OH&S Officer USW-007-25

at  BC Nurses Union

The BC Nurses’ Union (BCNU) is a strong, dynamic voice for nurses and nursing in British Columbia, representing more than 48,000 members. BCNU provides collective agreement negotiation and support to its members, as well as professional and advocacy services in the field of research, clinical practice, leadership and education. As the voice of the nursing profession in the province, we advocate for nurses and patients to ensure safe, quality, public health care for all.
Job Title: OH&S Officer (3 Positions)
Regular Full-Time
Reporting To: Coordinator, OH&S
Posting #: USW-007-25
Pay Rate: Based on an annual salary of $104,548.80 plus a salary differential of $8,420.00
Starting: February / March
Posting Period: January 28 to February 6, 2025
Position Overview
The Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Officer works with internal and external partners to improve members’ occupational physical and psychological safety. As subject matter experts in safety standard, e.g. CSA standards health and safety management systems (HSMS) (Z1000-14) and psychological health and safety at work (PHSW) (Z1003-13) the OHS Officer is instrumental in the evaluation, design, and improvement of worker safety in BC healthcare. This position requires excellent coaching, facilitation, communication, and relationship-building skills working with representatives from diverse interest groups such as BCNU management / co-workers, members, elected representatives and executives, senior level employer representatives, WorkSafeBC, and more.
Key Responsibilities

Coach and mentor regional OHS and MH representatives’ efforts to empower members and joint occupational health and safety committee (JOHSC) reps to strengthen frontline safety culture.

• Advise and support regional representative efforts to ensure BCNU membership of local JOHSC, supporting recruitment and onboarding efforts.
• Advise regional representatives on strategies to access and review JOHSC meeting minutes for compliance, worker voice in committee business, and monitor for OHS issue escalations.
• Coach regional representatives to engage/mentor JOHSC representatives and advocates in physical and psychological safety issues surfaced by members.
• Resource regional representatives to advise JOHSC reps and members on safety responsibilities and rights including incident/hazard reporting, escalations, formal written recommendation letters, and more.
• Build resources that guide BCNU JOHSC representatives toward finding system-related causes and contributing factors when investigating safety incidents and/or hazards.
• Be the OHS subject lead for regional OHS and MH representatives and support file escalations.
• Support the design and delivery of twice-yearly development days for the regional OHS and MH representatives.

Develop OHS resources, tools, and information to empower members as advocates in OHS.

• In consultation with regional representatives and other interest groups oversee the creation of OHS outreach materials and initiatives designed to engage BCNU membership.
• Oversee the review and addition of OHS materials on BCNU safety webpages, and toolkits to make OHS information accessible, and actionable for all members and activists.
• Support regional rep communication of OHS hot topics through provision of presentations and speaking bullets. These items may be presented by regional reps or the OHSO.
• Facilitate regional OHS initiative workshops to support member-led action to address local issues.

Design and facilitate OHS curriculum to advance physical and psychological safety knowledge.

• Develop education resources to build awareness and understanding of topics specific to occupational physical & psychological safety as required in provincial regulation, legislation, Ministry of Health policies, BCNU collective agreements, the CSA standards Health and Safety Management System Z1000-14 and PHS in the workplace Z1003-13 and more.
• Build and maintain provincial OHS curriculum for members, JOHSC Representatives and other activists.
• Create curriculum on the health and safety management system requirements and psychological health and safety in the workplace. Such as education that focuses on hazard identification and risk assessment, and the pillars outlined in CSA Z1000-14 and Z1003-13.
• Liaise with BCNU teams/departments to optimize education content, maintenance, and promotion.
• Develop orientation materials to support onboarding new OHS and MH representatives.
• Work with OHS Coordinator to establish a yearly education plan that achieves physical and psychological safety education objectives.

Serve as a union representative on provincial committees and provide advice and support to BCNU representatives on health authority committees.

• Create a coordinated approach to the addition of BCNU objectives/agenda items on Regional Psychological Health and Safety and Violence Prevention committees.
• Support regional representative participation at employer regional committees (e.g. violence prevention and PHS) through information updates, education of key issues, coordinating agenda items with other unions, etc.
• Establish and maintain a communication channel for regional representatives and the prevention team to share information/actions and gather reps’ ideas and feedback.

Advocate on policy and legislative issues.

