Offices and Classrooms - February 2025

Lakehead University

Joint Employee-Management Occupational Health & Safety Committee

Office and Classrooms

Minutes
February 19th, 2025.
Start 10:04 am
Hybrid ATAC 3004 and Zoom
Present
Gabriel Oba (LUFA)
Patrick Larin (Schedule II)
Sue Viitala (Schedule II)
Ian McIntosh (OPSEU)
Tiffany Moore (Human Resources)
Guests
Jeff Alexander
Brenda Huska
1. Introduction of new members and guests
Introduced Jeff Alexander as alternate member for Ian McIntosh
Introduced Brenda Huska as guest, will be added to membership in coming meetings
2. Approval of Agenda
Patrick added snow clearing to New Business/Open Discussion.
Tiffany added certifications to New Business/Open Discussion.
Moved: Ian / Seconded: Patrick / Approved with additions
3. Acceptance of Minutes (19 October 2024)
Typo in item 6a. Should say LUFA instead of LUSU.
Moved: Gabriel / Seconded: Patrick / Approved with correction
4. Recognition of notes (11 December 2024)
Did not have quorum for this meeting.
Notes were reviewed.
5. Outstanding Business
a. Violence in the Workplace Policy: Education piece is being finalized and there will be an
information session before 30 April 2025
b. Committee Membership (OPSEU): Resolved - Ian McIntosh has been added to
committee as OPSEU representation, with Jeff Alexander to be added as an alternate in
his absence.
c. LUFA Office: Previously approved conducting an inspection of LUFA office space. Not
completed yet.
Action: Tiffany will reach out to LUFA

6. Inspections
Document shared to committee members that contains the list of buildings to be inspected and
the month that they are to be inspected. Committee members are to sign up via this sheet to
complete the inspections. Gabriel suggested that one week a month is set aside for inspections
to be completed. Committee agreed on this method and decided on the third week of the
month. Tiffany and Brenda will send reminders the week prior.
7. Injury and Accident Reports
None
8. New Business/Open Discussion
a. Terms of Reference Review: Terms of reference will be updated and draft presented for
next meeting. New members will be added.
b. New Safety/Illness Related Website: New webpages related to injury reporting and
employee accommodations were presented to the committee. Pages are located HR ->
Health & Safety -> Thunder Bay -> Occupational Health.
c. Service Animal Policy: Tiffany updated committee that a service animal policy is being
developed. It is currently in the final draft stages and will be distributed to the
committees for review by the end of the month. This policy will require a quick
turnaround for review.
d. MOL Inspections: Committee was informed of MOL inspection that took place in the
pool room of the athletics facility. Inspection was due to an anonymous complaint
regarding chemical use around the pool, lack of PPE, and lack of training. MOL inspector
was satisfied with PPE provided, training, and SOPs related to use. No recommendations
made and report is posted on the health and safety bulletin board.
e. Ergonomics Program: Tiffany informed committee of the ergonomics program being
developed. Deadline for completion is in April.
f. Working for Workers Five: Tiffany informed committee that there is an update and the
act has received royal ascent. The act now specifies that it applies to remote work
performed in a private residence. This was originally framed to mainly apply to cyber
bullying and harassment for virtual work, but is currently worded so all items including
workplace hazards and inspections apply. Unsure how this will apply to MOL inspections,
anticipating that there will be amendments to provide more direction on this matter.
g. Snow Removal: Patrick asked for clarification about policies related to snow clearing at
exits. Indicated that there are exits that are not being cleared. These exits were
determined to not be labelled fire exits and do not exit to areas that provide the ability
to access a public thoroughfare or an exterior space protected from fire exposure from
the building during an emergency.
h. Certifications: Ian has volunteered to receive training and certification as well as
Brenda. Tiffany asked if any other committee members were interested in certification.
No other members were interested.

9. Next meeting: 9 April 2025 10am in ATAC 3004 and zoom.
10. Meeting adjourned at 10:56 am