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Welcome to Health, Safety and Risk Management's Workplace Well-Being Newsletter.  This communication will be sent on a quarterly basis to all McMaster Employees, to help you stay connected on all things Health, Safety, and Well-being related.  

In this issue:

Health, Safety, Risk Management and Wellness 

Eating and Drinking During COVID-19
Computer Workstation Ergonomics:  Self-Assessment Checklist
Requirements for Golf Cart Use on Campus 
Planning McMaster Events
Training Now Available  in Avenue to Learn Same Day
First Aid and CPR Training and Certification - Update

Back to Mac - Slips, Trips and Falls
Spotlight on Safety Leader
Employee and Family Assistance Program Services (EFAP)

Risk Management Manual Updates
Financial Literacy Month
Canada Career Month


Register Now for Upcoming Events
 
Eating and Drinking During COVID-19
Part of our health, safety and wellbeing means taking a pause from work activities to eat, drink and rest our bodies and our minds. This doesn’t mean that we can let our guard down when it comes to COVID-19. Provincial requirements specify that workers must maintain a distance of 2m or be separated by a physical barrier when removing their mask for the purposes of eating or drinking. This applies to all areas in the workplace where individuals may be eating or drinking including lounges, kitchenettes, meeting rooms, picnic tables and restaurants both on and off campus if in the course of a McMaster-related activity. Meals, breaks, and events related to eating and drinking are known as higher risk for spread of COVID-19. It is important that we all remain diligent for the protection of ourselves and others. Additional information is available in the McMaster University
Guidance for Eating and Drinking Safely During COVID-19.


Computer Workstation Ergonomics:  Self-Assessment Checklist
As the province continues to lift COVID-19 restrictions, many employees have adopted a hybrid work schedule – a cross between working in the office and working at home. To support the hybrid model, it is important to consider health and safety in the workplace and at home, that includes the risk of ergonomic injury. Creating an ergonomic office setup can increase overall well-being and performance, whereas inattention to ergonomics leads to musculoskeletal disorders.

EOHSS has made available an Ergonomics Self-Assessment Checklist. The checklist will allow you to identify ergonomic issues at your own workstation in a short period of time and make immediate improvements. As ergonomists are in general agreement with respect to ideal ergonomic workstation setup, the checklist will empower you to take action and adjust your own workstation.

 

Requirements for Golf Cart Use on Campus 
It may have been some time since you have used a golf cart.  As a reminder to all operators there are requirements you must be aware of and abide by to operate a golf cart safely. 

Your first step in the process of safely operating a golf cart is to complete Golf Cart training available for registration in Mosaic. Once successfully completing this training, a card will be issued to the operator by EOHSS. This card must be kept on the operator’s person while operating golf carts on campus.

Some important requirements include:

  • Only authorized users (licensed, trained and approved) may operate vehicles on Campus.
  • All operators must have a full and valid G license.
  • Golf carts are not to be operated on any sidewalks without specific authorization from Security Services for a specific event.
  • Golf carts must never be driven on public roads.
  • Occupancy seating is based on the number of seat belts in the golf cart. Seat belts must be worn at all times.
  • Reduce speed during high occupancy/pedestrian situations.

Please refer to Risk Management Manual document 318, Care and Control of Golf Carts & Other Off Road Vehicles, which outlines the requirements in more detail. 

 
Planning McMaster Events
Planning an event? Be sure to incorporate university and public health protocols and guidelines to minimize the risk of COVID-19.
 

As the McMaster community returns to campus you may be thinking about organizing a McMaster event. Hosting a work related event is not quite like it use to be where past focus was on the venue, agenda and food. In order to make your events successful the focus must first turn to safety. Ensuring a safe event is the responsibility of the organizer along with the participants. By implementing university and public health protocols and guidelines, staff and students can safely meet. In order to assist with this process the Standard Operating Procedure/Risk Assessment template should be used. This template will remind users of the measures to be put in place to minimize the risk of COVID-19.
 
Some measures to reduce risk include:
  • All participants successfully completing the MacCheck digital tool prior to arriving to campus.
  • Ensure physical distancing at all times including when eating and drinking.
  • Face coverings or masks must be worn by all participants.
  • Abiding by capacity limits that are in place at the time.
  • Ensure participants are aware of the measures in place and abide by them.
  • Ensure Faculty, staff and students have completed COVID-19 training.
  • Ensure the review of the SOP and approval of the event by your senior leader.
 
It is important to remember that care and caution are to be used when planning a McMaster event, we are still not operating as we did during pre-pandemic times. It may be necessary to delay an event until the province has moved out of Step 3 of Reopening Ontario.


Training Courses Now Available in Avenue to Learn Same Day 
Now after registering for training in Mosaic your course will be available to complete in Avenue to Learn 15 minutes later. This process will be available between 7am and 9pm daily. Once you have completed the training in Avenue to Learn it will continue to take 24 hours for the completion to be updated in Mosaic. The process for registering for training can be found on the HR website in the Health and Safety FAQs.

