Health & Safety
Health and Safety
INTRODUCTION
Welcome to the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics! The department strives to provide an excellent working, research and educational environment. Moreover, the department is committed to the health and safety of our faculty, staff, students and visitors. As a result, a Joint Health and Safety Committee was established to identify and resolve these safety concerns within our working environment.
To assist you to understand the health and safety policies and procedures, our Committee has developed this webpage. It is tended to provide a reference point with relevant information regarding health and safety for the department. Continuous effort will be put in to improve and update the information on this page.
Safety is the responsibility of everyone in the department. The faculty members and supervisors are directly responsible for safety in labs, telescope sites and various offices. We encourage them to be proactive in directing their staff for proper training, when necessary, and acquiring knowledge via self study. They should also ensure the implementation of annual auditing recommendation by the Health and Safety Committee and promptly rectify issues identified.
The Health and Safety Committee welcome concerns, questions and suggestions. With our combined effort, we will make the department a healthy and safe place to work and study.
The Health and Safety Committee
HEALTH AND SAFETY COMPLIANCE
Please note that ALL University of Toronto employees, including senior management, academic administrators, faculty members, managers, supervisors, staff-appointed and casual employees, are now required by law to take basic occupational health and safety awareness training according to a new Ontario regulation that took effect on July 1, 2014.
The regulation requires all Ontario employers, including the University, to ensure that all workers* and all supervisors* have taken the required training, and to retain training records.
To meet the requirements of this regulation, the Office of Environmental Health & Safety has developed a Basic Health & Safety Awareness Training Program. This program incorporates the basic training requirements for both workers and supervisors.
The online basic safety awareness training program requires employees to confirm that they have read and understood the material provided. Employees will be provided with an email for their records confirming that they have taken the training, and a record will also be maintained by the Office of Environmental Health & Safety.
Please go to this link Basic Health & Safety Awareness Training Program and complete this training. A confirmation of completion will be required at the end – you will be guided through the process. Kindly complete by November 4th, 2019.
ASTRO HEALTH AND SAFETY GUIDE
2.1 The Legislation
The Occupational Health and Safety Act of Ontario is the primary legislation governing workplace safety. Its purpose is to protect all employees by outlining the legal responsibilities of both the employer and employee to identify and resolve safety issues. This internal responsibility system involves all employees within the University from the President and governing bodies to the individual worker. Supervisors and workers should be familiar with the main provisions of the Act and the regulations which apply to their workplaces.
2.2 Astro Health and Safety Committee
Functions of Health and Safety Committee
The Committee has the following principal functions:
- To identify and evaluate potential health and safety hazards
- To recommend corrective action
- To provide input to University health and safety programs
- To inspect the workplace on a regular basis
The Committee will look after the astro offices in the following three locations:
- The Astronomy Building (AB)
- The Astronomy offices at MP (12th, 13th, 15th, and 16th floors)
- High Bay – STIS (stratospheric telescope integration facility)
Joint Health and Safety Committee Members:
| Name | Room # | Phone | |
| Alena Wasney (Co-Chair) | AB101-E | 416-946-7286 | wasney<at>astro.utoronto.ca |
| Alice Chow (Co-Chair) | AB101F | 416-978-3356 | chow<at>dunlap.utoronto.ca |
| Ingrid Small, Secretary | AB101 | 416-946-5243 | admin<at>dunlap.utoronto.ca |
| Suresh Sivanandam, Faculty Rep | AB220 | 416-978-6550 | sivanandam<at>dunlap.utoronto.ca |
| Dae-Sik Moon, Faculty Rep | AB128 | 416-978-6566 | moon<at>astro.utoronto.ca |
| Ashley Stock, Student Rep | MP1202B | stock<at>astro.utoronto.ca | |
| Aarya Patil, Student Rep | MP1202B | patil<at>astro.utoronto.ca | |
| Michael Williams, Staff Rep | AB112 | 416-946-5433 | williams<at>astro.utoronto.ca |
| Stipe Milisa, Staff Rep | AB101M | 416-978-4520 | stipe.milisa<at>dunlap.utoronto.ca |
Health and Safety Minutes:
2.3 Resolving Health and Safety Concerns
Here are some of the ways to resolve issues concerning Health and Safety.
- Inform your immediate supervisor.
Your supervisor will work with you to resolve your concern while he/she can. Your supervisor may also take the next step 2. - Refer the issue to the Joint Health and Safety Committee.
The committee can look into the matter and make recommendations to the department or university authorities for resolution. - At any time, employees can refuse to conduct any unsafe work. Your supervisor is required to follow the procedures outlined under the Ontario Health and Safety Act.
