2015-2016 MCGILL UNIVERSITY ANNUAL SAFETY REPORT A Report to the Human Resources Committee of the Board of Governors of McGill University Submitted by Morty Yalovsky, Interim Vice-Principal, Administration and Finance Lynne Gervais, Associate Vice-Principal, Human Resources Robert Couvrette, Associate Vice-Principal, Facilities Management & Ancillary Services October, 2016
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TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary .................................................................................................................................... 4
1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 5
1.1 Administration ............................................................................................................................................... 5
2 Compliance Framework ....................................................................................................................... 6
2.1 Safety Committee Management System ...................................................................................................... 7
3 CNESST Claims .................................................................................................................................... 9
4 Environmental Health & Safety ......................................................................................................... 10
4.1 Laboratory Inspection Program .................................................................................................................. 10
4.2 Hazardous Waste Disposal Statistics ......................................................................................................... 15
5 Emergency Management & Preparedness ....................................................................................... 16
5.1 Campus Public Safety Mass Notification Systems ..................................................................................... 16
6 Fire Prevention.................................................................................................................................... 16
6.1 Fire Alarms ................................................................................................................................................. 16
6.2 Building Evacuation Exercises .................................................................................................................... 17
7 Security Services ................................................................................................................................ 17
7.1 Calls to the Security Operations Centre (Downtown & Macdonald Campus) ............................................. 17
7.2 Reported Criminal Incidents (Downtown & Macdonald Campus) ............................................................... 19
7.3 Benchmarking Criminal Incidents ............................................................................................................... 21
8 2015-2016 Safety Activities ................................................................................................................ 22
8.1 McGill Safety Training................................................................................................................................. 22
8.2 2015-2016 Highlights .................................................................................................................................. 24
9 The Year Moving Forward .................................................................................................................. 25
9.1 Environmental Health and Safety ............................................................................................................... 25
9.2 Campus Public Safety ................................................................................................................................ 26
Appendix 1 Campus Public Safety Organizational Chart ..................................................................... 28
Appendix 2 Environmental Health & Safety Organizational Chart ...................................................... 29
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LEXICON AAM Area Access Manager
CNSC Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
CNESST Commission des normes, de l’équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail
CPS Campus Public Safety
CWG McGill Safety Core Work Group
EHS Environmental Health and Safety
EM&P Emergency Management & Preparedness
EOC Emergency Operations Centre
FMAS Facilities Management & Ancillary Services
FP Fire Prevention
FSC Facilities Safety Committee
HMMS Hazardous Materials Management System
HR Human Resources
HWM Hazardous Waste Management
ICS Incident Command System
IRS Internal Responsibility System
JAC John Abbott College
LSV Liquid Scintillation Vials
MMPC McGill Metals Processing Center
OH Occupational Health
PTZ Pan-Tilt Zoom Cameras
RAD Rape Aggression Defense System
SOC Security Operations Centre
SPVM Service de police de la Ville de Montréal
SSMU Students’ Society of McGill University
UERP University Emergency Response Plan
UHSC University Health and Safety Committee
ULSC University Laboratory Safety Committee
USSC University Services Safety Committee
WHMIS Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Environmental Health &
Safety
(p. 10)
Environmental Health & Safety
HazardousWaste
Management
Completion of Campus Public Safety
reorganization
(p. 5)
Last two gamma cells decommissioned and
removed from University
(p. 24)
New Workshop Safety Committee to improve
workplace safety
(p. 7)
Royal Victoria Hospital lab clean-up following move to
Glen site
(p. 15)
Incident Management System Proposal for
streamlined, automated incident tracking
(p.27)
Construction Safety Work Group
(p. 26)
Collaboration with Campus Space and Planning to improve safety at Life
Sciences Complex
(p. 26)
Human Pathogens and Toxins Regulations enacted by the Federal Government
(p.25)
Security Services Fire Prevention
Emergency Management & Preparedness
Parking & Transportation Services
Campus Public Safety
(p. 16)
Increase in Faculty of Medicine lab inspection scores
• Resulting from follow-up inspections
Decrease in biomedical & solvent waste (pg.15)
• MUHC move to the Glen site reduced waste
Increase in unfounded fire alarms (pg.16)
• Over 20% of these occurred at MNI
Increase in thefts at both campuses (pg.19)
• 90% of downtown thefts occurred at McGill Sports Complex
Tre
nd
s
The Year Moving Forward
Highlights
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1 INTRODUCTION
In spring of 2015, the former University Safety department (consisting of Security Services, Parking Services, Emergency Measures and Fire Prevention, Environmental Health and Safety and Hazardous Waste Management) was reorganized into two separate safety units, both reporting to the Associate Vice-Principal, Facilities Management and Ancillary Services:
1) Campus Public Safety, comprised of Security Services, Parking and Transportation Services, and the now-separate units of Fire Prevention and Emergency Management and Preparedness, under the Director of Campus Public Safety, Pierre Barbarie; and
2) Environmental Health and Safety, which also includes the Hazardous Waste Management unit, under the Director of Environmental Health and Safety, Wayne Wood.
