*MANDATORY* ALL STAFF MUST COMPLETE PREVENTING COVID-19 INFECTION IN THE WORKPLACE TRAINING
Preventing COVID-19 in the Workplace is a new course that details the initiatives that the University is undertaking to prevent COVID-19 infection in the workplace and outlines how you can contribute. Please follow the link below to access the course via Workplace Learning:
https://wpl.ubc.ca/browse/srs/courses/wpl-srs-covid
Completing this course is mandatory for all UBC and Building Operations staff to complete. As of now, 51% of Building Operations staff have completed the course.
This course must be completed by all Building Operations staff by Friday August 7th
If you require help with registering for the course, please e-mail nicolas.banquero@ubc.ca to receive a step-by-step how-to guide. If you require assistance with booking a computer in our training room, please let your supervisor know as soon as possible so that we can arrange a workstation for you.
*Important – be sure you click “Sign in here” highlighted in yellow to take you to the Canvas sign-in page
TEAMWORK IN ACTION – CHAN GUNN WATER INTRUSION
When there is teamwork and collaboration wonderful things can be achieved. A big thank you to Custodial, Plumbers and Steamfitters who mobilized in a quick fashion last week when the manifold leaked and caused a water intrusion on the main floor at Chan Gunn. The quick response from all the crews enabled the clinic to remain open.
INSPIRING PEOPLE IN MUNICIPAL SERVICES
Students not only attend institutions, like UBC, to grow their education, they come to socially connect with others, explore the campus life and gain practical work experience. Municipal Services continues to expand the opportunity to provide these experiences for students. We are the stewards of the public realm, we support events and activities and we have expanded the opportunity for students to gain work experience in Building Operations.
Through the SEEDS Sustainability program, our Municipal Team has mentored, advised, challenged and inspired more than 150 students across dozens of faculty partnerships.
During the summer, Municipal typically hires approximately 15 seasonal employees. The majority are students seeking summer employment.
In addition, we have lead Building Operations in the coop and work learn program. In 2019, we hired our first student to work on asset management. This year we have four students, with distinct projects, supporting our business goals and objectives. Their projects are focused on Asset Management, Fleet Management, Green Waste Expansion and Organics Collection.
Working with students helps bring a different perspective to the work we do and ties in nicely with the VPFO’s strategic goal of ‘Inspiring People’.
TRAIN YOUR BRAIN TO MASTER YOUR MOOD
Emotion and mood are words that are often used interchangeably, but there are differences. Emotions, or feelings, are short-lived feelings that come from a known cause. We feel many emotions each and every day. Moods are different. They tend to last longer, may not be tied to a specific cause, and have more to do with how we feel about ourselves and the world in general. Emotions can range from happy, ecstatic, sad and prideful, while moods can be positive, negative, or neutral (and all of these are perfectly okay, unless they are interfering with how you are functioning. In which case, you may want to consult a healthcare professional).
There is a direct connection between what we think, feel, and do. When something happens to us, our mind often jumps to automatic negative thoughts (ANTs). These thoughts then trigger emotional reactions in us, and our feelings impact the way we behave. This actually creates a negative loop in our minds. Being able to recognize automatic negative thoughts is the first step to training your brain to help you get unstuck in a negative thought loop. To learn more about how you can learn to recognize and re-frame the negative thoughts you might have, check out the resource and worksheet below.
CMHA Train your brain to master your mood
CMHA Train your brain worksheet
UBC WESBROOK MALL PHASE 2 RE-CONSTRUCTION UPDATE WEEK OF JULY 20TH
East Side, North Bound lanes Wesbrook
We will be working on getting the median lane final prep and ready for paving on Wednesday the 22nd, afternoon. This work shouldn’t affect anyone.
West Side South Bound lanes
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday Friday we will be working on Street lighting, this will have minimal disruption to anyone.
Monday Tuesday we will be doing final prep for Paving on Wednesday.
Wednesday is paving day. We will be starting at University Blvd and working south, this will affect the following
- Strangway for a couple of hours in the morning until they get past the driveway entrance, accessible early morning first thing and once paving starts closed until asphalt has cooled enough to drive on. .
- Hospital entrance will be single lane traffic as we do one side and then the other, one side of the road will always be open.
- Ambulance Services, shouldn’t be affected as you will be able to enter first thing and paving will be done before you return at the end of the day.
- Agronomy Road will be closed west side only while we pave through the intersection. Detour signs will be set up.
- Pharmaceutical Bldg will be, accessible for the first part of the day and then closed for an hour or so while we pave across and open again once it has been rolled and cooled down enough to drive over.
Thursday Friday, sidewalks, driveways and other misc concrete work will continue, we will be doing one side of driveways in order to allow vehicle access while the concrete cures and is ready to drive on. Then the other side will be done the following week.
Bus stops will continue to be closed until further notice, I hope to have them available the week of the 27th.
WEEKLY TIP: EMERGENCY CAR KIT
Emergency car kits are an essential part of our personal emergency preparedness. Whether we are commuting to and from work or going on a family vacation, we spend increasing amounts of time on the road. A good emergency car kit should have the following items:
- Water and energy bars
- Flashlight and road flares
- Booster cables
- Blanket and extra clothes
- First aid kit
For a complete emergency car kit list check out Government of Canada’s Get Prepared website at; https://www.getprepared.gc.ca/cnt/kts/cr-kt-en.aspx