ARTICLE 55
HEALTH AND SAFETY COMMITTEE

Section 1. The Employer will observe and comply with all local, state and federal health and
safety laws and regulations and will provide and maintain a safe and healthful workplace, free of recognized hazards. Kaleida Health will maintain a Health and Safety program. The objective of the program will be:

a.) to identify, assess and eliminate hazards to which employees are exposed;
b.) reduce injuries and illness;
c.) to systematically achieve compliance with all applicable health and safety regulations; and
d.) to promote greater employee awareness of health and safety issues, inclusive of group safety department or unit meetings conducted as deemed necessary.

Section 2. The Employer will provide all necessary personal protective equipment at no cost
to employees. The Employer will require all employees to wear necessary personal protective equipment.

Section 3. There shall be a joint Health and Safety Committee at each site as defined in
subsection e.). Each Union shall designate one (1) health and safety representative for each one hundred (100) represented members to a maximum of four (4) health and safety representatives, but no less than one (1) health and safety representative per Union. The Employer will designate representatives which they deem necessary. It is understood that a Union representative will co-chair the joint meeting. The committee will meet monthly and as deemed necessary.

a.) The parties agree to the recommendations submitted by the Effects Bargaining Master Agreement - Joint Committee on Employee Health and Safety, as per Memorandum of Understanding #4. (With the understanding that some reports are confidential and may not be shared and that any cost must be approved by the appropriate administrator.)

b.) The parties agree to jointly train employees on the responsibilities of serving as a health-safety representative.
c.) Members of the committee shall not suffer any loss of pay for attendance. Committee members attending a committee meeting which is not scheduled in their normal working time will be paid for their attendance. The Employer will make every reasonable effort to provide coverage or scheduling so that members may attend the meetings.

d.) Health and Safety union representatives and the Employer will investigate health and safety issues, conduct safety inspections, and conduct or attend training sessions, and shall be provided up to two (2) hours per month outside of their health and safety committee meeting time for these purposes.

e.) Site Health and Safety Committees will include: Buffalo General Hospital, Millard Fillmore Gates, Millard Fillmore Suburban, DeGraff Memorial Hospital, Center for Laboratory Medicine, Children?s and Deaconess. Other site committees may be formed as deemed necessary.

Section 4. There shall be a corporate Health and Safety Committee, which will deal with
system wide health and safety issues. Each Union will have two (2) representatives on the Corporate Health Safety Committee. The Employer will designate the number of representatives they deem necessary.

Section 5. Individuals will report recognized unsafe conditions to their immediate
supervisor, departmental safety officer or corporate safety officer and to the Union. If these
individuals do not respond and correct the unsafe condition, it is understood that the unsafe
working condition shall be brought to the attention of the Site Committee. If the problem is not
resolved there, it shall be added to the agenda of the Corporate Safety Committee.

Section 6. CWA?s designated Health and Safety Director shall receive 1,560 hours per year
as an Employer paid excused absence for activities related to this position. SEIU?s designated Health and Safety Director shall receive 832 hours per year as an Employer paid excused absence for activities related to this position. The Health and Safety Director shall participate in any site committee and/or activities as deemed necessary.

Section 7. The Employer will establish and enforce policies and procedures for safe Laser
use. These will include the recommendations of regulating organizations. This shall also include medical surveillance as per Section:6 ANSI Z136.3-1988 to determine which health care personnel using Class 1 through Class 111A shall have the recommended Medical Surveillance. This shall include that the Employer will provide for each employee required to work in areas that use lasers, an eye examination at the commencement of their assignment to laser surgery and upon completion of that assignment.

Section 8. It is the Employer?s and the Union?s objective to establish and maintain an
effective ergonomics program in order to help control occupationally related cumulative trauma and/or musculoskeletal disorders. This shall be accomplished by establishing ergonomic sub-committees of the Joint Health and Safety Committee to review employee injuries and illnesses, to identify potential ergonomic problems in order to recommend improvements in the physical work environment, work practices or work design. These improvements shall be documented as they are implemented. The committee will assess and recommend any training necessary for the committee to achieve its goals. The committee membership shall include the necessary members and management from appropriate departments such as physical therapy, employee health, purchasing, risk management or those persons deemed necessary to accomplish its goals of reducing workplace injuries.

Section 9. There will be union representation on any other departmental or unit specific
Health and Safety Committee.