This report summarizes the events and activities related to issues of health and safety at McGill University for the period of May 1st 2015 to April 30th 2016. The scope of this report includes all aspects of safety, reflecting the mandate of the safety units under Campus Public Safety (Security Services, Fire Prevention, and Emergency Management & Preparedness) and Environmental Health and Safety (Environmental Health & Safety and Hazardous Waste Management). The Director of Campus Public Safety also oversees the downtown Parking and Transportation Services department, which manages all parking activities on the downtown campus. The unit provides guidance and support to the community on logistical issues related to parking and transportation on the campus grounds. Due to their limited involvement in safety, this report will not include the Parking & Transportation Services department.
1.1 Administration
Through sharing of resources, information and expertise, the three safety branches of Campus Public Safety as well as the Parking and Transportation Services department collaborate with other units, including Environmental Health and Safety, to provide services to the McGill community. The structure of the organization and current staffing levels are shown in Appendices 1 and 2.
1.1.1 Mission Statement – Campus Public Safety
McGill University's Campus Public Safety Department works with the community to promote a safe and secure environment for students, faculty, staff and visitors through education, prevention and response.
The members of the Campus Public Safety Department: Security Services, Fire Prevention, Parking and Transportation Services and Emergency Management and Preparedness, are committed to respecting the needs and interests of the university community, and to be diligent in the protection of both persons and property.
As such, we encourage our partners in the community to assume their individual and collective responsibilities to make McGill University a place that is safe, and to provide an open environment that fosters learning and education.
1.1.2 Mission Statement – Environmental Health & Safety
Environmental Health & Safety supports the continuous improvement of a safety culture at the University by providing advice, guidance, training, and technical support to the McGill community. The safety culture encompasses a healthy and safe environment achieved through everyone’s understanding of their related responsibilities and compliance with all regulatory requirements and University safety policies.
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2 COMPLIANCE FRAMEWORK
The regulatory framework for safety within which the University operates falls under three levels of jurisdiction and encompasses a wide variety of relevant laws and regulations. The principal legislative entities driving compliance management and the associated means of monitoring and judging compliance are summarized in Figure 1.
Figure 1 Compliance Framework
Jurisdiction Legislation Scope Monitored by Means of judging
compliance
Federal
The Nuclear Safety and Control Act, S.C. 1997, c. 9
Governs the acquisition, storage, use, transfer, and disposal of radioactive materials (used in 100+ research labs)
EHS
Inspection
Internal licensing system
“Cradle-to-grave’’ tracking of radioactive materials
The Human Pathogens and Toxins Act and Regulations
Biosafety and biosecurity requirements under a single Act, licensing required by regulations.
EHS
Registration with federal government
Inventory of pathogens
Laboratory biosafety
Security clearance for risk level III and up
Provincial
The Act respecting Occupational Health and Safety, R.S.Q., c. S-2.1 and associated regulations
General duties of care e.g. employer’s obligation to provide a safe workplace
Prescriptive regulations governing work conditions
EHS
Inspection
Internal activity reporting
Incident tracking
System audits
The Act respecting industrial accidents and occupational diseases, R.S.Q., c. A-3.001
Quebec’s system of compensation for the cost of work-related injuries or illnesses
Benefits Office (HR) & EHS
Tracking and managing CNESST claims, costs, & return-to-work efficiency
The Environmental Quality Act, R.S.Q., c. Q-2 and related hazardous waste regulations
The collection, transfer and disposal of hazardous wastes
EHS (HWM)
Tracking and reporting of wastes collected, transferred and shipped
Inspection of waste collection
Incident tracking
Audits of service providers
Safety Code for the Construction Industry s-2.1,r6
Safety in construction sites Works liable to disturb asbestos
Facilities Operations and Development and EHS
Site inspection
Accident investigations
Safety interventions
Asbestos inventory, inspection, training, management
Municipal Municipal Fire Code
Governs all aspects of fire protection, including the application of the national fire code
FP
Inspection
System certification
Incident tracking
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2.1 Safety Committee Management System
As shown in Figure 2, there are a number of safety committees at McGill. This structure includes committees with representation from across the University as well as committees within academic, administrative and service units. The Faculty of Engineering created a new committee – the Workshop Safety Committee chaired by Prof. Jeffrey Bergthorson – to improve safety compliance around work in machine and carpentry shops. The Dean of the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences restructured their faculty safety committee, appointed a new Chair, Prof. Stan Kubow, and gave them a mandate to improve performance with respect to lab inspections. Elsewhere, the Dean of Medicine appointed his Associate Dean to be a liaison with their faculty safety committee.
