Welcome to Safety and Health Week! All week long, Occupational Health and Safety Services will be posting health and safety information in the Communiqué. Be sure to keep an eye on these posts, as there will be a chance to win some prizes at the end of the week.

Since 2023, the Ontario government declared May to be Building Safety Month to bring awareness to the Ontario Building Code and its role in ensuring a healthy and safe indoor environment for all. At Humber, the Capital Development and Facilities Management department (CDFM) is responsible for the maintenance and development of Humber property. The Facilities Management team is responsible for providing a safe, clean, healthy, and well-maintained campus environment. The Capital Development team is responsible for new construction and renovation projects. The entire CDFM team plays a significant role in maintaining a safe and healthy campus and can assist with maintaining adequate ventilation, cleaning up of spills, snow removal, equipment procurement and repairs, ensuring renovations are safely completed and in compliance with the Ontario Building Code, and so much more. Building safety is not just specific to the CDFM team. We all play a role by ensuring our buildings and workstations are clean, tidy, and safe, and by maintaining good storage and housekeeping practices.

The Electrical Safety Foundation International has also designated May as Electrical Safety Month to bring awareness to the importance of electrical safety in the workplace and at home. While electricity is vital to many jobs, it can pose a significant risk. Electrical safety goes hand-in-hand with building safety, and while the CDFM department oversees major electrical work on campus to ensure safety, below are some safety tips for our workstations:

• Inspect cords/plugs for wear and tear. Do not use damaged cords.
• Do not overload outlets.
• Keep cords away from heat and water.
• Do not place cords under carpets, across doorways or walkways, or in places where they may be a tripping hazard.
• Report defects to your supervisor or to CDFM.

For any assistance with issues involving buildings, facilities, outdoor grounds, or electrical-related defects, call extension 4444 during regular work hours, or submit a work order online via the Archibus system. For after hours or emergency issues (such as floods, leaks, etc.), contact Public Safety at extension 8500. Please visit the Capital Development & Facilities Management website for more information.

Photo Contest Tip: Do you have examples of a well-maintained building or workstation? Is the housekeeping in your work area superb? Are your computer cords in good condition, plugged into appropriate outlets, and tucked away to prevent tripping hazards? Let’s see it!

Are you a capstone or thesis advisor looking to help celebrate and further your students' hard work?

We know that students put a lot of work into their thesis and capstone projects! These projects are not merely a requirement—they are the culmination of students’ educational journey and a powerful expression of expertise and dedication.

Humber Press’ Journal of Innovation in Polytechnic Education (JIPE) invites students to make a mark in the scholarly publishing world by transforming their thesis/capstone project into a published manuscript.

JIPE publishes articles, essays and spotlights written by scholars, researchers, innovators and students from across various fields. JIPE distinguishes itself as an inclusive and approachable journal that provides everyone with publishing opportunities.

The journey to publication is just a submission away—get started with the JIPE Toolkit for Students.

Humber College is committed to creating an engaging workplace which values employee development and growth. 

Humber’s Graduate Assistance Program (GAP) provides funding for tuition to support employees in completing discipline-specific post-secondary degrees, Master or Doctoral degrees at an accredited post-secondary institution. 

All full-time academic, support, and admin employees who have completed their probationary period are eligible to apply. Funding under this program is for tuition fees, for a maximum of four (4) years for each individual program up to a maximum of five thousand dollars ($5,000) per fiscal year. 

The application deadline is June 14, 2024. All full-time employees interested in applying can find more details on the application process and forms in the links below: 

• Tuition Reimbursement and Scholarships Website  
• GAP Call for Applications 
• GAP Overview and Steps to Apply 

Questions? Please email us at oe@humber.ca.

Have you had a chance to check out BeeBee ChatBot in Blackboard Ultra yet?

The Bb Chat Support, known as 'BeeBee', provides answers to commonly asked Blackboard Ultra questions and issues directly from Blackboard Help. Users may ask for support by clicking on the pre-populated list of topics, or by typing directly into the message box. 

Please keep in mind that BeeBee is still learning. While it conveniently shares support articles based on the prompts it receives, there may be times when you don't quite get the answers you are looking for. Remember that it will get better over time as more users engage with it. 

Need support? The IL Support Centre is here to help!