Developments on the Health Care Front
Quebec Health Care Unions Demand Government Enforce Increased Protective Measures
 
In a July 23 press release, Quebec's Federation of Health
and Social Services (FSSS-CSN) announced that unions belonging to the
Federation have filed complaints with the provincial Labour Standards, Pay Equity
and Workplace Health and Safety Board (CNESST) demanding an increase in
protection measures for workers in the health and social services
network in anticipation of a second wave of COVID-19.
The complaints ask the CNESST to force employers to
apply the precautionary principle and to issue the necessary corrective
notices to ensure that adequate personal protective equipment is
provided and that preventive measures are established.[1]
The unions say that both the PPE and preventive
measures must be those required for the possible airborne transmission
of COVID-19 until such time as there is scientific consensus on the
mode of transmission. The unions argue that the use of respiratory
protective equipment, such as the N-95 mask, should be encouraged for
all network personnel.
"Time is passing and it is very worrisome to note that
neither CNESST, public health nor the government are announcing
concrete changes to ensure better protection of personnel in the face
of a second wave. It does not take a genius to realize that we failed
in the first wave. More and more scientific studies are pointing to the
possibility of
airborne transmission of the virus. We are filing complaints to ensure
that CNESST takes action and plays its role in ensuring the safety of
workers in the network," writes Federation President Jeff Begley.
 The
press release points out that the World Health Organization (WHO)
recently confirmed the risk of airborne spread of the virus, based on
studies by more than 200 researchers from several countries around the
world. The FSSS points out that there is a growing number of studies
that show that the virus is transmitted not only by the large
droplets emitted by coughing and sneezing, but also by microscopic
droplets that are released into the air when we breathe or speak. These
microscopic droplets are so light that they remain suspended in the air
for a long time, putting people who are not properly protected at risk.
The president of the federation writes that the
protective equipment currently provided to network staff does not
protect them from the risk of airborne transmission of the virus. He
says that the situation must be corrected now, in anticipation of a
second wave of the pandemic.
The FSSS points out that the unions took the decision to
file these complaints following the unsatisfactory responses given by
employers when the unions proposed to work jointly with employers to
shed light on the failures experienced during the first wave and to put
in place the changes needed to ensure the protection of workers in the
face
of a second wave. The FSSS reports that to date more than 13,600 health
care workers in Quebec have been infected with the virus.
Note
1. The global Severe Acute
Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak between 2002 and 2005 caused the
deaths of more than 40 health care workers in Ontario. In Canada there
were 438 probable and suspect cases. Following the tragedy of SARS the
Ontario government appointed a
Commission to review the outbreak. The Commission recommended that the
precautionary principle guide the practice of health care institutions
to protect workers and the public in cases of serious threats to public
health. The precautionary principle was described as follows by the
Commission: "where there is reasonable evidence of an impending
threat to public harm, it is inappropriate to require proof of
causation beyond a reasonable doubt before taking steps to avert the
threat. Reasonable efforts to reduce risk need not await scientific
proof."
This article was published in
Number 53 - August 6, 2020
Article Link:
Developments on the Health Care Front: Quebec Health Care Unions Demand Government Enforce Increased Protective Measures
Website: www.cpcml.ca
Email: editor@cpcml.ca
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