Article 14 – Health and Safety

14.1 Health and Safety Committees

A. The parties agree that Joint CAPS/Management Health and Safety Committees are appropriate in many areas of State employment. At CAPS request, each department shall establish at least one Joint

CAPS/Management Health and Safety Committee. Additional Joint CAPS/Management Health and Safety Committees may be established as appropriate for the larger departments.

B. Joint CAPS/Management Health and Safety Committees may consist of no more than one representative in the area served by each Joint CAPS/Management Health and Safety Committee. The State may appoint an equal number of State representatives.

C. The Committee shall meet at least quarterly for the purpose of discussing safety problems and recommending appropriate actions, making recommendations from time to time on the subjects of safety, safety promotion, and how to encourage employees to be more conscious of safety.

D. Employees appointed to serve on the Committee shall serve without loss of compensation.

When an employee in good faith believes that he/she is being required to work where a clear and present danger exists, he/she will so notify his/her supervisor. The supervisor will immediately investigate the situation and either direct the employee to temporarily perform some other task or proclaim the situation safe and direct the employee to proceed with his/her assigned duties. If CAPS or the employee still believes the unsafe condition exists, CAPS or the employee may file a grievance alleging a violation of this Section at Step 2 of the grievance procedure contained in Article 9.

E. To the extent permitted by law, all copies of employee occupation injury reports will be furnished to the appropriate Joint CAPS/Management Health and Safety Committee and remain confidential.