Figure 2 Structure of Safety Committees at McGill University
2.1.1 University Health and Safety Committee (UHSC)
The University Health and Safety Committee is the umbrella safety committee, responsible for university-wide health and safety issues. It is chaired by the Associate Vice-Principal, Facilities Management & Ancillary Services, and met five times in 2015-2016. This committee includes all of the McGill staff and student unions and associations, balanced with a nearly equal number of management representatives. Topics addressed throughout the year included:
The Internal Responsibility System
Campus Public Safety Full Scale Exercise
The McGill Non-Smoking Policy (SSMU proposal for a smoke-free campus)
Mental health
Asbestos
UHSC
ULSC
Medicine Science Engineering Agriculture & Env. Sciences Administration
Anatomy
Biochemistry
Physiology
Total of 18 Committees
Chemistry
Biology
Physics
Total of 7 Committees
Civil
Mechanical
Chemical
Total of 8 Committees
Plant Science
Nat. Res. Sciences
Food Science
Total of 8 Committees
FSC
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2.1.2 University Laboratory Safety Committee (ULSC)
The University Laboratory Safety Committee (ULSC) provides a forum where laboratory safety issues can be addressed and where policies and protocols can be developed in a consistent and effective manner. The new committee structure continued to work well; each faculty presented a summary of their activities of the year and shared ideas for improving safety culture that are working well. The biosafety and radiation safety officers also presented their annual reports. The ULSC reports to the Office of the Vice-Principal, Research & International Relations. The committee met seven times in 2015-2016. Topics addressed throughout the year included:
Biohazards certification review – new institutional permit
Human Pathogens and Toxins Regulation (new legislation)
Sustainable Labs Working Group
The CNSC audit
EHS activity reports
2.1.3 Facilities Safety Committee (FSC) (Previously known as the University Services Safety Committee (USSC))
The Facilities Safety Committee provides a forum for Facilities Management & Ancillary Services (FMAS), Macdonald Campus Farm, McGill Athletics, Residences and employees and managers to discuss safety issues related to their specific operations and to develop safety policies and procedures. Representatives are drawn from FMAS as well as Athletics and Residences (through voluntary participation). In 2015-2016, the Committee met six times. Items discussed included:
Montreal Alouettes safety issues (installing flags in unsafe manner, resolution pending)
Confined Space Entry – develop a program and policy
Lock-out tag out training to start for the downtown campus
Bishop Hall Mountain – kitchen ventilation in the cafeteria
CINE Bldg. – Asbestos Project
Leacock Terrace – electrical safety issues 2.1.4 Faculty Safety Committees (FSC)
Faculty Safety Committees exist in the four faculties with laboratory operations and provide oversight of the Departmental Safety Committees and representation to the ULSC. These committees report to their respective Faculty Deans on health and safety activities and the head of each committee acts as a faculty representatives on the ULSC. The Chair of each committee is also automatically a member of the ULSC. All four faculties sent representatives to ULSC meetings and all but one faculty presented an activity report. The Faculty Safety Committee Chairs are:
Science – vacant
Medicine – Professor Dieter Reinhardt (returning from sabbatical) and Dr. Carmen Lampron
Agricultural and Environmental Sciences – Professor Stan Kubow
Engineering – Professor Milan Maric
2.1.5 Departmental Safety Committees (DSC)
Departmental Safety Committees are required for all departments with operating laboratory facilities. Each committee is required to submit a report of their annual activities and priorities for
McGill University 2015-2016 Safety Annual Report Page 9 of 29
the upcoming year. At the time of this report, 35 out of a total of 42 Committees submitted activity reports, a total of 83%. The reports were compiled and summarized by EHS and used as one of the criteria to select the annual winner of the Departmental Safety Committee Productivity Award. The winner for 2015-2016 was the DSC from Bioresource Engineering, chaired by Dr. Grant Clark.
3 CNESST CLAIMS
CNESST Statement CNESST claims for the calendar years from 2010 to 2016 are presented below.
Figure 3 CNESST Claims from 2010 to August 2016
Claims per year (1) 2016(2) 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010
Claims made 33 56 59 61 76 56 67
Claims accepted 26 33 40 50 55 40 59
Claims charged 21 29 38 44 48 35 57
(1) CNESST’s reference period is the calendar year. (2) Represents data collected during the first 8 months of 2016.
Financial Data Figure 4 contains financial data associated with the University’s insurance premium. McGill is subject to the retrospective plan which means the impact of a certain year will be felt four years later; i.e. the results of 2016 will be realized in 2020.
