Unacceptable: Lead in HVAC at Grande Prairie public health clinic

United Nurses of Alberta is deeply concerned that lead has been discovered in the HVAC system at the Grande Prairie Provincial Building, which is where nurses work at the Grande Prairie public health clinic.

The health and safety of Alberta’s nurses and the patients they care for is UNA’s top priority.

UNA Occupational Health and Safety Advisors have been working closely with the executive of UNA Local 207 (Grande Prairie Community) and Alberta Health Services WHS staff since finding out about this unacceptable workplace health situation.

UNA is using every tool at its disposal to ensure the Government of Alberta’s Department of Infrastructure and the private building management company are held accountable and take immediate action to remove the lead from the HVAC system. It is critical that the government and health care employers ensure this does not happen again at this worksite or any others.

Every nurse deserves a safe workplace — and that includes breathing clear air.

UNA is working with WHS to evaluate the impact of the lead exposure experienced by our members and we are hopeful there will be no long term health consequences.

UNA is very concerned that the OHS Order informing the government and building management company about the presence of lead in the HVAC system was not immediately shared with the nurses working at the public health clinic or their employer, Alberta Health Services.

UNA takes all workplace health and safety concerns seriously and the union will never hesitate to stand up for nurses facing unsafe work environments.

UNA will continue to share information and updates with UNA Local 207 members as the situation evolves.

Members concerned about occupational health and safety issues in their workplaces should contact their UNA Local Executive or UNA OHS Advisors at 1‑800‑252‑9394.

United Nurses of Alberta the union for more than 35,000 Registered Nurses, Registered Psychiatric Nurses and allied workers in Alberta.