For those that provide departmental information on training please adjust the wording in your emails to reflect this process, as necessary.
 

First Aid and CPR Training and Certification - Update
In Ontario, workplaces are required to have first aid equipment, facilities and trained personnel as per Regulation 1101.

To accommodate the ongoing COVID-19 situation and impact on in-person training, the WSIB has extended the certification and recertification date so that those with First Aid/CPR certificates that would have expired March 1, 2020 and later are now extended until December 31, 2021.  

 McMaster Athletics and Recreation is now offering Standard First Aid (Red Cross) courses. For registration information visit the Athletics and Recreation websiteFor those that require recertification, on-site training is available December 8th.  To register complete the registration form.  

An important reminder - have supplies ready for an emergency. Ensure first aid kits are checked regularly and restock items as needed.  additional information can be found in the University’s RMM 1204  First Aid Program.   
 

Back to Mac - Slips, Trips and Falls
As more activity returns to campus, it is important to keep in mind that slips, trips and falls can result in serious injuries. The University is responsible for ensuring that indoor floor surfaces, parking lots, sidewalks and other walking paths are safe for everyone to travel. It’s equally important for you to do your part. Please take a moment to review the following tips.

1.Suitable footwear – proper footwear will help you to travel safely across campus. You should consider footwear with low heels and good traction. It’s never a bad idea to have a pair of shoes or boots that are suitable for travel in outdoor conditions.
  • Don’t rush – give yourself extra time to get to where you are going. Whether it’s a meeting across campus or you’re travelling from your car to your work location, don’t put yourself in a position where you have to rush.
  • Stick to the path – McMaster Facility Services works diligently to ensure that parking lots, paths and sidewalks are clear and safe to use. Taking shortcuts across unmaintained areas can greatly increase your risk of a slip, trip and fall.
  • Entering and exiting buildings or vehicles – take extra care when entering or exiting building and vehicles. The conditions of the walking surface often change. Pay attention to snow, ice, precipitation or other obstacles such as leaves that may be in your path of travel.
  • Using the stairs – always use handrails on stairs to maintain your balance.
Following these tips will help to ensure that you have a safe and enjoyable experience on campus!
As an additional reminder, McMaster University requires all employees to complete mandatory Slips, Trips and Falls training. This training must be completed every 5 years. Registration can be completed in Mosaic and the training content can be accessed for completion in Avenue to Learn.

 
Spotlight on Safety Leader
At McMaster University all employees are required to complete mandatory training courses prior to starting work and update these courses as necessary throughout their employment. These mandatory training courses are the minimum training requirements employees need to do their jobs safely. The Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) will outline additional training courses available online, additionally Site Specific Training is critically important to working safely. Site Specific Training is the training required to do specific tasks such as using a forklift, knife handling involved in food preparation, or working with liquid nitrogen in the lab.

Dr. Mike Brook, Professor of Chemistry in the Department of Chemistry & Chemical Biology, knows what it takes to be safe in the lab and the importance of providing training and procedures to perform tasks safely. As you enter the lab, the Emergency Contact door signage (found under Lab Safety Resources) indicates hazards within the lab, safety equipment available including Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) requirements and emergency contact numbers. As you walk around the lab, you will see laminated SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) for all common task performed in the laboratory. These SOPs serve as additional reminders and guidance after the staff and students have been trained to do these tasks. Complacency as well as rushing can lead to mistakes and in the lab, mistakes can be costly to people and to property. Training people to work safely reduces accidents and makes everyone feel safer.


At your next staff or group meeting, include Site Specific Training on the agenda and discuss whether hazards in your area have been identified and if everyone has been trained to recognize them and work safely with or around them. 

Homewood Health, McMaster's Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) offers far more than counselling.  Services offered by Homewood Health include:
  • Life, Well-being and Career Services - Childcare and Parenting, Elder and Family Care, Financial, Legal Advisory, New Parent, Relationship Solutions
  • Well-being Coaching Services - Stress Solutions, Jumpstart your Wellness,  Nutritional Coaching, Grief and Loss, Smoking Cessation
  • Career Coaching - Career Coaching, Retirement Planning, Shift Work Support
  • Online Tools - Online Health and Wellness Library, E-Learning, busy family child and Eldercare Resource Locator, Homeweb Live Chat
  • Newsletters
  • Resources for Leaders and Managers - Workplace Advice Line, Toolkits and Resources
Contact Homewood Health by phone toll-free, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to book appointments or access any EFAP service.  All services are strictly confidential and available in multiple languages.
 

For more information please visit the Employee and Family Assistance Program webpage.
Risk Management Manual Updates (RMM)

The following RMM Programs have been updated and approved by Senior Management:
  • RMM 312 Foot Protection Program
  • RMM 313 Head Protection Program
  • RMM 320 Personal Protective Equipment Program
  • RMM 902 Workplace Safety and Insurance Management Program
  • RMM 1002 Return to Work Program
For a full listing of RMMs please visit our website.
Financial Literacy Month November 1st - 30th, 2021
Financial Wellness is having a clear understanding of one’s financial situation and having the ability to live within their financial means. Strong links exist between a person’s overall health, financial situation and the ability to perform well at home and work.
Managing your personal finances can be challenging in normal times. Through the pandemic, it’s been even tougher. This Financial Literacy Month, get the tools and resources you need to manage your money through these challenging times.

