The vital work of Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committees (JOHSC) being done throughout B.C.’s health sector is set to get easier with the soft launch of the OHS Resource Centre at Providence Health Care (PHC).

The soft launch is a partnership between PHC, the BC General Employees’ Union, BC Nurses’ Union, Health Sciences Association of BC, Hospital Employees’ Union, and SWITCH BC.

The OHS Resource Centre is a digital platform that will streamline JOHSC work by making it easier to plan meetings, take notes, make recommendations, and take action with an accessible record of the work.

“We are so grateful to have Providence Health Care, and our union partners lead the way with the launch of the OHS Resource Centre,” says Victoria Schmid, SWITCH BC CEO. “For nearly a decade, health employers and unions have been asking for a platform to better support JOHSCs so that we are continuously improving conditions for health workers. We know the critical role JOHSCs play in improving health and safety, while also reducing work related illness and injuries in the workplace. When we build tools that support them to effectively run committees, we are making safety improvements for thousands of people working in healthcare.”

Conceived and designed by health unions and health employers more than a decade ago, health unions, and employers have provided direction and advice throughout its development to ensure the OHS Resource Centre supports the good work of JOHSCs throughout the health system. The platform is the first component of the larger vision that health unions and employers have for the OHS Resource Centre. Future components include occupational health and safety resources and greater supports for regional committees.

The soft launch will begin with four PHC JOHSCs in November and expand to all PHC JOHSCs in February 2025. It will be available to health organizations throughout B.C. beginning in 2025.

“Workplace health and safety is important at Providence Health Care. We are pleased to support all efforts to make the work of joint occupational health and safety easier and more streamlined,” says Becky Palmer, Providence Health Care VP. “I’d like to thank our OHS leaders for their hard work to bring this platform to our organization. We know there will be critical learnings from the soft launch that will not only support PHC but also the rest of the province.”

The OHS Resource Centre is funded by the Ministry of Health, Facilities Bargaining Association, and Nurses’ Bargaining Association.