Page 23 - OOHNA Spring-Summer 2017
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Working with Unions – Benefits, Challenges and Tips for the OHN n Practice
the workforce. one nurse identi- lenges for unionized oHNs where there were many different opin-
fied her role as helping employees the oHN’s mandate differs from ions on the oHN role which likely
to achieve the best possible health, the union’s mandate to return a reflected different work environ-
and at the same time fulfilling member to work or substantiate ments, management style, work
a responsibility to the employer payment of sick time. She felt that groups, age and gender. For the
to create and maintain a healthy this may be especially true if the most part, the oHN focuses on
oHN is a member of the union “worker” issues as opposed to
workforce. While these needs
would seem symbiotic, the reality executive. “patient” issues, which is not a
is that there are often competing traditional nurse-patient relation-
agendas. oHNs are often seen Union Experience with OHNs ship. one representative reports
as pro-employer and even anti- union representatives’ experience that “our members believe that
[the OHNs] are there to help assist
worker. contacting workers who with oHNs was largely related
are off work due to an illness is to rtW, disability management, members through their illnesses/
injuries, and how they relate to
often perceived as harassment. a absenteeism management,
their [return to] work”. While this
strong management – oHN rela- benefits adjudication, health
is recognized as the ideal oHN
tionship may see the oHN as assessments and monitoring
untrustworthy by the union when of health issues. other interac- role by union representatives, it
it comes to workers’ wellbeing. tions included Joint Health and may not be reflected in practice in
Meanwhile, management style Safety committee member, tri- some settings.
and policies may not view a good age, and collaborating with other Sandra Bearzot (oNa) has found
oHN-union relationship as posi- workplace departments such as that in some instances, the role of
tive, garnering suspicion instead. infection control to address cli- the oHN is not well described to
additionally, Sandra Bearzot, ent and worker risk issues. one the union. For example, in one
rN, labour relations officer with representative also identified the workplace they have changed
oNa, identified there may be oHN role in policy development from an oHN disability manage-
specific conflict of interest chal- regarding health and safety. ment model to an oHN – abil-
Join Levitt-Safety at the 46th Annual
Ontario Occupational Health Nurses
Association (OOHNA) Conference!
Levitt-Safety has a wide range of products and services from
safety prescription eyewear to hand held medical instruments
designed to meet the needs of occupational health professionals.
Visit us at Booths 10 and 11 to learn more
about these exciting products and services:
•CSA Approved Safety Prescription Eyewear
®
•Prevor Diphoterine for Chemical Burns & Splashes
•Medical Equipment, Audiometers, Spirometers, Vision Screeners, and More
•Wellness Products, Innovative Health Kiosks and Wellness Apps
•First Aid and Medical Products, including ZOLL Aed’s
www.levitt-safety.com I 888.453.8488
OOHNA JOURNAL n spRiNg/sUmmeR 2017 21
the workforce. one nurse identi- lenges for unionized oHNs where there were many different opin-
fied her role as helping employees the oHN’s mandate differs from ions on the oHN role which likely
to achieve the best possible health, the union’s mandate to return a reflected different work environ-
and at the same time fulfilling member to work or substantiate ments, management style, work
a responsibility to the employer payment of sick time. She felt that groups, age and gender. For the
to create and maintain a healthy this may be especially true if the most part, the oHN focuses on
oHN is a member of the union “worker” issues as opposed to
workforce. While these needs
would seem symbiotic, the reality executive. “patient” issues, which is not a
is that there are often competing traditional nurse-patient relation-
agendas. oHNs are often seen Union Experience with OHNs ship. one representative reports
as pro-employer and even anti- union representatives’ experience that “our members believe that
[the OHNs] are there to help assist
worker. contacting workers who with oHNs was largely related
are off work due to an illness is to rtW, disability management, members through their illnesses/
injuries, and how they relate to
often perceived as harassment. a absenteeism management,
their [return to] work”. While this
strong management – oHN rela- benefits adjudication, health
is recognized as the ideal oHN
tionship may see the oHN as assessments and monitoring
untrustworthy by the union when of health issues. other interac- role by union representatives, it
it comes to workers’ wellbeing. tions included Joint Health and may not be reflected in practice in
Meanwhile, management style Safety committee member, tri- some settings.
and policies may not view a good age, and collaborating with other Sandra Bearzot (oNa) has found
oHN-union relationship as posi- workplace departments such as that in some instances, the role of
tive, garnering suspicion instead. infection control to address cli- the oHN is not well described to
additionally, Sandra Bearzot, ent and worker risk issues. one the union. For example, in one
rN, labour relations officer with representative also identified the workplace they have changed
oNa, identified there may be oHN role in policy development from an oHN disability manage-
specific conflict of interest chal- regarding health and safety. ment model to an oHN – abil-
Join Levitt-Safety at the 46th Annual
Ontario Occupational Health Nurses
Association (OOHNA) Conference!
Levitt-Safety has a wide range of products and services from
safety prescription eyewear to hand held medical instruments
designed to meet the needs of occupational health professionals.
Visit us at Booths 10 and 11 to learn more
about these exciting products and services:
•CSA Approved Safety Prescription Eyewear
®
•Prevor Diphoterine for Chemical Burns & Splashes
•Medical Equipment, Audiometers, Spirometers, Vision Screeners, and More
•Wellness Products, Innovative Health Kiosks and Wellness Apps
•First Aid and Medical Products, including ZOLL Aed’s
www.levitt-safety.com I 888.453.8488
OOHNA JOURNAL n spRiNg/sUmmeR 2017 21