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Figure 4 Financial Data
Rate 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010
Unit rate $ (1) 0.59 0.63 0.66 0.71 0.70 0.72 0.69
McGill initial rate $ (2) 0.57 0.61 0.63 0.62 0.64 0.68 0.66
McGill current rate $ (3) 0.56 0.58 0.57 0.56 0.59 0.62 0.61
Premium $ (4) N/A 2,538,346 2,496,666 2,349,963 2,445,460 2,429,784 2,365,889
(1) The unit rate represents a comparison rate for all colleges and universities in Quebec. (2) Represents the initial rate assessed by CNESST based on our past experience (for example, the 2014 McGill rate is based on our experience of
the years 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012. (3) If McGill’s experience of previous years changes, the CNESST will recalculate the University’s rate and this will be reflected by an increase or a
decrease in the rate.
(4) The premium used to be estimated at the beginning of each year. As of 2011, the CNESST has implemented a procedure for the payment of premiums requesting that it be paid weekly, based on wages paid, along with all others statutory governmental deduction remittance. The total premium for 2016 will be known in 2017. The premium is based on the University’s insurable salary (calculation is: insurable salary x McGill rate / 100).
4 ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH & SAFETY
4.1 Laboratory Inspection Program
All laboratories are inspected once every two years. During the 7th inspection cycle, covering the period from May 1st, 2015 to April 30th, 2016, 252 laboratories were visited with a resultant score of 78%. Figure 5 presents the data with previous years dating back to 2008-2009.
Figure 5 Laboratory Inspection Score History, by Fiscal Year
Because the entire inspection cycle is completed over a period of two years, only the departments listed in Figure 6-a (Initial Scores) and 6-b (Follow-up Scores) have been inspected.
7879
71 71
7980
76
82
64
66
68
70
72
74
76
78
80
82
84
2015-2016 2014-2015 2013-2014 2012-2013 2011-2012 2010-2011 2009-2010 2008-2009
Laboratory Inspections Scores
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Figure 6-a Laboratory Inspection Initial Scores (May 1, 2015 – April 30, 2016)
Faculty / Department Score (%)(1),(2)
Total Inspections
No Reply Received
Score <60%
Score > 75%
Score previous cycle(4)
Faculty of Medicine 67 8 2 3 1 62
Psychiatry 67 8 2 3 1 62
Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
75 71 9 8 42 70
Animal Sciences 60 8 0 4 2 61
Bioresource Engineering 84 7 1 0 7 68
Dietetics and Human Nutrition 85 6 0 0 5 75
Food Science and Agricultural Chemistry 71 10 4 1 3 62
Macdonald Campus Farm 74 1 1 0 0 59
Natural Resource Sciences 71 16 0 3 6 71
Parasitology 78 10 1 0 7 79
Plant Science 80 13 2 0 12 70
Faculty of Science 79 113 52 8 72 68
Biology 79 39 13 2 25 75
Chemistry 76 36 15 4 18 58
Earth and Planetary Sciences 77 8 5 1 5 66
Geography 86 2 2 0 2 71
Physics 85 18 11 0 15 67
Psychology 73 3 3 0 1 82
Redpath Museum 90 5 1 0 5 59
Bellairs Research Institute (3) 71 2 2 1 1 -
Faculty of Arts 60 1 1 0 0 59
Anthropology 60 1 1 0 0 59
Facilities Management & Ancillary Services (FMAS)
92 2 0 0 2 89
Environmental Health & Safety 88 1 0 0 1 88
Hazardous Waste Management 96 1 0 0 1 89
Faculty of Education 96 1 0 0 1 80
Integrated Studies in Education 96 1 0 0 1 80
Student Services 73 1 0 0 0 60
Student Health Service- McGill 73 1 0 0 0 60
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Figure 6-b Laboratory Inspection Follow-Up Scores (May 1, 2015 – April 30, 2016)
Faculty / Department Score (%)(1),(2)
Total Inspections
No Reply Received
Score <60%
Score > 75%
Score previous cycle(4)
Faculty of Medicine (Follow-ups) 82 49 7 0 42 - (5)
Anatomy and Cell Biology 84 5 0 0 5 -
Anesthesia Research Unit 79 1 0 0 1 -
Artificial Cells and Organs Research Centre 87 2 0 0 2 -
Biochemistry 84 3 1 0 3 -
Biomedical Engineering 82 1 1 0 1 -
Bone & Periodontal Research 81 1 0 0 1 -
McGill Cancer Centre 83 4 0 0 4 -
McGill University & Genome Quebec Innovation Centre
94 1 1 0 1 -
Microbiology & Immunology 73 6 0 0 3 -
Montreal Neurological Institute 79 6 0 0 4 -
Oral Biology 81 4 0 0 3 -
Pharmacology & Therapeutics 78 3 0 0 2 -
Physiology 85 7 3 0 7 -
Psychiatry 84 5 1 0 5 -
Faculty of Engineering (Follow-ups)
75 7 0 1 5 -
Chemical Engineering 87 2 0 0 2 -
Civil Engineering & Applied Mechanics 81 2 0 0 2 -
Mechanical Engineering 73 2 0 0 2 -
Electrical and Computer Engineering 44 1 0 1 0 -
