UPDATED SAFETY PLAN AND NON-MEDICAL MASKS
An updated version of the Building Operations Safety Plan has been added to the Building Operations website here: https://buildingoperations.ubc.ca/staff/
The new plan includes the Swing and Nursey spaces and important information regarding non-medical masks (Safety Plan page 4). Please take a minute to familiarize yourself with the policies below regarding the usage of non-medical masks :
UBC staff will be required to wear non-medical masks, in common indoor spaces on our campuses. The requirement for the use of non-medical masks applies to common indoor spaces, such as hallways, stairways, building entryways, washrooms, common areas in residences and other high-traffic areas. Details on the UBC indoor mask rules and its exceptions are provided in the COVID-19 Campus Rules.
Additional exceptions to the indoor mask rules specific to this Safety Plan include:
- Staff working at work stations in shared office spaces, service centres or shops that are not accessible by the general public and where work stations are spaced such that physical distancing requirements can be maintained. If a staff member gets up to walk around or if someone enters their workspace they must wear their mask.
- Building Operations staff working in areas of campus buildings not accessible by the general public provided that physical distancing requirements are maintained.
- Staff working in an enclosed office or room by themselves.
- Staff using dedicated lunch spaces may remove their masks to eat when properly seated and maintaining required physical distance from other staff members. When using items such as fridge, microwave and sink masks must be worn.
- Staff wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) offering more protection than a mask, or working in a situation where safety rules preclude wearing a non-medical mask provided they meet physical distancing requirements. Wearing a non-medical mask is not considered PPE and proper PPE should always take precedent over wearing a non-medical mask when PPE is required.
PLANON TRAINING RECORDINGS
Planon training is underway! Last week was the first week of Planon training, with 7 sessions for heads, and 2 “train-the-trainer” sessions for our team of 14 technician trainers.
Missed your session? If you miss a Planon training session that was on Zoom, you need to review a recording before your next scheduled training session. All recordings will be posted on Canvas. Get the course link at emms.ubc.ca in the Training tab. If you are a technician, and you miss an in-person training session in October, talk to your head to get scheduled into a makeup session that same week.
CANVAS COURSES FOR COMPLETION BY TOMORROW, SEPTEMBER 30TH
A reminder that the mandatory Canvas courses below are to be completed for tomorrow, September 30th. If you have not yet taken these courses, please ensure that you do so prior to this deadline.
A staff engagement report will be sent to all Managers tomorrow including completion information for all courses. We are between 80-100% completion depending on the course and team, just need one final push to get us to 100% across the board!
Safety Supervision at UBC: Only for staff that have a supervisory component to their role (eg. front-line Custodial staff are exempt and do not need to complete this training). If you question whether or not you need to complete this training please ask your Manager.
Course Link: https://wpl.ubc.ca/browse/srs/mandatory/courses/wpl-srs-supert
Privacy & Information Security Fundamentals Parts 1 and 2: All staff must complete these two courses.
Part 1 Course Link: https://wpl.ubc.ca/browse/prism/courses/wpl-srs-prsecf
Part 2 Course Link: https://wpl.ubc.ca/browse/prism/courses/wpl-srs-prsec2
CUT-OFF PERIOD FOR PURCHASING: OCTOBER 9TH
As you are all aware, we are preparing to go –live with our two new software systems, Planon and Workday, on November 2, 2020. In order to facilitate this transition, we are implementing a cut off period for purchasing on October 9, 2020. Only emergency requests will be processed after this time. If you have an emergency, please complete the emergency request form located at (can you please store locally), cc the budget approver on the email, and email purchasing.buildingops@ubc.ca
During this transition, Stores will be increasing its inventory levels on most commonly used parts. Therefore, if you have an upcoming project or key work orders that must be completed, please plan ahead and get your requisitions in ASAP. This includes Building Operations, Energy & Water, and Locksmiths’ requests.
During this timeframe, the buyers will focus on expediting all open Purchase orders. Purchase orders will not be carried over from Peoplesoft into Planon. If the part or service is still needed, please communicate with the purchasing team so they can ensure it is captured on their list to address post go-live. Receiving and issuing functions in Peoplesoft will remain active until 5pm on Friday, October 31, 2020.
BUILDING OPERATIONS EARNS SECOND NATIONAL AIR FILTRATION CLEAN AIR AWARD
For the second year in a row, the National Air Filtration Association (NAFA) has awarded UBC Building Operations with its Clean Air Award.
This award recognizes leadership and excellence in air filtration best practices.