 
Canada Career Month November 1st - 30th, 2021
Each November, Canadians from coast-to-coast-to-coast celebrate the importance of accessing meaningful work and all those that help us in connecting with our preferred futures. At McMaster, employees participate in multiple ways to grow personally and professionally as they develop their careers.
The Organizational Development team is hosting the following workshops to celebrate Canada Career Month here at McMaster. Celebrate your career and join us!


 
Register Now for Upcoming Events

*Please note that live captions will be available for all sessions

Career Planning Overview
October 29 at 11 a.m.
This one-hour Zoom session will take you through important career planning skills and activities: leveraging self-awareness, conducting purposeful research, exploring and deciding on options. Discover how these activities lead to engaging career conversations that will propel your career development. 
Learn more about this session

The Power of LinkedIn
November 5 at 11 a.m.
Defining and promoting your personal brand has many benefits when it comes to finding a new job and evolving in your career. It allows you to control your professional image and market your skills and experiences. In this one-hour Zoom session, learn how to maximize LinkedIn as a job seeker and get a behind the scenes look at how employers use LinkedIn to find job seekers. You will also learn how to build your LinkedIn profile to promote your personal brand.
Learn more about this session

Improving your Financial Well-being with WorkPerks
November 8 at 11:30 a.m.
In this half-hour Zoom session, learn about WorkPerks – McMaster’s employee discount program – which provides thousands of discounts for employees, retirees and their families. Families have saved thousands of dollars a year on clothing, dining, electronics and gym memberships (to name a few!).
Learn more about this session

Retirement Planning: 3-Part Course
Begins November 9 at 10 a.m.
McMaster University has partnered with the Credit Counselling Society (CCS) to offer a 3-part online retirement planning course aimed at helping pre-retirement employees obtain and maintain financial stability in their upcoming retirement. Topics such as states of retirement, retiring without debt, sources of retirement income, investment basics, strategies to navigate taxes, estate planning, insurance, and resources will be discussed. 
Learn more about this course

Self-Care, Boundaries, and Communicating Effectively
November 12 at 11 a.m.
This one-hour Zoom session will look at methods to practice self-care that leverage the values that are most important to us. Participants will learn four key pillars of value-based self-care, and how to implement them in a way that works best for them. Then, specific communication strategies will be discussed to ensure that boundaries are set to ensure balance between effective team communication and employee well-being, while gaining a better understanding of non-verbal communication concepts in a blended work environment.
Learn more about this session

The Emotional Effects of Retirement
November 18 at 11:30 a.m.
Planning to retire can be a source of both excitement and anxiety. Whatever the emotional response, retirement marks a transition to a new life stage and lifestyle in which daily routines, identity, and roles all change. This one-hour Zoom session will introduce participants to the emotional effects of retirement. Participants will get an opportunity to reflect on what their ideal retirement looks like and what they can do to make it happen.
Learn more about this session

Retiring from McMaster's Salaried Pension Plan Sessions
November 23 at 2 p.m.
November 25 at 10 a.m.
In these two-hour Zoom workshops, participants who are part of McMaster's Salaried Pension Plan will explore an overview of the Contributory Salaried Pension Plan, including how your pension is calculated and the pension options available to you. They will also review key ages and dates in the retirement process, learn about the retirement process, including key steps and important timing leading up to retirement.
Learn more about the November 23rd session
Learn more about the November 25th session

Introduction to Emotional Intelligence
November 26 at 11 a.m.
Emotions can influence the way we act and react. Emotional Intelligence is the ability to recognize our behaviours, moods, and impulses, and manage them so that we can communicate effectively, empathize with others, manage stress, overcome challenging situations and defuse conflict. In this introductory workshop, we will review the five core competencies of emotional intelligence to provide you an overview of EI and strategies to improve your own emotional intelligence.
Learn more about this session

One-on-One Education Meetings for Group RRSP Members
McMaster Group RRSP members are invited to spend 30 minutes with a Desjardins Education Advisor in a personal one-on-one meeting to review your Group RRSP. In this session, you will have the opportunity to review your account and investment selections online, and ask questions about available investment choices. 
 To schedule a one-on-one meeting, please contact Teena Dawson, Desjardins Senior Education Advisor by email at: Teena.Dawson@dfs.ca

 

Learn more about these and other upcoming sessions and register on our HR Events page.
 
Workplace Health and Safety Guidance During COVID-19 assists the McMaster community in the planning process to return to campus while managing the risk related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Employee and Family Assistance Program
If you are looking for additional resources for you and/or your family during this difficult time visit the Homewood Health website.
Visit our web page to learn more about Health, Safety and Well-Being.  If you require this message in a different format, please contact eohss@mcmaster.ca.
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