for disciplinary action. However, the employee shall advise his/her supervisor of his/her circumstances at the first available opportunity.