The main campus joint occupational health and safety committee met on January 21. Here are a few updates.
Air quality results
Inspections last spring identified worker concerns about air quality, in both the main building and the ARC building. The joint committee recommended AU conduct air quality testing, including mould testing. Testing was delayed to due to COVID and completed by RH Testing Services Inc in the late fall.
Seven locations were tested. With two exceptions, all testing in both buildings were within normal parameters:
The air in the main building was very dry (between 16% and 19% relative humidity; normal is 20-30). Facilities is looking into addressing this with some equipment changes.
There was an unusual carbon monoxide reading in the ARC building for a short period of time at the end of testing. The most likely explanation is sensor malfunction. Facilities has placed carbon monoxide detectors with audible alarms on each level of the ARC building as a precaution.
Mould testing found levels to be within Health Canada Guidelines, with mould at lower concentrations inside than in the outside samples taken as controls. No further follow-up was recommended.
Telephone messaging
Previously, the joint health and safety committee had recommended AU implement messaging on external-facing phone lines to identify that AU will not tolerate harassment or disrespectful conduct towards staff. AU presently has a “positive” message about treating staff with kindness on its main line.
AU is looking into the situation on other external facing phone lines and is to report back in March. Staff who experience mistreatment by callers are encouraged to identify the issue to their supervisors.
Injury under-reporting
Work-related injuries are caused by hazards in the workplace. A hazard can be a person, process, or condition. AU has a small number of reported injuries. This reflects the relatively low level of risk faced by AU staff. It may also reflect work-related injuries and illnesses that go unreported. Injuries are unreported for several reasons.
Minor injuries (e.g., slips and falls) often go unreported because they do not result in serious consequences. Failing to report these injuries means that the underlying hazard often goes unremedied and workers continue to face the danger posed by the hazard.
Injuries caused by poor ergonomic fit and repetitive strain (e.g., carpal tunnel syndrome) often develop over long periods of time and have a murky causality. If you have developed an injury like this and it may have been caused or exacerbated by work, it is important to report the injury. Reporting can trigger an accommodation (e.g., a change in duties or better equipment) as well as medical treatment.
Psychological injuries—sometimes caused by work-related stress or harassment—also often go unreported. Sometimes this reflects concern about stigma. Other times, the person to whom we’d normally report our injury (e.g., our supervisor) is the cause of the injury. Again, reporting injuries can result in changes that will eliminate the hazard and possibly a reduction in the effects.
When an injury or illness caused by work requires us to be off work longer than the day of the injury or to seek medical treatment beyond first aid, we are (and AU is) require to report the injury to the Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB). This reporting can result in wage-loss and other benefits. Reporting also shifts the costs of treatment off of the taxpayer and onto the employer (which encourages the employer to make the workplaces safer).
You can report a hazard, injury or near miss by filling out this form. You can request an ergonomic assessment by filling out this form. You can report an injury to the WCB by filing out this form.
If you require assistance reporting a hazard or an injury or in seeking an accommodation, please contact the AUFA office at aufahq@aufa.ca .
Rhiannon Rutherford and Bob Barnetson
AUFA Main Campus OHS Representatives