Yesterday—October 16—marked a proud moment as the UBC IT Joint Occupational Health & Safety Committee (IT JOHSC) walked the stage to accept the Safety Achievement Award at the 2024 Safety Day. This award recognizes their ongoing workplace safety efforts that have been key in supporting the wellbeing of UBC IT staff. We sat down with Kirk MacDonald, Andrew Wang, and Laura Triay as they described the meaningful work the committee has been putting in behind the scenes and how it has positively impacted UBC IT.
Get to know IT JOHSC and what they’ve accomplished
From completing workplace inspections of 30+ spaces, to working with Safety and Risk Services (SRS) to raise concerns on emergency protocols across UBC, these 13 committee members have been a driving force for improving the work conditions of UBC IT staff.
Their key objective for inspections has been to identify potential safety hazards, such as overloaded spaces, faulty lighting, and unclear signage, and making these hazards known to management for them to take action. Since implementing these plans, the committee has seen a noticeable reduction in safety risks and disarray. “The awareness that we’ve been building over the past 2 years has been taken onboard by management; we’re reaping the fruits of our labours.” Laura Triay, Administrator of the committee, reflects.
The committee has also worked to improve the personal safety of staff by implementing awareness campaigns including ergonomics assessments and physical lifting guidelines. The goal of these communication initiatives as stated by Andrew Wang, Worker Co-Chair of IT JOHSC, is to serve as “reminders of the different safety concerns we should watch out for on a day-to-day basis that may not have been taken into consideration.”
What this recognition means
The UBC IT JOHSC faces the unique challenge of having staff widely distributed across campus and working in hybrid environments. However, this was a challenge that further motivated them to work closely with SRS and leadership to address knowledge gaps and ensure that safety protocols are up- to- date and properly communicated to all staff.
Their collaborative and proactive efforts have been instrumental in inspiring a culture of safety on campus, which has led them to being recognized by UBC with the Safety Achievement Award. “It’s a recognition of the work that the committee is doing, and that the work is viewed as valuable,” Kirk MacDonald, Employer Co-Chair of the committee, says.
Continued dedication
This award marks a milestone for UBC IT JOHSC, but their commitment to advocating for a safer work environment is still ongoing. They look forward to finding more creative ways to raise awareness on overlooked issues and are unwavering in their commitment to creating a workplace where safety and productivity go hand-in-hand.
Learn more about Joint Occupational Health & Safety Committees
Article written by Vickie Wu.
