Labs and Studios - February
Labs and Studios Minutes – February 18, 2026 AC 147 and zoom
Present: B. Huska, A. White, H. Staple, A. Diochon, J. Gao, M. Moore, S. Azarhazin
TIME Commenced: 11:00 am hybrid by zoom
Agenda : MOTION A.D. SECOND H.S. Carried.
January 2026 Minutes: No Changes, MOTION J.G. SECOND A.D.
Injuries/Incidents
None
Inspections -
Completed
Paleo DNA Lab
CB0031/CB0038
Outstanding
Chemistry (Scheduled)
Science Workshop (Scheduled)
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 search still ongoing, have talked to one individual who was not sure if they had interest in joining. Search ongoing. With Steve Girvin’s upcoming departure, Adam White has joined the committee as a new management member.
After Hours Access subcommittee membership has been finalized and a meeting is being scheduled.
Pool safety protocol review subcommittee has all members from labs and studios and RPSS and meeting is being scheduled, waiting on pool manager’s availability.
New Business
Risk assessment tool will be sent to the committee for testing and review. This tool will be available on the website to help supervisors complete risk assessments for their personnel and areas. The tool itself is a google sheets document that contains a tab for examples of risk assessments. These examples are explained fully on a separate walkthrough document. The walkthrough document goes over the decisions made and steps fully. There is also a guidance document that gives an overview of what a risk assessment is and how it is completed. All three of these items are being sent to the committee so they may test out the tool, provide feedback on any of the elements, or provide examples that may be useful that are not covered in the current examples provided.
New ESA Leave - Longterm Illness. This is a leave for individuals with a serious medical condition who may not have enough paid leave available to use or cannot access leave for their position. It is unpaid, but protects their employment status. Up to 27 weeks out of a 52 week period may be taken and it does not have to be continuous leave. It can be intermittent amounts of time taken throughout the 52 week period. Information is on the website.
Winter safety page now up on the health and safety site. This was added as a permanent page instead of sending reminders in the communications bulletins as staff may be missing these.
Free training for health and safety is available through WSPS until March 31. There is JHSC inspections courses as well as a number of other training available. You can enroll yourself on their website or reach out to Tiffany Moore to have us enroll you.
New staff awards have been created related to community engagement, health and safety, innovation, leadership , and collaboration. Messaging will be going out along with nominations page. Will be done in addition to the existing annual staff recognition award.
Other Business
Adjournment: 11:43am