UNews - Carolin Cattoi-Demkiw

Campus Safety to socialize new Environmental Health Safety Management System

trevor.kenney — Fri, 23 Nov 2018 23:12:36 +0000

How often do you think about the safety risks associated with your job? How often does the person working next to you?

The safety of everyone on the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge campus is dependent on each and every member of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community. Do you know if you are meeting the regulations set out by Occupational Health & Safety (OH&S)? Did you know that new policies have been put in place by the Government of Alberta?

In the coming months, Campus Safety, led by Chief Safety Officer Doug Mackie and Manager of Safety Carolin Cattoi-Demkiw, will be visiting all campus units to discuss new OH&S regulations and the U of L’s new Environmental Health Safety Management System (EHSMS), which was adopted as policy in June.

“We’re trying to continue to build a culture of safety,” says Mackie. “This is important, it’s a heightened emphasis on safety and we’re all going to be better for it. It’s looking out for yourself, looking out for others who work with you and making sure people go home safe at the end of the day.”

Simply because of the nature of the work that takes place on campus, risk is everywhere and while safety protocols have been in place for years, new regulations have made it imperative all post-secondary institutions revisit their EHSMS.

“The changes in the Occupational Health and Safety act are being felt throughout industry in Alberta and specifically within the post-secondary system,” says Mackie. “It’s never a bad thing to look at your safety protocols. This is about charting a course for continuous improvement and it couldn’t be more important because it involves life safety.”

The timing of the new policy also coincides with the impending opening of the new Science & Academic Building. A new facility, with a central chemical store, already prompts a reset of safety procedures.

“It really is a good time to talk about safety,” says Mackie. “We’re moving from old lab space to new lab space and we want to use the state-of-the-art facilities with a state-of-the-art safety plan. All the while, we have to keep in mind that the new EHSMS encompasses all of campus.”

Dr. Andy Hakin, provost and vice-president (academic), says it is incumbent upon everyone on campus to evaluate the risks associated with their activities and to properly equip themselves with the knowledge to conduct their work safely.

“Nobody comes to work thinking an accident is going to happen. Everyone has the best of intentions, but we cannot cut corners when it comes to our personal safety, that of the people we work with and our students,” says Hakin.

The campus community will have multiple opportunities to engage with the new protocols, from presentations to respective units to videos, training opportunities and a host website of information. For some, the messages will be a reinforcement of what they are already doing, for others, it will be the introduction of new ways of doing business.

“It’s an opportunity for a reset and in many ways, this could not come at a better time,” says Mackie. “We’re trying to implement a sustainable safety management plan for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ so that we’re not only meeting the legislative requirements but exceeding the requirements.”

Mackie says the community will be better off once the new measures are in place.

“The standards that we want to achieve will benefit the entire campus.”

Safety inspections coming to campus

trevor.kenney — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 19:57:44 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge's Risk and Safefy Services will be facilitating campus inspections with Risk Management Services (RMS) from Tuesday, Apr. 30 through Friday, May 3.

RMS is contracted by the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's insurer, Canadian ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Reciprocal Insurance Exchange (CURIE) to conduct inspections every 18 to 24 months from both a physical property as well as a liability perspective. This year's inspection will be focussed predominantly on laboratories, with some re-inspections of previously viewed buildings.

Laboratory inspections will commence May 1 with both Carolin Cattoi-Demkiw (RSO & manager safety) and Lorna Selinger (biosafety officer) accompanying RMS. Entry to labs will be necessary for the completion of the inspections. If anyone who is responsible for a specific lab and/or designate wishes to be in attendance during the inspections, please contact Carolin Cattoi-Demkiw at 403-329-2350.

Those with questions or concerns can contact Anne M. Baxter, director, Risk and Safety Services, at 403-382-7176.

RSS change a positive move

trevor.kenney — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 19:07:47 +0000

They say with change there is growth, and with growth there is opportunity.

The recent amalgamation of Risk and Safety Services (RSS) with Security Services elicits some exciting changes as RSS grows its portfolio.

As part of the changes, RSS is pleased to welcome Lorna Selinger, who is assuming the position of Biosafety Officer. Selinger graduated from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Saskatchewan with a bachelor of science degree in agriculture. She started her career with Eli Lilly and has held positions with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Saskatchewan, the province of Saskatchewan, Agrium and most recently with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

Selinger brings to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ a wealth of knowledge and significant experience in microbiology. She was highly involved in the design, implementation and training plans for compliance with containment Level 2/2+standards outlined in Containment, Biosafety and Biosecurity Guidelines as required by the Public Health Agency of Canada.

As the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's academic and research programs have expanded, the need to grow the biosafety program became evident. Selinger will be taking over the portfolio from Bruce McMullen, who diligently managed biosafety for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ since the early 1990s.

RSS also announced that Carolin Cattoi-Demkiw, who has successfully managed the radiation safety, chemical safety and laboratory safety program for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge since 2005, has been appointed Manager, Safety. Reporting to the director of Risk and Safety Services, Carolin is responsible for the supervision of the safety officers. She also assumes the management and oversight of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's safety program, which includes occupational health & safety, radiation, laser, chemical and laboratory safety as well as biosafety.

UNews - Carolin Cattoi-Demkiw

Campus Safety to socialize new Environmental Health Safety Management System

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