The library is now part of the UC Service One Health and Safety Group which is chaired by Tim O’Sullivan. Dave Lane is the rep from that group to the UC Health and Safety Group. Minutes of meetings are here: https://intranet.canterbury.ac.nz/hr/healthsafety/committee_minutes/index.shtml

The Library Health and Safety Committee is chaired by Sara Roberts (Departmental Safety Officer) and meets quarterly. Minutes are on SharePoint.

Other roles in the library and relevant teams in the library buildings, are listed below (if there are any errors or omissions, please let me know):

Tim O’Sullivan

Whether or not you’re participating in the 10,000 step challenge or just fancy a lunchtime stroll, join us at 12pm today. Walk leaves from the Book Return box on Level 1 Puaka-James-Hight and lasts 30 minutes.

The Library’s two teams have walked nearly 5 million steps since the challenge started. And are helping to support UC’s performance in the challenge: https://www.10000steps.org.au/tournament-timeout/11598/ 

Today’s walk will be wending its way in and out of the various buildings on campus. It will involve some stairs and as little of the outdoors as possible but coats would still be advisable.  Meeting at 12pm by book returns on Level 1 Puaka-James Hight.

The change to the library reporting line due to the reorganisation of the Learning Resources portfolio has meant that the  Health and Safety Committee arrangements have changed.

The library is now in the new Service 1 group which includes the AVC Maori, UBS, Quake Core, research and innovation, financial Services, ITS and SSAC.

The library Health and Safety reps (Sue Thompson, Swee Hoon Goh, Kathryn Andrews, Dave Lane, Tim O’Sullivan) are all on the Service 1 Committee.

The first meeting of the new group will be on Friday 11th September at 11am.

Minutes are available for all the UC Health and Safety Committees here: https://intranet.canterbury.ac.nz/hr/healthsafety/committee_minutes/index.shtml

Tim O’Sullivan (H&S Rep)

It is that time again!

Metro Test will be back again this month to test all portable electrical appliances in the library. This includes all items such as urns, fans, paper shredders, extension cables and quite a few other items. Last time we had about 250 items over three buildings.

The date is yet to be confirmed.

Not included are computers and multifunction units (i.e. photocopiers). Testing for these is done by IT.

Further information about electrical testing on Campus is here:

https://intranet.canterbury.ac.nz/finance/procurement/docs/UC_Campuswide_TestandTag.pdf

https://intranet.canterbury.ac.nz/hs/documents/hs_pro29.pdf

Tim O’Sullivan

We have an evacuation chair in PJH and it has been used more than a few times for various needs. It is not an emergency evacuation chair but can be used in emergencies.

If you would like to know how it works and what it can be used  for I will have a practice session on Thursday 9th July 11.00-11.30am. Please meet in Room 203.

Further sessions can be arranged if you can not make that date so please let me know.

Tim O’Sullivan

I can report it is nice and warm again in Puaka-James Hight. For those of you planning to return next week, there is no need for a woolly jumper.

However, as per Sara’s earlier post, on your first day back, please make sure you have a Health & Safety Induction. Briefings can be provided by your manager or by your H&S rep.

An update since our last post on COVID-19.

• A UC staff FAQ has appeared which has lots of useful information and a strangely fascinating list of cleaning practices in PJH.
• Managers have updated the Business Continuity Plan (available K/Health-Safety/disaster_response/ContinuityPlan/Library-Continuity-Plan-V10.docx )
• We have a webpage and news item on COVID-19 for users.
• Managers have been meeting with staff who have scheduled travel to discuss the options for working from home.

webpage: https://www.canterbury.ac.nz/library/services-and-facilities/covid-19/

news item: https://www.canterbury.ac.nz/library/uc-library-news/2020/covid-19.html

Feel free to ask any questions as this is a fluid situation and things are changing daily.

News from UC H&S  Central

The new internet based H&S toolkit will replace the old intranet H&S Toolkit.  We will be keeping the old toolkit up and running for the remainder of this year.  We are aware that some departments/schools will have links to this, so this will give you plenty of time to update these.

 You can find the new toolkit here – https://www.canterbury.ac.nz/about/health-and-safety/

 We have posters at our office, should you wish to collect some to put up in your area, although these will also be handed out at H&S Committee meetings. New H&S Toolkit cards will be handed out at the new staff inductions sessions.

 This project is a work in progress.  We therefore welcome your comments, recommendations and feedback, so please feel free to send us an email (health-safety@canterbury.ac.nz)

per Tim O’Sullivan (H&S Rep)