Shift Work: Find the balance

A resource for shift workers

Having trouble coping with shift work and it's effect on your life? Working shift work, whether it be evening, overnight or a rotation can be hard on a person physically, mentally and their relationships with friends and family. We have put together this resource to help members improve their health, relieve stress, reengage with members of their family and help you adapt to working outside of regular hours.

In this short tutorial each section addresses a different concern: sleep habits, family and community ties, diet and nutrition, exercise / stress and time management. We hope you find these tips are helpful in helping you find the right balance.

Explore the Shift Work Resource

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Saskatchewan Employment Act & OH&S Regulations

Saskatchewan Employment Act (SEA)

The Saskatchewan Employment Act is an Act respecting Employment Standards, Occupational Health and Safety, Labour Relations and Related Matters and making consequential amendments to certain Acts.

View the Saskatchewan Employment Act

OH&S Regulations

The Occupational Health & Safety Regulations are under the Saskatchewan Employment Act.

View the OH&S Regulations

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History of OH&S in Saskatchewan

In 1972 Saskatchewan leads in passing its own Occupational Health and Safety Act, Saskatchewan institutes the concept of internal responsibility system by making health and safety a joint responsibility of employer and employees and requiring the establishment of joint health and safety committees.  It enshrines three fundamental rights of workers:

• the right to know about the hazards in the workplace;
• the right to participate in health and safety discussions at work; and
• the right to refuse unsafe work.

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How to deal with an OH&S Concern

Step 1: Immediately inform your supervisor/person in charge. (if the problem is not resolved, go to Step 2).

Step 2: Contact your OH&S workplace committee member. (If the problem is not resolved, go to Step 3).

Step 3: Work with the OH&S workplace committee to resolve the concern. (If the problem is not resolved, go to Step 4).

Step 4: Contact the Ministry of Labour Relations and Safety at 306.787.7339 or email or visit the website

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Know your Workplace Safety and Health Rights

The Right to Know…

• You have the right to know about any hazards you may encounter in your workplace, and how to protect yourself from them.
• You should receive safety and health training and instruction before you begin work, and when your work changes.
• You should be under the direction of a competent supervisor who can show you how to perform your work safely.

The Right to Participate…

• You have the right to participate in a workplace Safety and Health Committee if there are 20 or more employees in your workplace.
• You have the right to have a Worker Safety and Health Representative if there are between 5 and 19 employees in your workplace.
• You have the right to ask for additional information or voice a concern related to safety and health hazards to which you may be exposed.

The Right to Refuse Unsafe Work…

• You have the right to refuse work that you believe is dangerous to your safety and health or to others.

The Right to Protection...

• If you exercise a right or carry out a duty under the Workplace Safety and Health Act or Regulations, you cannot be disciplined or discriminated against.
• This includes using your right to refuse unsafe work, or reporting a safety and health concern to your supervisor, a Safety Committee member, the Worker Safety Representative, your Union or Workplace Safety and Health.

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Public Interest Disclosure Commissioner

The Public Interest Disclosure Commissioner’s Office, receives disclosures of wrongdoing and complaints of reprisal from public sector employees who work for institutions that fall under The Public Interest Disclosure Act.

Learn about Public Interest Disclosure

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SGEU Occupational Health and Safety Scholarship

The SGEU Occupational Health and Safety Scholarship will be awarding two scholarships, and it is open to members in good standing of SGEU or the spouse or dependent of a member in good standing of SGEU and be enrolled in an accredited school.

Apply for OH&S Scholarship

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Sample Forms for You to Use

Occupational Health & Safety Forms

• Alleged Harassment Report Form
• OH&S Concern Form
• OH&S Incident Notification Form
• Sample Agenda
• Workplace OH&S Committee Election Package

With thanks to WCB

• First Aid Register
• Incident and Investigation Form
• Medical Restrictions Form
• Safety Incident Logsheet

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Resources

SGEU Resources

Occupational Health & Safety Committee Member's Guide

OH&S Fact Sheets (Produced in partnership with CUPE Saskatchewan)

Shift Work: Find the Balance (A resource for shift workers)

Mental Health and PTSD Resources

Guarding Minds at Work

Mental Health Commission of Canada 

OSI-CAN

Psychological Health & Safety Resource Centre (Work Safe Saskatchewan)

Saskatchewan First Responders' Mental Health

Workers' Compensation Board

stressassess.ca

Violence in the Workplace Resources

Canadian Centre for Occupational Health & Safety

Saskatchewan Association for Safe Workplaces in Health

Service Hospitality

Violence in the Workplace – Prevention Program (Work Safe Saskatchewan)

Enough Already SK (Workplace Sexual Harassment)

Other Resources

Canadian Centre for Occupational Health & Safety

Cannibis and Impairment in the Workplace poster (Canadian Centre for Occupational Health & Safety)

OHS Canada News

Posters & Infographics (Canadian Centre for Occupational Health & Safety)

Safety in the Workplace (Government of Saskatchewan)

Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission

Work Safe Saskatchewan

Workers' Compensation Board Saskatchewan

Worksafe for Life Videos
Developed by the Workers' Compensation Board of Nova Scotia, this YouTube video series features helpful clips about a variety of safety topics including slips and falls, young worker safety, and communication in the workplace.

View the Work Safe for Life videos

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Training

• The standing committee would encourage all OH&S workplace committee members be trained in levels 1 & 2.  If you have any questions or concern on how to pursue, please contact Bonnie McRae.
• Worksafe Saskatchewan's OHC Training

• Training of representatives, committee members

  46(1) At a place of employment where a representative is designated, an employer shall ensure that the representative receives training respecting the duties and functions of a representative. OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY, 1996 30 O-1.1 REG 1

  (2) At a place of employment where a committee is established, an employer or contractor shall ensure that the co-chairpersons of the committee receive training respecting the duties and functions of a committee.

  (3) Where a member of a committee or a representative gives reasonable notice, an employer or contractor shall permit the member or representative to take leave for a period or periods of not more than five working days per year to attend occupational health and safety training programs, seminars or courses of instruction.

  (4) Where a member of a committee or a representative attends a training program, seminar or course of instruction on health and safety matters conducted or provided by the division or by an approved training agency, an employer or contractor shall credit the member’s or representative’s attendance as time at work and ensure that the member or representative loses no pay or other benefits. 4 Oct 96 cO-1.1 Reg 1 s46.

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Workload Report

This is a sample form that sectors can change to be specific to their workplaces. The form can be used in bargaining and for proof of workload issues.

We ask that you complete the form if you think there is a workload issue and forward it to your Local/Region/OH&S Committee and to Bonnie McRae at bmcrae@sgeu.org. The form would then be provided to the SGEU OH&S Standing Committee to compile statistical data for review of trends.

Our goal would be to identify what and where the workload issues are. We can look at avenues to help resolve the issues.