Top Stories
WHAT ARE YOU DOING FOR SAFETY? KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF INSPECTIONS
We are always shocked and disturbed when we hear about workplace disasters. These reactions primarily focus on the workers who are killed or injured and their families. But amidst this expression of humanity, questions begin to arise. How did this happen? What was the cause and who is responsible? Could this have been avoided? Who was monitoring the safety of this job site?
It should be of no surprise that consistent regular inspections improve employee safety. Regular inspections are an essential part of any effective health and safety program. The main functions of any inspection include:
- Identifying existing and potential hazards
- Determining the underlying causes of hazards
- Monitoring hazard controls
- Recommending corrective action
- Listening to the concerns of workers and supervisors
- Gaining further understanding of jobs and tasks
While our Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committees have a responsibility to conduct consistent regular inspections, so do each of us within Building Operations. Whether the inspection process is informal or a formal documented requirement as we prepare to conduct the tasks of our workdays, they are a vital component to ensuring our safety.
An effective workplace inspection will look at the environment, equipment, and the processes of work. The environment includes noise, vibration, lighting, temperature and ventilation. Equipment includes tools and materials. The work process related to how the worker interacts with related elements while carrying out a task or operation. By carrying out an inspection, prior to beginning a work task, we can pay particular attention to any hazards and address them with the appropriate controls (i.e. removal of the hazard, engineering and/or administrative controls, and personal protective equipment). Your supervisor needs to be informed immediately about anything that poses and immediate danger. Based on the level of risk, work may need to stop until the threat is controlled.
Since workplace hazards exist in various forms across most workplaces, workplace inspections are an essential tool that can prevent a workplace disaster from occurring. By engaging in informal and regulatory workplace inspections, we all contribute to protecting our health and safety and those that work around us.
WE WELCOME GREG SCOTT TO UBC BUILDING OPERATIONS AS MANAGING DIRECTOR ON JUNE 5TH
In our May 8 issue, we had announced that Greg Scott will be joining UBC as the new Managing Director. It is with great pleasure that we welcome him as he brings with him significant experience in building multi-disciplinary teams to deliver quality services and programs related to facilities operations and development.
Over the next several weeks, Greg would like a chance to meet us all in an intimate setting. The plan to orient Greg to various groups in Building Operations is through meets and greets with all staff. Watch for Outlook invites when Greg attends crew talks and various teams and committee meetings.
REMINDER OF OUR RESPECTFUL WORKPLACE PRINCIPLES
Building Operations is committed to a respectful and harassment-free workplace. That respectful workplace extends beyond our shops and workplaces to all parts of campus, including the public realm spaces, pathways, and roadways.
Last week, a complaint was received from a campus user who described a worker, driving a UBC van, who allegedly acted and spoke inappropriately with a contracted flagger. The behaviour described is completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated in our workplace. Everyone needs to understand that we must hold ourselves to the highest standard of conduct at all times — especially while at work, especially while wearing UBC clothes and driving UBC vehicles.
You can find our respectful workplace policy at http://www.hr.ubc.ca/respectful-environment/. We must all ensure that this message and workplace requirement are clear and completely understood by everyone at the university.
Remember: the golden rule is to “Treat others the way you would like to be treated” and the platinum rule is to “Treat others the way they want to be treated.”
PROACTIVE PLANNING DURING NOISE WINDOW JUNE 18 – 29
The Life Sciences and Pharmacy Sciences June 2018 noise window runs from Monday June 18 to Friday June 29th.
If you have noisy/disruptive work to do in either building, this is the opportunity to have it completed. Please contact Jeff Smith for additional information or support. The next noise window is January 2019.
DO NOT PARK OR DRIVE THROUGH CAMPUS LANDSCAPED AREAS
Our Soft Landscape crews work hard in keeping and maintaining our lawns, shrub beds and gardens. Maintaining the lawns and keeping aesthetics in our public realm become a challenge when UBC service vehicles drive over or park on them. Our landscaped surfaces are left in a shabby condition and are in need of repair, as pictured above.
