Top Stories
Municipal Crews Hard at Work to keep Roadways and Walkways clear of snow
On Friday February 23rd UBC Municipal crews were kept busy with successfully keeping Campus roads and pathways clear of the falling snow. Crews worked throughout the evening and into Saturday in order to clear priority roadways and pathways on Campus. A Job well done to everyone involved!
A special thanks to the Electrical, Painters and Architectural staff that came to assist the Municipal crews when the call went out:
Scott Turner
Brad Haywood
Case MacMaster
Neil Malmquist
Craig Stirton
Mike Shankar
We even got a tweet!
What are we doing for safety? Get Warm and Stretch!
With the cold weather and the great snow removal work we have been doing, it is important that we take care of our bodies before, during, and after we do our work.
While warming up prior to engaging in physical work is always recommended, the colder weather makes it even more important as it takes our bodies a bit longer to warm up enough to respond optimally to the demands being placed on it. As a result, we are at a higher risk of injury if we don’t prepare for our impending workday tasks.
Studies have shown that partaking in a pre-work warm ups effectively reduce stiffness and reaction time thus increasing range of motion, speed and force of muscle contraction, blood flow, and distribution of oxygen. Basically, it’s the same principle as with an elastic band: the more you warm it up, the more you can do with it.
Here are some key points to an effective pre-work warm up:
- Occurs within 15 minutes immediately preceding the activity
- Can be accomplished within 5 – 7 minutes in most situations
- Moves your body through a full range of motions similar to the work you are going to do
- Producing mild sweating and fatigue
- Can be done anywhere, at any time.
Be sure to stretch periodically throughout your day to keep yourself limber, avoid stiffness and muscle discomfort.
Privacy Policy
Concerns were raised regarding the confidentiality of medical files and whether your employer and UBC have access to your information when using the service providers at The Centre and through UBC wellness initiatives.
The Centre for Occupational Health, Safety & Wellbeing operates under the same rules and regulations as with any other medical clinic and healthcare service provider. Client files are kept confidential between the client and the healthcare service providers they visit, regardless of whether or not it is a UBC wellness initiative. The client’s consent is required for any collection, use, and disclosure of personal health information. Health practitioners are required to treat all personal health information as confidential and maintain its security.
Concerns about confidentiality are taken extremely serious at The Centre and by third party service providers. All healthcare practitioners are bound not only by their professional code of ethics but by the Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA) and the Quality of Care Information Protection Act. The consequences of committing a breach under this legislation will result in fines up to $100,000 and $500,000 to the individual and the organization liable.
Should you have further concerns regarding this issue, please bring them forward to Linda Roseborough, Risk Management Services Health, Safety and Wellness Advisor.
Personal Housing Update: Rent-Geared-to-Income Applications Open
President Santa Ono announced the launch of the Staff Rent-Geared-to-Income pilot program. This pilot program will be phased in over 2 – 3 years to provide rental housing on campus for up to 100 lower income staff households. Rent will be geared to 30% of household income, rather than a set set percentage discount from market rates.
Program highlights include:
- 50 spaces approved this year;
- 1 to 3 bedroom units available, depending on the number of children in the household;
- Selection will be by lottery for the first round of pilot assignments and then by waitlist;
- Subject to eligibility, applicants may remain in the program up to 10 years;
Applicants must:
- Be full-time staff in good standing on the Vancouver campus with 1 year or more of work experience at UBC (or term employees with 3 or more years of continuous service);
- Fall under maximum gross household income and asset thresholds.
The deadline for this year’s applications is March 22, 2018.
Further information and application details are available online.
Enquiries may be directed to: info.facultyhousing@ubc.ca.
Lower Mainland Christmas Bureau Thanks Building Operations for their Support
The Lower Mainland Christmas Bureau extends a heartfelt thanks to everyone at Building Operations for the donation received last December. With the donation, the bureau was able to provide Christmas assistance to 976 families in need which included 2,082 children. The Lower Mainland Christmas Bureau expresses how truly fortunate they are to have wonderful support from such a wide range of individuals, groups, schools, companies and service providers. From their executive director, Chris Bayliss, thank you Building Operations.
Let’s Continue the Conversation on our Respectful Workplace
What does a respectful workplace mean to you? This week we’re continuing the conversation on our respectful workplace. Come join us tomorrow and continue the conversation on Pink Shirt Day. Wear your pink shirt, have cake and coffee and let’s talk.
Quick Updates
Reminder Submission for Technical Guidelines coming soon
NPS score decreased to 82% with 8 new promoters and 1 new detractor.
Welcome to UBC: Michelle McArthur
Take the 30-day Online Mindfulness Challenge, February 19 – March 20
T4/T4A Statements now Available Online