Six months after WorkSafeBC issued a critical report ordering the University of Victoria to better protect the health and safety of its employees, some staff on campus remain concerned about the air quality in Sedgewick building.
WorkSafe issued another report in October, highlighting UVicB次元官网网址檚 need to better respond to employee health complaints. The report says the twice-yearly local safety committee meetings are B次元官网网址渘ot effectiveB次元官网网址� and they fail to meet obligations as set out in the Workers Compensation Act.
B次元官网网址淎 review of the minutes from one of the local safety committee meeting shows that the issue of air quality in one building remained on the meeting minutes for many years and did not make it to the University Safety Committee,B次元官网网址� wrote WorkSafeBC prevention officer Dawn Ianson.
That building in question is Sedgewick, built in 1969 and the source origin of since 2000.
A report issued April 17, 2012 indicated UVic found high levels of mould and carbon dioxide in the Sedgewick building in December 2009, the first time the university took air quality tests and fungi samples.
While UVic took remediation steps between December 2009 and April 2012, B次元官网网址渢he area remains without adequate housekeeping and, in discussions with workers B次元官网网址� there remains chronic health/wellness concerns,B次元官网网址� Ianson wrote in her April report.
At the time, Ianson issued four orders that the university must comply with, including the requirement to improve the reporting system for health and safety issues to ensure each one is investigated and addressed. The most recent report, issued in October, includes an order that UVicB次元官网网址檚 local safety committees must meet at least once a month.
B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 about 40 to 50 primarily building-based committees that were put together (years ago) to deal with local issues,B次元官网网址� said Andy Mavretic, acting director of occupational health, safety and environment at UVic. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e making sure that however many of these local safety committees we have, they are all fully engaged in safety, reporting, inspections, reviewing incidents and communicating any findings and issues to the university safety committee.B次元官网网址�
The local committees were meeting twice a year, while the overarching university joint health and safety committee met monthly.
Doug Sprenger, president of CUPE 951, says all the attention thatB次元官网网址檚 been paid to health and safety at UVic over the last year has been hugely beneficial to employees.
B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 helped particularly the occupational health and safety department understand they have to be more proactive with regards to safety of buildings,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 think theyB次元官网网址檙e going to be doing a better job from now on. B次元官网网址� It also kind of reinvigorated the health and safety committees B次元官网网址� they know they also have to be more vigilant.B次元官网网址�
Additionally, after the April report was released, CUPE requested IansonB次元官网网址檚 orders be reviewed, in hopes that WorkSafeBC would also issue financial penalties to the university.
B次元官网网址�(The union states) that their issue is with the delay in addressing issues in (Sedgewick), in this case eight years,B次元官网网址� reads the decision on the review request, issued late last month. B次元官网网址淭he way that it was dealt with was unacceptable. They want a penalty levied for the exposure to workers.B次元官网网址�
Review officer Melina Lorenz highlighted that Ianson did not issue penalties as B次元官网网址渢he violations do not meet the criteria (for imposing a penalty). (Ianson) stated that the violations did not result in a high risk of serious injury, serious illness or death,B次元官网网址� Lorenz wrote.
She upheld IansonB次元官网网址檚 decision and denied CUPEB次元官网网址檚 request for penalties. Mavretic says the decision not to penalize UVic was B次元官网网址渁ppropriate,B次元官网网址� as the university is attempting to address any and all concerns that are brought to their attention.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e motivated to make any changes that improve our systems. Our commitment has always been and continues to be that we take those concerns seriously,B次元官网网址� he said.
Lorenz also noted that there is new management in place at UVic B次元官网网址� referring to Mavretic replacing director Richard Piskor, whoB次元官网网址檇 been in that role since 1987, as of Sept. 1 B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址渁nd the new management appears motivated towards compliance.B次元官网网址�
Mavretic says UVic has taken steps to address air quality in Sedgewick. The most recent tests show steps taken earlier in the year have resulted in no more mould or building moisture problems.
B次元官网网址淭he only thing that was discovered (recently) was the crawlspace was positively pressurized, meaning any of the potential stale, dry crawlspace odours mightB次元官网网址檝e come upstairs,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲e just reopened the air vents along the outside walls to encourage air flow outside.B次元官网网址�
Mavretic says the changes to the local safety committees should be implemented in the next two or three months.
To read the full reports from WorkSafeBC, visit .
kslavin@saanichnews.com