The next time you decide to park or drive over top of a landscaped grass surface here on campus, consider the following:
- Over time this practice will kill the grass and cause bare spots.
- This will compact the soil and will make it difficult to establish new growth in the repair process.
- The resulting work to introduce new growth takes time and resources from other areas that also requires regular attention.
- This can cause damage to sprinkler heads which can be complicated and costly to repair.
- The resulting bare spots negatively impact the overall aesthetics of the campus and its public realm spaces
Do not use landscaped areas as parking or an extension to a roadway. In using proper roadways, you are helping keep the public realm spaces in top condition and looking healthy for all to enjoy and ensuring we direct funds to more meaningful initiatives.
If you have any questions or need further information on this item, please feel free to contact the Head Gardener at 604 822 9483 or at garderner.buildingops@ubc.ca.
OFFICE MOVES IN 2ND FLOOR USB
You may have noticed some changes upstairs – we are moving people around to consolidate teams and are working to be more efficient by bringing teams together. Some moves have already started and all moves should be completed by July. The impacts are on Business and Customer Services teams and Trades. Some of the changes include bringing the Construction office over to the second floor in USB and consolidating the Architectural team, sharing the space with Risk Management Services.
As with all change, this will take time for all to adjust to their new space. We thank everyone in advance and look forward to the benefits of working closer as a team to make our operation more effective.
If you have any questions please contact Business and Customer Services Superintendent Janice Weigel.
SMART ELEVATOR TRIALS COMING TO PHARMACY
We are excited to announce that we are working with KONE and are looking at trialing smart elevator technology. While we are still in the process of working out the details KONE have scheduled their crews to install this new technology in two of our Pharmacy elevators on May 29. FM Jeff Smith is advising clients of the installation and will explain technology benefits.
These are the benefits of installing smart technology:
- We can monitor our elevators at all hours
- KONE techs will be able to respond to a call prior to an elevator breaking down
- The software looks for critical faults and alerts owner and technician
- Improved reporting and transparency of maintenance work
Check out the video to learn more about the technology.
THANKS A “MINION” FOR THE CREATIVE USE OF SPARE PARTS
Dirty water is affecting the heating and cooling plant at Brimacombe building and a solution was needed to clean the loop. Steam fitters were aware of an unused spare Spirotrap Dirt Separator at the bookstore and suggested installing it to clean the heating loop. The decision was made to make the unit portable so that could be moved from building to building to deep clean fouled heating and cooling loops over campus. Given the yellow colour and tubular shape it reminded everyone of one of the minions from the movie so it was only fitting to paint the stand blue and add an eye to complete the look.
Thanks a Minion to the Carpenters, Painters, Sheet Metal Workers, Signologists and Steamfitters for their part in the project
PORTABLE LADDER DEMONSTRATION ON JUNE 13TH
Portable ladders are commonly used in our workplace and can be a source of injuries. Being aware of hazards and taking proper precautions in ladder selection and usage will help to prevent injury to workers and comply with regulations.
In our quest to find better and safer tools and equipment, we would like to introduce you to Little Giant Ladder System. Created in the ‘70s, an ordinary ladder was enhanced and engineered to what is now known as the strongest, safest, most versatile ladder in the world. Little Giant Ladder Systems is the safety and innovation leader in climbing systems and professional access equipment.
We are holding a Little Giant Ladder demonstration on June 13th. We encourage you to stop by provide feedback.
CHECK OUT THESE JOB POSTINGS
Know anyone interested in working in Building Operations? Let them know about our current job postings.
Job ID: 29133 System Analyst (Data Warehouse & ETL Specialist)
For full listings, check out designated job postings boards or visit UBC Careers.
Quick Updates
LEAVING UBC: JADWIGA PRADZYNSKA AND PAUL SHAW
ICE CREAM SOCIAL CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS
NPS SCORED DECREASED TO 77% WITH 8 NEW PROMOTERS AND 1 NEW DETRACTOR.
BIKE TO WORK WEEK MAY 28 – JUNE 3
FRANCOIS DESMARAIS BLUE ZONE FM FROM MAY 7 – JUNE 22