(1) Computed as percentages using the formula: # of inspection items deemed as “PASS”/ # of applicable items x 100-
(2) Numbers are rounded to the nearest whole number
(3) Inspection was performed, report will be sent at a later date and the response will follow
(4) Score received for 6th inspection cycle (2011-2013)
(5) No follow-up inspections performed for 6th inspection cycle (2011-2013)
Interpreting Laboratory Inspection Scores The inspection checklist is based on key “auditable” items. Prior to each cycle, the list is reviewed for relevance, adherence to regulatory compliance and relative importance. Once complete, laboratory inspection reports and scores are first sent to the principal investigator (PI) of the lab along with an explanation of how the items were interpreted. If the PI receives less than a perfect score (100%), they are asked to respond to the Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) office within six weeks, explaining the corrective measures or action plan they will take. In addition, laboratories scoring less than 60% are subject to a follow-up inspection by EHS. Laboratories with scores of 75% and greater are considered “certifiable”, therefore qualify for approval of internal permits, safety certifications and sign-offs for research grant applications. However, to be “certifiable” they need to respond to EHS to explain the corrective measures they will take to further improve their scores. In instances where laboratories continue to score poorly after a follow-up inspection, EHS escalates the situation to the departmental Safety Committee and subsequently the Departmental Chair. This year, the inspection method has been changed: inspections were performed per Principal Investigator irrespective of the number of laboratories under his/ her supervision, compared to previous years where inspections were done by number of labs. In addition, the General, Chemical, Biosafety and Radiation Safety were covered in one visit.
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Upon initial inspections in the Faculty of Medicine, 3 out of 8 labs scored below 60% and 1 scored above 75%. Following these inspections, 2 labs failed to provide a reply to outline the measures they would take to improve their scores. In the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, 8 out of 71 labs scored below 60% and 42 scored above 75%. Following these inspections, 9 labs failed to provide a reply to outline the measures they would take to improve their scores. In the Faculty of Science, 8 out of 113 labs scored below 60% and 72 scored above 75%. Following these inspections, 52 labs failed to provide a reply to outline the measures they would take to improve their scores. In the Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Education, University Services and Student Services, no lab scored below 60% and 3 out of 5 labs scored above 75%. Following these inspections, 1 lab failed to provide a reply to outline the measures they would take to improve their scores. Upon follow-up inspections in the Faculty of Medicine, no lab scored below 60% and 42 out of 49 labs scored above 75%. Following these inspections, 7 labs failed to provide a reply to outline the measures they would take to improve their scores. In the Faculty of Engineering, 1 out of 7 labs scored below 60% and 5 scored above 75%. Following these inspections, all labs provided a reply to outline the measures they would take to improve their scores. Ideally, labs strive to achieve maximum scores to ensure lab personnel are working, studying, and researching in the safest possible environments while also increasing the culture of safety at McGill. In an effort to increase commitment in the laboratory inspection process, EHS has created a special edition of the Internal Responsibility System (IRS) course offered exclusively for principal investigators and laboratory managers. The IRS course was offered at the Macdonald Campus on November 3, 2015 and another at the Downtown Campus on February 2, 2016. EHS Service Calls The EHS service calls data are shown in Figure 7. In 2015-2016, EHS reported a total of 539 service calls, on par with the average over the past several years. This table is generally reflective of the calls for service that come through the EHS office either by telephone or e-mail. The HEAT software used to input all the service calls is not reliable; a new incident management software being looked at for both EHS and Campus Public Safety is required for time and cost saving purposes.
