Senior High Science Technicians Meeting
SirWinstonChurchillHigh School
12 December, 2006
Present: Marzena Curyk, Shraddha Dholabhai, Kathy Lepard, Tai Leung, Helen Li, Dawn Martin, Marilyn McLachlan, Rebecca Michaels, Theresa Michiel, Nasreen Muhammad, Mary Shelford, Dianne Shellborn, Hanna Svelka, Karen Williams, Pat Kaiserseder, Jean Minifie, Lori-Jean Schlenker.
Absent: Pat Davey, Leigh Edmonds, Kathleen Grebneff, Lynda Roberts.
Meeting chaired by Dawn Martin and recorded by Theresa Michiel
Thank you to all who brought food, snacks and refreshments for the Christmas luncheon. Thank you, also to Hanna for the table decorations. A pleasant time was had by all.
1.Minutes of 26 September 2006 and of 31 October 2006
minutes of above were accepted with noted changes:
26 September 2006 - minor spelling corrections
31 October 2006 - minor spelling corrections
2.Lori-Jean Schlenker, Safety Services Coordinator was introduced, having started her position in May 2006.
Lori-Jean noted that staffing changes were still being made in Safety Services, notably that Wally Burfield, Industrial Hygiene Specialist had moved on to other opportunities, that Ray Allen, Safety Advisor would also be pursuing other interests after January 2007. A new Safety Services Coordinator, Howard Nickerson, will start his new duties 08 January 2007. He comes to this position from Halifax, Nova Scotia.
His contact information is below:
Howard Nickerson
Phone: 294-8474
Fax: 294-8603
Email:
Round table introductions were made for Lori-Jean and Rebecca offered to forward Science Tech contact information and stats to Lori-Jean.
3.Safety Services Meeting, 15 November2006
Karen Williams, Shraddha Dholabhai, Kathy Lepard and Rebecca Michaels attended this meeting on behalf of Science Techs. There was felt to be some confusion as to statements made over previous months, but the meeting appeared to have been positive. At that time, Ray Allen felt confident that all could work together to increase safety.
Main concerns put forward at this meeting were:
- workload versus safety
- schools that generated Hazardous Waste but were without TDGCertified Shippers to package and ship waste
- progress on initiating a Health & Safety Committee
- progress of CBE wide MSDS database from Wellnet Solutions
- Blood level metal testing
- yearly fume hood testing and certification
- Participants to the Hazard Assessment felt rushed and unprepared as they were not previously informed of set-up for assessment and were only able to concentrate on 4 or 5 areas of concern from our Position description. Additionally participants felt that descriptive choices available for each area of concern did not adequately identify risks or hazards.
It was proposed by the attending Science Technicians, that a Liaison position wouldassist Safety Services in addressing the above concerns.
On a side note, Rebecca remarked that she, Mary and Pat would be meeting withSuperintendent John Drysdale on Thursday, 14 December to discuss the creation of amanagerial or supervisory position possibly within the Safety Services area.
4.Position Description (Jean Minifie)
Jean Minifie, gave a brief description of how the funding for the Science
Tech position was made within the present RAM (Resource Allocation Method).
A short discussion followed concerning the past formula of Science Tech weekly hours based on the school’s student population numbers. It was felt from the discussion that the quantity of work did not diminish if a school had a smaller enrollment than another school. It was also felt that the Tech position should be given more hours to safely and efficiently complete their PD. Also mentioned in this discussion, were schools with high enrolments, that under the old formula, would have required more than one Technologist, but were presently only funded for one.
Jean has passed the job evaluations on to Total Compensation and the suggested re-worded position description. Jean indicated that Glenn Swanson from the Total Compensation and EmployeeInformation office requires a supervisor or CL to sign off on the updated PD beforeit could go back to the deciding committee.
5.Training & Recertification for Respirators and TDG
Rebecca suggested that a one day session possibly during our February conventioncould be used for respirator fit test and for WHMIS/TDG recertification
- Lori-Jean offered to check dates during diploma exam period or teacher’sconvention and will coordinate date(s) with Rebecca
6.Joint Workplace Health & Safety Committee
Meetings would comprise a small group of representatives from schools (teachers,Principals and Science Techs) that would view submitted concerns and present oneor two solutions to address these concerns.