ASTRO INFORMATION FOR EMERGENCY RESPONSE
3.1 Emergency Contact Information
We include here some emergency contacts and phone numbers within the department as well as the university.
| EMERGENCY CONTACTS | PHONE | ROOM |
|---|---|---|
| University | ||
| Campus Emergency Centre St. George Campus | 416-978-2222 | |
| Metro Toronto Emergency Phone Number | 9-911 | |
| TDD Telephone for the Deaf Only | 416-978-7385 | |
| Astronomy | ||
| Main Office | 416-946-5423 | AB101 |
| Department Manager | 416-978-3149 | AB101E |
| H and S Committee Chair | 416-978-3149 | AB101E |
Other University Contacts:
| Health & Wellbeing Programmes & Services – 263 McCaul St., 2nd Floor |
||
| Manager | 416-946-5873 | 2nd Floor |
| WSIB Administrator | 416-978-8804 | 2nd Floor |
| Occupational Health Service | 416-978-4476 | 2nd Floor |
| Environmental Protection Services (Hazardous Materials) 215 Huron St. 7th Floor |
||
| Manager | 416-978-7000 | |
| Chemical Waste Technicians | 416-978-4821 | |
| Radiation Service Technicians | 416-978-2050 | |
| Radiation Protection Section – 215 Huron St., 7th Floor | ||
| Chief Radiation Protection Officer | 416-978-2374 | |
| Radiation Protection Officers (Licensing and Training) | 416-978-2028 | |
| Radiation Safety Officers | 416-978-6846 | |
| Fire Protection Services – 215 Huron St., 7th Floor | ||
| Fire Protection Officer | 416-978-5299 | |
3.2 First Aid and Eyewash Stations
First aid kits are located at the following spots:
1st floor, AB101-J (Mail Room)
2nd floor, AB201 (Astro Lounge)
Basement, AB60 (Lab with Laser Warning)
Basement, AB55 (Dae-Sik’s Lab)
Basement, AB73B (Lab with crane and workshop)
Basement, AB79 (Planetarium)
12th floor, MP1212B (Printer Room)
13th floor, MP1306 (Library)
15th floor (Library Archive)
16th floor (The Dome)
Ground Floor and 3rd floor
Eyewash stations:
AB: basement corridor beside Lab AB60, and inside Lab AB73.
MP: at various locations at the basement level
High Bay: none
3.3 Fire Evacuation Procedures
When fire alarm sounds:
- EVACUATE the building immediately. This is MANDATORY by University Policy.
- DO NOT use elevators, use the stairs instead.
- KEEP CLEAR of the building to permit emergency access.
- DO NOT RE-ENTER until authorized by Fire or Police Personnel.
- FOR MOBILITY-IMPAIRED persons phone 416-978-2222 for assistance
3.4 University Emergency Alert System
The University has established an emergency alert system, you can register your mobile phone number at: http://alert.utoronto.ca
3.5 Personnel Safety and Security
In addition to University police, the University also offers the WalkSmart program which provides campus escorts to all employees, students and visitors after dark. For more information, please visit: WalkSmart website
3.6 Astro First Aid and CPR Help
On very rare occasions, if there is a need for first aid and/or CPR, we have a team of dedicated volunteers, who either have past experience or are currently certified, willing to help. On behalf of the department, we want to thank them for agreeing to be listed here.
OTHER RESOURCES
The University also has a website for Environmental Health and Safety which provides more information pertaining to the specifics of university and beyond.
The department posts various health and safety information on various bulletin board. Please check them out from time to time.
Supporting the Student in Distress
The Centre for Teaching Support & Innovation at University of Toronto, through its TATP Teaching Assistants Training Program, developed a short version of Student in Distress short version. You will find it resourceful.
New regulation requires all faculty and staff to take Occupational Health & Safety Awareness Training
August 21, 2014
All University of Toronto employees, including senior management, academic administrators, faculty members, managers, supervisors, staff-appointed and casual employees, are now required by law to take basic occupational health and safety awareness training according to a new Ontario regulation that took effect on July 1, 2014.
The regulation requires all Ontario employers, including the University, to ensure that all workers* and all supervisors* have taken the required training, and to retain training records.
To meet the requirements of this regulation, U of T’s Office of Environmental Health & Safety has developed a basic health and safety awareness training program. This program incorporates the basic training requirements for both workers* and supervisors*. In order to comply with the regulation, faculty and staff are asked to begin their training session as soon as possible before September 26, 2014.
Click here to start your training and complete the online training module by September 26. (main.its.utoronto.ca/hsa/).
Confirmation of Training
This online basic safety awareness training program requires that you confirm that you have read and understood the material provided. Once you have clicked the online confirmation, you will receive an email confirming that you have taken the training. You should retain a copy of this confirmation for your records. A record will also be maintained by the Office of Environmental Health & Safety.
If you do not have access to a computer in your work, please first speak with your business officer to arrange for computer access. If he/she cannot arrange for access then please contact your HR Divisional Office to make arrangements. Unsure which is your HR Office? Please ask your manager, or contact hrandequity@utoronto.ca.
For more information
More information about the required training you may contact the Office of Environmental Health & Safety at ehs.office@utoronto.ca.
If you are interested in further training and/or would like to confirm whether you require further training given the work you do at the University, please contact the Office of Environmental Health and Safety at ehs.office@utoronto.ca and/or visit our training page at: www.ehs.utoronto.ca/Training.htm
For general information about health and safety at the University, please see the website for the University’s Office of Environmental Health and Safety at http://www.ehs.utoronto.ca/.
*Definitions The term “worker” is defined in the Occupational Health and Safety Act as a person who performs work or supplies services for monetary compensation. At the University this would include faculty members, appointed staff members, casual employees, and students employed by the University, for example as teaching assistants. The term “supervisor” is defined as a person who has charge of a workplace or authority over a worker, which at the University includes lead hands, supervisors, managers, academic administrators, senior management, and faculty members who supervise any category of worker. The regulation also applies to individuals who provide services at the University pursuant to service contracts, but they will be addressed separately.– See more at: http://www.hrandequity.utoronto.ca/about-hr-equity/news/2015n/nlrafasttohsat.htm#sthash.NnCHl6Xp.dpuf