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Figure 7 Environmental Health & Safety Service Calls History, by Fiscal Year
Category 2015-2016
2014-2015
2013-2014
2012-2013
2011-2012
Access to information 2 1 0 1 N/A
Accident, Incident and Occupational Disease Investigation 57 61 72 101 90
Air Sampling 3 3 3 1 2
Animal Use Protocol 61 34 54 26 N/A
Annual Inspection of AED 15 4 11 10 5
Asbestos 32 29 14 17 6
Biosafety 30 34 37 38 42
Biosafety Site Visit 0 0 3 2 1
Chemical Fume Hood 4 5 4 5 8
Compliance Certificate 0 0 2 1 2
Construction Safety 32 46 29 31 N/A
CPR / First Aid 1 2 8 6 4
Decommissioning 5 8 6 12 N/A
EHS Administration 3 16 14 12 9
Emergency Response Plans 3 0 0 0 0
Environmental Issues 0 1 0 5 2
Ergonomics 9 13 13 15 14
General Safety Inquiry 45 67 50 67 69
Health and Safety Committees 17 9 10 7 2
Indoor Air Quality 46 57 48 91 58
IRS – Internal Responsibility System 1 0 1 0 1
Laboratory Safety 50 53 65 77 51
Laboratory Safety Inspections 13 6 11 16 4
Legal Issues 1 1 0 0 0
Media 0 1 1 0 2
myLab 0 1 19 2 9
Nanotechnology 2 4 2 2 2
New & Expectant Mothers Risk Assessment 6 6 8 9 8
Noise 2 1 2 2 3
Occupational Health 0 1 4 0 0
Orientation Session ( New PI) 8 20 15 6 10
Radiation Safety 9 13 16 17 15
Regulatory Agency (CSST/CNSC/PHAC/CFIA) 19 29 28 24 35
Review of Plans 0 4 1 3 3
Safety Training (including WHMIS) 42 39 61 74 4
Temperature Regulation 2 1 2 0 1
Waste Management 12 15 16 12 8
Water Quality Testing 3 3 3 9 N/A
Water Spill & Flood 3 1 11 29 16
Workplace Evaluations 1 3 0 1 2
Total 539 592 644 731 495
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4.2 Hazardous Waste Disposal Statistics
Hazardous Waste Management (HWM) is mandated to collect, prepare and ship hazardous waste for disposal in accordance with legislation in a safe, environmentally sound and cost effective manner. The department also provides services in the area of laboratory decommissioning, response to hazardous materials emergencies and the collection of electronic waste (e-waste). Figure 8 shows the volumes for each of the categories of waste handled by HWM. Waste volumes fluctuate annually based on use by the McGill community.
Figure 8 Hazardous Waste Statistics, by Treatment Type, Material and Fiscal Year
Treatment Material 2015-2016 2014-2015 2013-2014 2012-2013 2011-2012
Recycling
Alkaline batteries 1,726 kg 269 kg 608 kg 810 kg 1,364 kg
E-waste 38,159 kg 30,682 kg 40,673 kg 30,472 kg 37,129 kg
Fluorescent light bulbs 46.249 ft. 58,291 kg 55,014 ft. 47,829 ft. 43,960 ft.
Lead-acid batteries 3,093 kg 1,727 kg 3,320 kg 2,542 kg 3,130 kg
Mercury bulbs 2321 units 1,481 units 1407 units 282 units 500 units
Paint 1,340 kg 2,720 kg 800 kg 1200 kg 600 kg
Scrap metal 25,808 kg 20,726 kg 34,386 kg 30,583 kg 33,484 kg
Oil 1,800 L 1,200 L 2,600 L 1,600 L 2,000 L
Incineration / Landfill
Biomedical animal 15,604 kg 12,695 kg 14,547 kg 14,832 kg 17,377 kg
Biomedical non-anatomical
42,740 kg 54,403 kg 49,874 kg 56,727 kg 57,216 kg
Cyanides and reactives 191 kg 174 kg 265 kg 127 kg 281 kg
Cylinders 38 units 24 units 19 units 0 unit 14 units
Liquid scintillation cocktails
320 L 200 L 600 L 160 L 140 L
Other hazardous solids 2,110 kg 2,080 kg 3,548 kg 960 kg 3,280 kg
Other hazardous liquids 1,200 L 400 L 752 L 200 L 20 L
PCB ballast 716 kg 463 kg 1440 kg 951 kg 533 kg
Solvents 34,000 L 49,280 L 51,720 L 53,040 L 41,020 L
Neutralization Corrosive liquids 10,800 L 13,360 L 11,360 L 9,740 L 15,340 L
Regular waste
Decayed radioactivity 1,516 kg 2,258 kg 2,927 kg 2,098 kg 1,305 kg
While the averages are fairly consistent with those of previous years, there has been a significant drop in the amount of non-anatomical biomedical waste (-21%) as well as solvent waste (-31%). This is not surprising, as many laboratories were relocated from McGill premises to the new Glen campus of the McGill University Health Center (MUHC), including a pathology laboratory which was a large waste generator. As some of those empty spaces will be reallocated to other researchers, those numbers might increase, but not as drastically. Substantial work was done in the past year cleaning out labs and other spaces following the MUHC’s move to the Glen site in late April 2015. The Hazardous Waste Management team dedicated extensive hours to completing this work, which was somewhat offset by the reduction in waste pickup from the hospital.
