Update on indoor air quality survey

Thank you to everyone who completed the indoor air quality survey - over 500 surveys were submitted. That portion of the environmental audit is now complete. The next stage involves tabulating the information collected through the surveys and identifying problem areas that may require further testing. The final report is expected from the consultants by the end of March.

Watch your step

There has been a recent increase in the number of slip and fall accidents reported on campus. Many of these accidents have been a result of wet surfaces (floors and stairs) from snow and rain tracked into buildings on footwear. Our custodial staff make every effort possible to keep indoor walking surfaces dry and slip-free but, with the amount of foot traffic into university buildings, it is impossible to keep all areas dry at all times. Walk cautiously at entrances and stairways, where there may be a chance of water build-up.

Another hazard is ice and snow on outside walkways and parking lots. Again, every effort is made to keep all areas clear but, with the fluctuations in temperatures we have been experiencing, quick freezes have been occurring. Of particular hazard for pedestrians and drivers is black ice. Be careful walking outside, especially when the temperature is at the freezing point or below. Walk slowly and take small steps to avoid slipping. The more falls you anticipate and guard against, the fewer you will have.

Use cellular phones safely

The use of cell-phones means that we can be contacted wherever we travel. You should be aware of safety issues associated with their use.

Don't use a hand-held phone while driving; park your vehicle first. Even the few seconds it takes for you to dial a number or answer a call can result in enough of a distraction to cause an accident. Remember, road safety comes first.

Switch off your phone in hospitals and on aircraft. Many hospitals, including the Health Science Centre, have posted signs to remind you of this. The signals emitted from cellular phones can interfere with medical and airline equipment.

Switch off your phone when refueling your vehicle and in other areas with high concentrations of flammable liquids, such as some university laboratories and workshops. Unless your phone is rated as "intrinsically safe", it may produce enough of a spark to ignite flammable vapours.

Switch off your phone near blasting operations; it may interfere with blasting equipment.