UBC’s Museum of Anthropology (MOA), Life Sciences Centre (LSC), and the Centre for Comparative Medicine (CCM) have all been acknowledged for the usage of
high efficiency air filtration products and good maintenance practices that create a clean and healthy indoor work environment while reducing overall operating costs.
The Clean Air Awards are usually presented during the NAFA annual conference, however due to COVID-19, the awards will be mailed out. Pictured is the 2019 award that was presented to Building Operations for the Pharmaceutical Sciences Building.
Congratulations to the Building Operations Mechanical Maintenance team responsible for the indoor air quality program on campus. Well done!
ENROLMENT REMAINS STRONG AT UBC
Student enrolment numbers remain strong this fall at UBC Vancouver and UBC Okanagan—a sign of the university’s stellar academic reputation. Students are keenly interested in achieving their educational ambitions at UBC, despite challenges posed by COVID-19.
As of Sept. 21, the numbers of domestic and international undergraduate and graduate students are either slightly higher or on par with previous years, even as the university transitions to offering most classes online due to the pandemic.
Read more: https://news.ubc.ca/2020/09/22/student-enrolment-remains-strong-at-ubc/
WORKPLACE MENTAL HEALTH: SUPPORTING A CO-WORKER WHO MAY HAVE MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS
It can be hard to know whether a co-worker’s troubling behaviour is just a result of a difficult emotional phase or a signal of mental illness. Stigma can also make talking about these issues difficult. But turning a blind eye to a mental health concern could deprive someone you know of the support and care they might need.
Warning Signs
If someone you work with is exhibiting one or more of the behaviours listed below, they might be struggling with a real mental health issue:
- Unprovoked emotional outbursts
- Obvious personality changes
- Problems coping with daily activities and challenges
- Major changes in sleeping and eating patterns
- Difficulty making decisions, concentrating or remembering things
- Extreme anxiety
Reaching Out
In many cases, early intervention in a mental health issue speeds the recovery process. If you’ve noticed something is wrong but are unsure of how to talk about it, consider:
- Speaking to a manager, supervisor, or human resources (HR) representative. They may have received specialized training to deal with these situations and may be able to offer the appropriate resources and support.
- Treading carefully. Discussion the topic of mental health with a co-worker can be highly sensitive. If you feel your help would be welcomed and you’re the most appropriate person to talk about the matter, do it privately to avoid creating a situation where your co-worker feels their privacy has been violated or that they are being threatened or put on the spot. Focus on your concern for their well-being and your desire to help and reinforce their value in the workplace.
- Offering information on support services. If your co-worker seems open to seeking help, you may want to remind them that they can speak with their doctor, a mental health professional or the UBC Employee and Family Assistance Program offered through Morneau Shepell (1.800.387.3765).
- Staying tight-lipped. If your co-worker shares personal information with you, don’t disclose or gossip with others about it. Keep the information you’ve been entrusted with to yourself unless you’re concerned your colleague is a threat to themselves or could harm others.
Talking about the issues of mental with someone you work with can be difficult, but there are more resources available than ever before. By treading carefully, offering information and support, and letting the person know that you’re there to help – and not to judge – you can support them in getting the help they need.
ORANGE SHIRT DAY IS TOMORROW: WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 30TH
September 30 is an annual day to recognize and raise awareness about the residential school system in Canada, join together in the spirit of reconciliation, and honour the experiences of Indigenous Peoples by talking about the day, wearing orange, and learning more.
IS YOUR HOME READY FOR AN EARTHQUAKE?
We’re all spending more time at home at the moment, which makes it all the more important to prepare your home for the unexpected.
Join UBC’s virtual ShakeOut drill on October 15th between 10:00-10:20 a.m. to learn how to get your home ready, and what you should do during an earthquake.
For more information and to register for the event, please visit ready.ubc.ca/shakeout
WEEKLY EMERGENCY TIP: LEARN BASIC FIRST AID AND CPR
Following a disaster, first responders will be overwhelmed and assisting those that are severely injured. By learning basic first aid and CPR, you could save the life of loved ones and neighbors.
Contact your local chapter of the Canadian Red Cross today to get trained, or visit their website at: https://www.redcross.ca/training-and-certification/course-descriptions/first-aid-at-home-courses/standard-first-aid-
CHECK OUT WWW.HR.UBC.CA/CAREERS FOR CURRENT BUILDING OPS JOB POSTINGS
Job ID 38428 – Business Analyst – Building Ops – Customer Service
Job ID 38430 – Business Analyst – Building Ops – Customer Service
Job ID 38431 – Team Lead, EMMS- Building Ops – Customer Service