Bumblin’ Beez wins the 11th annual UBC Library/United Way Spelling Bee

Bumblin' Beez, one of our teams in Facilities takes home the trophy in this year's annual UBC Library/United Way Spelling Bee. Congratulations to Caroline MacLeod, Dimitri Kavouras, Kishani Gibbons, and Robin Shortt!

Joining Bumblin' Beez were teams from Infrastructure Development and Municipal Services:

  • Bee-Spoke Spellers: Ana Policzer, Jenn Lippa, Jennifer Sanguinetti, Leanne Feichtinger, Natalie Wagorn, and Teresa Syrnyk.
  • MuniSupPeople team: Dale Low, Dean Gregory, Jenn Sheel, and Tamas Weidner

Thank you all for your participation and helping to raise awareness for United Way. Save the date for our upcoming Facilities United Way campaign.

SAVE THE DATE: Facilities' United Way Dip-off on November 23, 2022. Stay tuned for more details to come (It's food related!).

View more photos of the UBC Library/United Way Spelling Bee

Learn more about UBC's United Way campaign and participate in other events 

Municipal Services go live with assets and preventative maintenance plans in Planon

This week marks a significant milestone as the Municipal Services team go live with assets and preventative maintenance plans in Planon.

Post go-live support will be available from the EMMS project team between October 17-28, 2022. Please contact your Head, Sub-Head or Manager for help with escalation.

Planon launched in November 2, 2021, and continued the deployment of Planon functionality to offer users more in-depth features and functionality. The Phase 1 extension project integrated with ArcGIS field maps and expanded the use of planned preventative maintenance (PPM) functionality within Energy & Water Services and the Municipal Services teams.

Need Help with Planon? Access the learning resources and helpdesk links via Facilities.ubc.ca. Click Planon > Planon support and resources.


Annual regulatory load bank emergency generator test

Cullen Diesel Power has been hired as the contractor to conduct our annual regulatory load bank emergency generator testing to ensure we are code compliant. The following work procedures will be conducted:  

Step 1: Preparation Work (by contractor), 2-3 hours  

  1. Deliver the load bank to the building site  
  2. Run temporary cables from the generator to the load bank  
  3. Perform the generator readiness check; fuel, oil level, belts, coolant, etc.  

Step 2: Test Run (by contractor), 2.5 hours  

  1. Disconnect the generator from the building power supply and temporarily connect to the load bank  
  2. Run a 2-hour diagnostic generator test on the load bank  
  3. Reconnect the generator to the building power supply  

Considerations  

  1. Possible power interruptions on emergency backup power circuits  
  2. No back-up generator available for the duration of the test, approx 3 hours. In the event of a power outage, it will take up to 30 minutes to reconnect the generator and bring it back to its full operation.  
  3. Noise and exhaust fumes will occur during the two-hour generator test run. Presence of contractor and Building Operations tradespeople and vehicles working inside and outside of the building.  
  4. Contractor’s portable load bank parked on site; temporary cables and other installations on site causing potential trip hazards and access issues. 

Driving and parking on campus

Please follow UBC traffic and parking rules and regulations when operating and parking a vehicle on campus.

A reminder to:

  • Ensure the vehicle is parked entirely within the white lines or other markings delimiting the parking spot taken in parking lots, parkades, and at on-street meters.
  • The driver or vehicle must not stop, stand, or park a car in any way that restricts the free flow of traffic or movement of emergency vehicles and pedestrians.
  • Please pay special attention to fire lanes and accessible stalls.

For more information on UBC traffic parking rules: https://universitycounsel.ubc.ca/files/2019/09/UBC-Traffic-Parking-Rules.pdf


New job strategy session (NJSS): October 11, 2022

Construction office

  • Life Sciences Centre – LSC 1587 – Estimate to disconnect and remove a fumehood, and install sink.
  • Pharmaceutical Sciences Building – Pharm Sci 3125D – Cover ceiling rack and install soundproofing for office.
  • J.B. Macdonald Building – JBM 256A – New doorway from corridor
  • Anthropology & Sociology Building – Renovations for eleven rooms – blinds, carpet, paint.

Project Services

  • Pharmaceutical Sciences Building – Reconfigure acoustic panels in PHRM 1101 theatre

Preparing for the opening of the 50th and 100th anniversary Great Trek time capsule

On October 28, 1922 the students of UBC marched through Vancouver to Point Grey to pressure the government to resume construction of the university and the government agreed. The Great Trek as it was later called is quite possibly the greatest example of student activism at UBC.

Next week, UBC will be celebrating the 100th anniversary of the trek at the Great Trek cairn/time capsule on Mail Mall. The ceremony will also be opening up the 50th Anniversary time capsule following the ceremony and sealing a new capsule.

