CBE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL SCIENCE TECHNOLOGISTS MEETING
12:30 pm Tuesday May 12, 2015
Central Memorial High School
CHAIRPERSON: Cheryl Waye
RECORDER: Marilyn McLachlan
ATTENDANCE:
Present: Colleen Brent Robert Thirsk High School
Marzena Curyk Western Canada High School
Sandeep Gill Henry Wisewood High School
Scott Jubinville Lord Beaverbrook High School
Kathy Lepard Centennial High School
Tai Leung Ernest Manning High School
Marilyn McLachlan William Aberhart High School
Rebecca Michaels Winston Churchill High School
Theresa Michiel Forest Lawn High School
Nasreen Muhammad Central Memorial High School
Maureen Simon E.P. Scarlett High School
Cheryl Waye Crescent Heights High School
Sabnom Yesmin Queen Elizabeth High School
Regrets: Zia Awan Lester B. Pearson
Shraddha Dholabhai J.G. Diefenbaker High School
Leigh Edmonds James Fowler High School
Karen Williams Bowness High School
Jason Spurrell Chinook Learning Services
Lynda Roberts Chinook Learning Services
2. CONSIDERATION OF THE AGENDA:
Discussion of Neuron slides was requested by Kathy Lepard.
3. MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING (March 17, 2014):
The updated minutes available on the Science Tech Website will include the link, provided by Theresa, to the “Eye Protection Chart”.
Minutes were accepted by Rebecca Michaels and seconded by Kathy Lepard
4. POLICIES/REGULATIONS/SAFETY:
a) Response from Warren Ferguson (Program Safety Specialist, SAS) regarding the request by Cheryl for an update on the Risk Assess Survey and Revision of the CBE Secondary Sciences and Laboratory Safety Document:
“The RiskAssess evaluation is ongoing, comprehensive, and it involves a number of Service Units. You can appreciate the complexity of the review and the need for the current timeframe. Program tools such as RiskAssess (as well as selected Science documentation) are being examined methodically. Our consultation process involves Learning Services, Facilities, Risk Management and others. It is a joint venture, and it involves everything from the underlining legislative framework to cross-referencing information. As always, input of our Science Technicians is valued. As we move forward, the aim is to ensure a thorough review of all relevant tools and documents before they are released.”
b) New pictograms that comply with the GHS can be purchased in rolls. All GHS labeling should be in color. Printable pictograms are available in the Science Tech online manual http://projects.cbe.ab.ca/churchill/scitech/index.html under Resources. As a result of work done at the “April 6th Science Technician Professional Development Day” names of Companies who might have appropriate sample labels, or make modified workplace labels for us are available. Workplace labeling may require the Science Techs to design our own and use the CBE-contracted printer company. A summary of the work done at the April 6th PD was sent to all Science Techs and will be sent to Russ DiGiacomo, Manager SAS. The labelling changes as a result of the new WHMIS 2015 are to be implemented over a 3-year period.
Rebecca’s update: On Sept 25th, a non-instructional day, techs who can attend at Central Memorial, will make a common digital dropper bottle/vial label with the intention of having them color printed by our printer company.....to facilitate the required red diamond. Rolls of ¾” WHMIS 2015 labels are a bit too big and she is looking into custom ½” rolls.
c) A question was asked regarding who is responsible for proper emergency signage in stairwells etc. It was clarified that this role is strictly for Administration. Discussion around the responsibilities of the Science Tech during a firedrill or evacuation brought up the point of who is responsible for bringing a copy of the Chemical Inventory. Since the main office secretary has a copy of the current chemical inventory, it is her responsibility to bring this with her when evacuation occurs, either hardcopy or on her laptop. The Science Tech, because they are often moving equipment and could be on a different floor would not always have access to the Inventory document in an emergency.
5. SUPPLIES/EQUIPMENT/CHEMICAL
a)New Contacts for Westlab:
There have been concerns by the techs regarding changes at Westlab. Our regular contacts do not seem to be there.