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5 EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT & PREPAREDNESS
5.1 Campus Public Safety Mass Notification Systems
Twice annually, McGill’s various mass notifications systems are tested. These systems were designed to deliver emergency messaging to the McGill community quickly and efficiently. Current transmission systems include McGill.ca, Alertus computer pop-up messages, the Alnote email system, and the MIR3 SMS notification system. MIR3 is unable to confirm successful message transmission and so phasing out is being considered in favour of push notifications through the McGill app to improve efficient functionality.
6 FIRE PREVENTION
6.1 Fire Alarms
The City of Montreal imposes an incremental fine structure for unfounded fire alarms that occur at each civic address. Fines go from $0 for a first alarm, $250 for the second, $750 for the third and up to $2700 for the fourth and above. In order to reduce the amount of unfounded fire alarms on campus and to defray the costs of those that continue to occur, the Fire Prevention Office imposes a penalty of $3000 per unfounded fire alarm. The total number of unfounded fire alarms on campus has decreased significantly over the last five years since this has been put in place. From May 1st 2015 to April 30th 2016, 76 notices for unfounded fire alarms were received from the City of Montreal, an increase of 22 from the previous operating year. Of these, 10 were successfully contested toward the city, and 11 are still pending a response, leaving 55 justified fines. Figure 9 shows the number of unfounded fire alarms per location. Among the 65 unfounded alarms that occurred on campus, it is noteworthy to mention that fifteen occurred at the Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI) which Fire Prevention does not respond to directly and most of which were at higher ranks (fifth and over). MNI’s fire prevention operations are handled by MUHC staff rather than McGill’s Fire Prevention unit.
Figure 9 Number of Municipal Notices for Unfounded Alarms, by Location, Occurrence and Fiscal Year
Location 2015-2016 2014-2015 2013-2014 2012-2013
Unfounded Alarms
% Unfounded
Alarms %
Unfounded Alarms
% Unfounded
Alarms %
Campus buildings
65 86 41 76 47 59 72 91
Residences 10 13 11 20 26 32 5 6
Molson Stadium
1 1 2 4 7 9 2 3
Total 76 100 54 100 80 100 79 100
Frequency
First 30 32 15 28 28 35 36 46
Second 16 17 7 13 23 29 13 16
Third 9 10 6 11 13 16 8 10
Fourth 5 5 4 7 8 10 1 1
Fifth and higher 34 36 22 41 8 10 21 27
Total 94 100 54 100 80 100 79 100
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6.2 Building Evacuation Exercises
The Fire Prevention Office conducted fire drills in 105 of 138 required buildings for a success rate of 76%. Of the 33 drills that were not conducted, nine were not required as evacuations which met the exercise objectives had recently taken place at these locations, three buildings did not require a fire drill as they are vacant and one building was under major renovations including the replacement of the fire alarm system. The remaining twenty buildings at the Macdonald Campus will be completed this calendar year. The Fire Prevention Office is exploring less disruptive but more proactive ways to implement fire drills across both campuses.
7 SECURITY SERVICES
7.1 Calls to the Security Operations Centre (Downtown & Macdonald Campus)
Figure 10 summarizes the incident reports triggered by calls and alarms recorded by the Security Services Operations Centre (SOC) on the Downtown and Macdonald campuses from 2013 to 2016.
Downtown Campus
The SOC downtown received on average 326 calls a week compared to 397 last reporting year. The only remarkable change from last year was a marked rise in Criminal Incidents which is outlined in more detail in “Reported Criminal Incidents” below.
Macdonald Campus
The number of weekly calls received by the Macdonald Campus SOC increased by nearly 25% this year, from 48 to 63 calls and alarms a week, on average. This is due to several factors, most notably that more alarms were installed this year with enhanced overall security systems. There were also improved community relations across Macdonald campus and at John Abbott College, resulting in higher visibility of our agents as well as better relationships with the community, who in turn are more likely to report incidents to security or reach out for assistance.
McGill University Annual Safety Report 2015-2016 Page 18 of 29
Figure 10
Incident Reports Triggered by Calls and Alarms Received by Security Services on the Downtown and Macdonald Campuses, by Fiscal Year
2015-2016 2014-2015 2013-2014 2012-2013
Downtown Macdonald Downtown Macdonald Downtown Macdonald Downtown Macdonald
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Unsecured Areas(1) 1,271 24 285 5 1752 34 206 4 777 15 105 2 184 4 104 2
Alarms(2) 6,056 116 366 7 8,203 158 321 6 11,417 220 251 5 12,715 245 198 4
Emergency Calls(3) 504 10 71 1 498 10 70 1 467 9 54 1 464 9 59 1
Criminal Incidents(4) 465 9 79 2 294 6 64 1 373 7 62 1 333 6 69 1
Provide Assistance(5) 8263 158 427 8 9,480 182 285 5 8,655 166 190 4 8,389 161 135 3
Miscellaneous(6) 393 8 2002 39 377 7 1,549 30 299 6 1,570 30 448 9 800 15
Total 16,952 326 3,255 63 20,604 397 2,495 48 21,988 423 2,232 43 22,533 434 1,365 26
Context for Incident Categories: (1) Open doors, windows and buildings that are meant to be secured. (2) Unauthorized exit/entry, fire panel trouble, PC tab alarm etc. (3) Disturbance or emergency situation. (4) Criminal act or attempted criminal act. (5) Safety hazards, security risks, parking issues, lost & found etc. (6) Rule violation, non-criminal mischief, criminal information, etc.