Lori-Jean offered that a one day course was available to ‘train’ these members, thecost of which is approximately $600 for 8-12 participants
It was suggested that Science Techs become the Safety Representative for theirrespective schools as we work in all areas of the Science Department
An OH&S task force will be held Wednesday, 13 Dec which would have Principals inattendance. Lori-Jean would also attend.
More information on COR and safety committees can be found at:
What is a Partnerships in Health and Safety program?
First established in 1989, the Partnerships in Health and Safety (Partnerships) program
is a voluntary process where government works in partnership with employers and worker
representatives to promote a strong workplace safety culture for Alberta businesses.
Joint Work Site Health and Safety Committee Member’s Guide
Joint Work Site Health and Safety Committee Handbook
Employer’s Guide: Health and Safety Committees
Occupational Health and Safety Code 2006 Explanation Guide
Part 13 Joint Work Site Health and Safety Committee
7.Routine Waste Container Labels (Rebecca)
Concerns have been raised that containers are being left are without labels attached. Appropriate labels must then be secured from Safety Services before the 10L jugs can be used.
It has also been noted that Shipping names on the Routine waste manifest presented by EnviroSort does not match names on our waste jugs. A suggestion was put forward that EnviroSort be invited to a TDG certification so theywould have current information on the stream labeling that CBE uses.
Tai gave Lori-Jean copies of the current CBE Routine and Non Routine wastemanifest forms.
Lori-Jean will check with Wally to see what was planned for EnviroSort and carboylabelling.
Theresa gave Lori-Jean a copy of CBE Permit for Equivalent Level of Safetythat Techs carry when transporting chemicals between venues and schools. This permit willexpire 30 April 2007. Lori-Jean will inquire about having new permit issued.
Lori-Jean also addressed questions concerning an MSDS database that WallyBurfield had been working on.
Our requested inventory databases had been forwarded to WellNet Solutionsfor their online MSDS management program “Link2MSDS”.
Lori-Jean indicated that there was now some confusion as to what Wally had sent to WellNet Solutions as the contact person had since left thecompany.
Concerns were also raised by Techs that this new database would be aduplication of materials that Science Techs had put in place more than 5 yearsprevious.
Lori-Jean explained the setup for the company’s database. Further questions weredirected to the website where a virtual tour could befound.
8.Pat Kaiserseder
Old resources from Science 10 and Science 20 i.e. Visions,
An S18 is to be sent to Highfield requesting pick-up for disposal.
Please label these boxes “Not for Reuse” “Not to be Redistributed”
New resource orders for Chemistry 20 and Biology 20 have an LRC listed discount to21Dec2006. This discount at present has been extended to 30Apr2007
Reminder that Glenn Mitchell - Boreal/ NorthwestScientific hasmade arrangements for CBE online purchasing
Concerns were raised that a second signature was needed for all orders andthat online orders needed to be ‘Stopped’ for second signature before ordercould be submitted online. This was felt to diminish the speed of onlineordering. Only one school (William Aberhart) permitted direct online orderingwithout a second signature.
Theresa offered information from a recent email, that Prolab Scientific was availablefor an Open PO on a school by school basis. Ross Mann had also indicated in hisemail that if more schools asked for this status, a System-Wide PO could be obtainedto make ordering easier.
9.CBE Support Staff Convention (Feb 2007)
Rebecca will try to arrange a tour at SemBioSysis, a biotechnology company, forThursday, 15 February during Convention. Company web address is:
10.29 January 2007 Meeting
Representatives from both Thomson Nelson and McGraw Hill Ryerson have beeninvited to our next meeting. They will be presenting the new Chemistry 20 and Biology 20resources that will be available September 2007. More information will be given closer to the meeting.
Please note that this is a date, time AND room change from our regular meetings.
Date: Monday, 29 January 2007 Chair: Theresa
Time: 9:00 AM Recorder: Nasreen
SirWinstonChurchillHigh School, Room 101
Enter at the door in Main Entrance