Labs and Studios - September 2025
Labs and Studios Minutes – September 17, 2025 AC 147 and zoom
Present: B. Huska, S. Girvin, M. Moore, S. Azarhazin, H. Staple, M. Sorokopud, G. Oba, C. Surette
TIME Commenced: 11:00 am hybrid by zoom
Agenda : MOTION M.S. SECOND C.S. Carried.
July 2025 Minutes: MOTION M.M. SECOND H.S. Carried.
Injuries/Incidents
Superior Science Employee: M. Sorokopud carried out a small investigation after an employee was hit in the head with a tinfoil ball thrown by campers. It seemed the person involved was having a bad day and this incident pushed her over the edge. Looks that everything was handled appropriately.
Inspections -
Completed
Chemical engineering
ATRC
LUARS
Electrical Engineering
BAF/LUACF
Biology
Kinesiology
LUEL
Outstanding
Geology – J.Sylvestre
LUIL
NRM
BRI
Old Business
Nominations for secretary – no nominations were received. Committee is OK with health and safety continuing to take minutes. The vacancy for the secretary will remain open as a standing item on every agenda. In case worker members feel differently in future.
Management member – after a long service Francis Appoh has decided to move on from the committee. The committee thanks Francis for his service. We will need a new management member. If any members of the committee have any suggestions please forward them to Brenda.
Laboratory decommissioning policy is going to one final committee, please make any comments this month.
Lab safety training has been updated. Now two parts that will expire every 3 years. All those with current training will have it remain valid until we reach the first 3 year mark then all will be required to complete the new version.
New Business
Health and Safety policy has been sent upstairs and should be approved and released soon.
Electrical safety issues: Ongoing problem in many labs and offices, if the committee has any ideas related to spreading information please let health and safety know. Also please keep an eye out for these issues during inspections.
Asbestos air sampling is occurring this week, it is monitoring that is completed regularly to ensure the buildings with asbestos in them are not causing exposure. No readings in the past have shown levels above normal background.
Health and safety will send out a poll to see if a new time slot would be more suitable for meetings.
Will do more calendar invites for inspections.
Other Business
C. Surette raised concern about contractors and if they have training. There was an incident where contractors came two days ahead of schedule so chemicals that the lab staff were going to move had not been moved. Contractors moved the chemicals themselves. S. Girvin indicated that contractor should not be moving chemicals and that in the future people should call physical plant immediately about this. Contractor training is handled by the contractor themselves and workers should have basic training on hazards.
C. Surette raised concern about emergency contacts for lab spaces and if the information being up to date. Was called about another department’s equipment in the middle of the night. B. Huska indicated there is a list that security has been shared with the information that comes from hazard signs. If hazard signs are not up to date it could cause an issue, need to follow up with security on what they’re using. Security did also ask for department contacts recently.
Labs are still moving for anthropology and chemical engineering.
Orillia training for students need to be updated and is in process.
Adjournment: ?