Health & Safety Best Practices

To all members working diligently to restore services in the wake of the bomb cyclone:

As you work to repair the Telus plant and bring critical connectivity back to our communities, it’s vital that you prioritize your health and safety. We understand the immense pressure you are under, but the well-being of our members must come first.

Here are some best practices to help ensure your safety during this challenging time:

1. Work Within Safety Standards
  • Take your scheduled breaks and rest periods between shifts.
  • If you feel unfit for duty due to fatigue or other concerns, immediately notify your team leader.
2. Protect Against Burnout
  • With reduced crew sizes, the risk of burnout is higher. Be vigilant about your physical and mental health.
  • Communicate openly if you feel overwhelmed or at risk of overexertion. Do not put yourself or your coworkers at risk.
3. National Safety Code Compliance
  • If long working hours put you at risk of violating National Safety Code requirements, inform your team leader without delay.
  •  Refresh your knowledge at go/NSC.
4. Uphold Your Right to Refuse Unsafe Work
  • If you encounter any unsafe working conditions, exercise your right to refuse under the law. If you use your right to refuse, make sure it is submitted in writing to your manager. CC safety@usw1944.ca as a best practice to ensure there is record of your refusal and that all appropriate steps are followed after exercising your right.
  • Address safety concerns through the Internal Complaint Resolution Process and escalate unresolved issues to your workplace health and safety committee.
5. Maintain Your Equipment and Monitor Hazards
  • Ensure all tools and equipment are inspected and functioning correctly.
  • Stay aware of potential hazards in your environment, especially during adverse weather conditions. Watch out for additional hazards as your work day goes on. 
  • Take the time for tailgates and regular safety meetings on job sites and as conditions change.
6. Reach Out for Support
  • If you need guidance or assistance addressing a safety concern, contact the National Health and Safety Committee at safety@usw1944.ca.
  • Your Local, and your National Health and Safety Committee are here to provide resources, advocate for your rights, and help empower you to prioritize your safety.

We can’t take care of our communities if we don’t take care of ourselves. Following these best practices will help ensure that you and your coworkers can continue to perform your essential work safely and effectively.

No one, including Telus, wants to see us injured or worse by performing our duties. Health and safety is a joint effort. Under the labour code we have the right to know, the right to participate and the right to refuse unsafe work. Our employer has a duty to provide a safe workplace. We need to ensure we protect and use our rights, and inform our employer when they need to support us, and uphold their duty.

Thank you for your dedication, skill, and resilience during these challenging times.

In solidarity,

Richard Blais and Corey Mandryk, Co-Chairs
On behalf of the  National Health and Safety Committee
USW Local 1944