While details of a reported safety incident that temporarily grounded HALO's air ambulance services are still unknown, the union representing paramedics says its employer was slow to open lines of communication with members and has encouraged them to re-evaluate their voluntary work for HALO as a result.--NEWS FILE PHOTO
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The director of labour relations for the union representing paramedics is accusing Emergency Health Services of poor communication with the union following an undisclosed health and safety incident in September that grounded HALO air ambulance services for several weeks.
In an internal letter obtained by the News, director of labour relations for the Health Sciences Association of Alberta Scott Wilcox said EHS did not “meaningfully involve or consult HSAA until late September,” weeks after the incident that caused the suspension took place.
Wilcox calls the initial consultation and involvement of members or the union’s Joint Workplace Health And Safety Committee “inadequate.”
Wilcox wrote that HSAA was not included in the resolution of the incident until it was brought to the union’s attention by members.
EHS did not respond to a request for comment in time for publication.
Wilcox added that EHS has since committed to working with the JWHSC on recommendations from the union to address the immediate causes of the incident.
Details about the nature of the incident have not been disclosed by either HALO or EHS.
Paramedics working with HALO are employed by EHS and participate in HALO operations on a voluntary basis. Later in the letter, Wilcox encouraged members to re-evaluate their participation in light of the incident.
“Participation in HALO remains a voluntary assignment,” reads the letter. “The decision to participate is a personal one for each member to make, based on their review of the employer’s Hazard Assessment and Corrective Action plan for HALO operations.
“Members are encouraged to review this information carefully and make an informed choice regarding their involvement.”
HALO CEO Paul Carolan spoke to the News on Monday, but was unable to provide further comment.
“We’re still not prepared to take a public position on this,” said Carolan. “However, we are working through our own press release, and we’re working closely with Emergency Health Services on that.”
Transport Canada was responsible for conducting a regulatory review following the incident, but did not respond to request for comment in time for publication.
The investigation has been concluded and HALO air ambulance services have been reinstated. It is not yet clear exactly when service resumed.