• In consultation with OHS team provide critical review of proposed safety standards, practice directives, policies, regulations, or other guiding documents as established by provincial agencies such as the Ministry of Health, WorkSafeBC, SWITCHBC, or other agencies.
• Draft BCNU review statements and suggest revisions and additions on items from bullet one.
• Support the creation of BCNU position statements designed to advance OHS in BC healthcare.

OHS subject matter lead and working together.

• As subject leads in OHS, collaborate with other departments to provide technical expertise on OH&S grievances, communications, promotions, education resources, and more.
• Participate in drafting the prevention services annual goals and projects in the operation plan.
• Under the guidance of the OHS leadership, work as a team to execute the operation plan and otherwise stated prevention goals.
• Partner, with departments/teams as needed to fully escalate complex issues or beyond scope.
• Model team values of respect, accountability, integrity, and engagement in all work duties.
• Be open and intentional to build safe spaces for everyone that invite participation and surface perspectives from all representatives.

OHS and Prevention team duties

• Support the development and maintenance of work processes, job aides, project trackers, systems, and tools, etc.
• Commit to understanding, onboarding, using, and improving the items stated above.
• Orientate and mentor new team members as required.
• Support teammate portfolios during leaves.
• Engage in efficient and cooperative assignment of resources for task completion, mindful of collective agreements.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

THE SUCCESSFUL APPLICANT MUST HAVE:

1. Bachelor’s degree in a health related and/or occupational health and safety discipline, inclusive or supplemented by coursework/experience/knowledge in OHS. Professional designation related to Occupational Health and Safety or eligible to become certified (e.g. CRSP, CRST, CHSC, CHSMSA, OHN, ROH, ROHT, CCPE). An equivalent combination of education/experience may be considered.
2. Minimum 3 years’ experience working in a healthcare environment, with preference for positions in occupational health and safety, organizational development, project management, change management, quality improvement, infection prevention and control, managing communicable disease, education, or other safety-related role in a complex unionized environment.
3. Demonstrated knowledge of provincial health and safety legislation, WorkSafeBC regulations, collective agreement provisions and best practices for OH&S in healthcare, including health and safety management systems and psychological health and safety.
4. Subject leader in the identification of occupational hazards, risk assessment, mitigation/compliance, implementation, program evaluation, and continuous improvement.
5. Excellent writer with strong communication skills. Confident in building OHS education, promotional materials, briefing notes, critical reviews, policies, procedures, and more.
6. Skilled facilitator of meetings and classrooms, able to identify conflicts / potential barriers and adapt strategies to ensure work can continue in a respectful safe space and/or determine if a shift is required.
7. A team player with high emotional intelligence, committed to building relationships, comfortable working in complex multi-union environments, able to identify opportunities for partnership, and accountable to complete independent work requirements.
8. Skilled at motivating and empowering others via coaching and mentoring practices.
9. Highly organized, committed to record keeping, skilled at project planning, execution, and tracking. Proficient in software tools such as Microsoft Office 365, SharePoint, Mfiles, Zoom, ticketing systems e.g. Zendesk, project tools e.g. ASANA, and more.
10. Good knowledge of the nursing working environments, a commitment to trade union philosophy, and a passion to serve BCNU membership.
11. Ability to travel throughout the province and carry a valid driver’s license.

Required Competencies

• Functional/Technical Skills
• Self-Knowledgment and Development
• Presentation Skills
• Understanding Others
• Developing Other Members
• Planning
• Informing
• Teamwork
• Member Focus
• Interpersonal Savvy
• Organizing
• Compassion
• Priority Setting
• Problem Solving
• Knowledgeable about Relevant Legislation/Jurisprudence/Regulations/Acts/Standards of Practice (as appropriate for the role)
• Strategic Agility
• Political Savvy

Why BCNU?
BCNU values, respects and protects diversity. We take pride in representing a diverse membership and staff. We offer an inclusive and supportive workplace with opportunities for career development and professional advancement as well as a competitive compensation and benefits package.
If you are seeking an opportunity to join a passionate and committed team, we’d like to hear from you

• Support the development and maintenance of work processes, job aides, project trackers, systems, and tools, etc.
• Commit to understanding, onboarding, using, and improving the items stated above.
• Orientate and mentor new team members as required.
• Support teammate portfolios during leaves.
• Engage in efficient and cooperative assignment of resources for task completion, mindful of collective agreements.
• Perform other duties as assigned