On May 13th, Cheryl received the following information from Westlab regarding their new staffing:
Head of finance/administration: Jora Dhami ()
President of Sales: Reuben Mitchell ()
CBE Account Manager: Trevor Mitchell ()
Purchasing: Clara Grace – ()
Theresa related a pricing problem with Prolab in that she was charged 240% more for an item than the price in the online catalogue. With some persistence she was able to get it resolved to her satisfaction. It is good to pay attention to the prices in the catalogues vs the prices we are charged.
Pre-ordered Lung Plucks are available from Bon Ton.....cow is about $65 and sheep is about $15. They can be thawed, cleaned with 1% bleach, rinsed, and refrozen several time before they need to be replaced. An electronic pump or manual foot pump inserted in the trachea can be used to inflate the lungs.
b) Care in Ordering Chemicals: If you order the wrong chemical it can’t be replaced so be careful when ordering. Also, with Grand and Toy, pay attention to pkg, box,ctn etc so you get the number of items you want.
6. EXPERIMENTAL PREPARATIONS
a) Calibration of pH probes in the upper range.
Theresa had problems calibrating her Pasco pH probes above pH12. Pasco has informed her that the probes do not read above 12. A new improved probe that reads from 0 – 14 can be purchased….. Extech with a BNC plug:
http://www.ayva.ca/Product.php?p=PS-2182
Mike Paskowitz
Teacher Support Representative
PASCO scientific
10101 Foothills Blvd.
Roseville, CA 95747 USA
916-462-8237
800-772-8700 x8237
Fax 916-786-8905
www.pasco.com http://www.pasco.com
b) For setting gels for electrophoresis, masking tape can be used to seal the ends of the frame.
c) Kathy was looking for a source of good neuromuscular junction slides. Companies suggested were Carolina, Boreal, Merlan, Fisher, Triarch.
d) For the Urinalysis lab in Bio 20, Rebecca said the solution for Suspect #4/Crime Scene with Diabetes can be made up with just straight Apple Juice but glucose must be added. A narrow range pH paper Hydrion 5.5-8.0 can be used for this lab.
e) The Flame Test using methanol cups is done by a High School in Edmonton. Discussion around this brought up various methods that are used in CBE Schools. The burning of methanol containing various chemicals was not done commonly. Some use nichrome wire, dipped in a solution of chemical or a drop of water on the loop then dipped in the dry chemical, cleaned with HCl. Nitrates are harder to keep from growing mold than Chlorides. Some use wooded sticks or Q-tips but the latter works better.
7. COMMUNICATIONS
8. KEEPING CURRENT/TRAINING
a) The STAS conference on June 22 at Olds College will include a representative from OH&S speaking on the changes to WHMIS, Gordon Burrowes from Prolab, and Farhad Moezzi from Merlan. The annual STAS meeting will be held as well as a Tricks and Tips session. Finally there will be a tour of Olds College.
Car-pooling for transportation involves meeting at Diefenbaker High School at 7:00 am.
b) Flinn Laboratory Safety Training Course
Cheryl communicated with the GM of Flinn Scientific www.flinnsci.ca which has just recently entered the market in Canada. They are currently working on getting vendor status with the CBE.
Flinn has online video courses related to GHS, the new SDS, and a new version for WHMIS 2015 should be available within a year.
http://labsafety.flinnsci.com/Home.aspx
Costs tend to be more expensive however that could be because there is not a CBE vendor discount at this point.
9. ADDITIONAL ITEMS
a) Wrap up gathering at Dawn’s house: June 19, 4:00
b) As of Jan 2014 pensionable earnings for 10 month employees no longer includes vacation pay. Marilyn reported that Albert Herscovitch of the Staff Association is investigating the change to pensionable earnings reported by CBE to LAPP as this information was not communicated to employees in any formal way.
c) Rebecca informed us that for Student Risk Assess use, the student and the teacher signs the document. The Science Tech does not sign these documents.
10. MISCELLANEOUS
There are changes to the Staff Association Board of Directors.
http://staffassociation.ca/about-sa/directors/
11. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 2:30.
Next Regular Meeting: 12:30 September 22, 2015
Central Memorial High School
Chair: Marilyn
Recorder: Leigh