Our teams in Facilities were at the location of the cairn this week to prepare the site for the ceremony on October 28 from 1:00-2:30 p.m.

Learn more about the ceremony


Get Ready to ShakeOut and learn about earthquakes with Seismologist, Alison Bird

This Thursday, October 20, 2022, practice how to DROP, COVER and HOLD ON at 10:20 a.m. during the annual Great BC ShakeOut. Tour UBC’s Earthquake Engineering Research Facility and attend the SAN ANDREAS movie screening complete with live, scientific commentary from Natural Resources Canada Seismologist, Alison Bird. All events are free and open to the public.

We all have a role in protecting ourselves and making our campus safe. Participate in an event and learn more! 

Share your best ‘Drop, Cover and Hold on’ and tag @ubc on Twitter and @universityofbc on Instagram! 

Learn more: ready.ubc.ca/shakeout


Building Safety Capacity: Four steps to preventing musculoskeletal injuries in the workplace

Musculoskeletal injuries (MSIs) remain one of the leading types of injuries and causes of absence from work. MSIs are injuries to the muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, blood vessels, and joints of the neck, shoulders, arms, wrists, legs, and back. Some of the tasks performed at work require lifting, reaching, and sometimes repeating movements with the same body parts, which can lead to MSIs such as strains and sprains. MSIs are common in all industries in BC, and MSI claims account for approximately one third of all claims accepted by WorkSafeBC.

MSI injuries affect people, work, and business, and can reduce productivity, efficiency, quality, and worker satisfaction.

There are the four steps to preventing musculoskeletal injuries as per WorkSafeBC's ergonomics (MSI) requirements in the Occupational Health & Safety Regulation.

Four Steps to MSI Prevention

Review each of the above steps to learn more about preventing musculoskeletal injuries in the workplace.

For assistance with preventing MSIs in the workplace, contact the Facilities SRS resources located in Room 0078 of the USB.


Welcome to the team...and fond farewell

  • Linda Roseborough, Health, Safety & Wellness Advisor in Safety & Risk Services (SRS)’s last day at UBC is this Friday. Linda has provided strong support and leadership to many UBC initiatives and people, including the VPFO EDI Committee and managing health and wellness programs at The Centre at University Services Building (USB). There will be a send-off for Linda in the Multipurpose room at USB on Thursday, October 20 at 3:00 p.m.

EDI: Words matter — Using inclusive language in the workplace

Over the last couple of weeks, there have been concerns and media coverage around language recently used by Danielle Smith, the Premier of Alberta.

Many people are feeling hurt and there have been a public outcry from the indigenous community, LGBTQ2+, opposition leaders and many more around the comments Premier Smith used.

While this is a very public example of why words matter, it's also a reminder for all of us to practice using inclusive language.

“Language is the truest identifier of who you are and where you come from.” – Elder Larry Grant, 2014

Learn more:


Workplace Strategies for Mental Health:
How to refer to am employee or collegue to resources

When employees and/or colleagues struggle with mental health issues, you may be concerned about how to help without invading their privacy or being seen as harassing them.

Though it's tough to know how to bring up mental health issues, providing employees/colleagues with information about resources or coping strategies can be helpful.

Here are some suggestions on how to refer an individual to mental health resources, including mental health awareness videos.


Emergency tip: Keep your vehicle fueled or charged

Always keep your gas tank at least half full or battery half charged.

During a disaster, gas stations and electrical infrastructure may not be working for days.

For information about emergency car kits, visit Government of Canada’s Get Prepared website.


Managing your mental health

Human Resources has collected mental health resources to help you manage your ups and downs. To view more workshops, webinars and events visit the HR event listing.

Representatives are always available for a confidential conversation:

  • Monica Haab (monica.haab@ubc.ca): Building Operations, Energy & Water Services, Customer Services & Informatics, and Municipal Services
  • Gregor MacDonald (gregor.macdonald@ubc.ca): Custodial Services and Municipal Services

In case you've missed it

In case you've missed it Here is a quick recap of key events and information that you may have missed. For more details, please click on the links below or refer to our weekly portfolio newsletter, VPFO Update.

Thanks for reading!

Find this newsletter and past issues on the Facilities website
facilities.ubc.ca/facilities-weekly

For questions and content submission
 Email: facilities@vpfo.ubc.ca.

 
 

UBC Facilities is part of the VP Finance & Operations (VPFO) Portfolio, and includes six departments—Building Operations, Custodial Services, Customer Services & Informatics, Energy & Water Services, Infrastructure Development, and Municipal Services.
 

UBC Facilities
The University of British Columbia
Campus & Community Planning (C&CP) Building
2210 West Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4
facilities.ubc.ca

VP Finance & Operations (VPFO)
The University of British Columbia
Koerner Library, 6th Floor 
1958 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4
vpfo.ubc.ca

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