McGill University Annual Safety Report 2015-2016 Page 19 of 29
7.2 Reported Criminal Incidents (Downtown & Macdonald Campus)
A detailed breakdown of crime-related incidents for this and the previous three years is shown in Figure 11 on the following page. It is noteworthy to mention that there are no national standards governing the reporting and classification of crime statistics for Canadian post-secondary institutions and therefore these statistics are compiled by Security Services.
Downtown Campus
This year saw a noticeable increase in criminal incidents on the downtown campus over previous years. These increases are most notable in the categories of “Thefts under $5000” and “Break and Enters”. This is due in part to re-categorization: in the interest of accuracy and consistency with law enforcement agencies, some incidents that had previously been listed as “Attempted Theft” have been revised as of this year to “Break & Enter”. These will now encompass any incident involving an illegal entry into a restricted area even if there was nothing stolen.
Of the 60 “Break & Enters” that occurred on campus, a total of 49 were the result of lockers that were broken into but nothing was stolen. Nearly 90% of these thefts occurred at the McGill Sports Complex, which has been particularly targeted this year. This location also accounted for 30% of all of our “Thefts under $5000”.
Despite numerous prevention messaging campaigns, posters in vulnerable areas and sting operations conducted at the gym, the Sports Complex is vulnerable to theft for a variety of reasons: there are many entry and exit points to the building, making it extremely difficult to control access, and there are no secure lockers for valuables at the entrance of the gym so clients often leave their valuables in the lockers. Both factors contribute to creating favorable conditions for theft. Recommendations have been made to reduce access and egress points to the Sports Complex, to relocate secure lockers, and increase awareness campaigns, though these recommendations have not as of yet been implemented.
On a positive note, due to the work of the Security Services investigator in collaboration with the SPVM, a highly active thief responsible for at least 17 of our thefts on campus (as well as other thefts around Montreal) has been charged and is awaiting trial.
Macdonald Campus
The 2015-2016 year saw a 30% increase in criminal incidents at Macdonald Campus, due mostly to a jump in Thefts under $5000. This increase may also be due to overall growth in the student population at Macdonald campus. The majority of thefts were of unattended items left in the busy Macdonald-Stewart building and an awareness campaign will be developed reminding students not to leave items unattended, targeting this building in particular. Conversely, there was a 30% decrease in thefts on the John Abbott College campus (which is overseen by Macdonald Campus Security), thanks in large part to the relocation and reopening of our security control post at JAC. The control post was placed in the college’s Casgrain Sports Centre, known as a hot spot for criminal activity and this has both increased awareness of and interaction with our security agents, while decreasing criminal incidents.
McGill University Annual Safety Report 2015-2016 Page 20 of 29
Figure 11 Summary of Reported Criminal Incidents, by Fiscal Year
2015-20161 2014-2015 2013-2014 2012-2013
McGill University
Off Campus2
Mac Campus3
Mac and
JAC3
McGill University
Off Campus
Mac Campus
Mac and JAC
McGill University
Off Campus
Mac Campus
Mac and JAC
McGill University
Off Campus
Mac Campus
Mac and JAC
Incidents against Property
Theft of over $5000 2 0 0 1 2 0 0 1 3 0 0 0 5 0 0 2
Theft of under $5000 302 3 24 54 166 5 16 37 251 9 10 40 200 17 21 100
Break and Enter 60 2 9 1 8 4 2 2 17 1 1 3 10 1 3 3
Computer Crime 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 2 3 1 0 0 0
Fraud 0 0 2 2 0 0 1 3 0 1 0 8 0 1 1 3
Mischief 36 1 0 5 37 3 4 7 28 0 8 14 38 1 3 4
Trespassing 1 0 9 2 1 0 2 4 0 0 4 8 1 0 1 5
Arson 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1
Attempted Incidents against Property
22 0 2 0 19 1 12 36 10 0 1 2 14 0 3 3
Total 423 6 47 66 233 13 37 91 310 11 26 78 269 20 33 121
% of Total Crime 93.6% 46.1% 61.0% 66.7% 86.6% 52% 61.6% 64% 89.9% 44.0% 59% 62% 88.5% 69.0% 62.3% 53%
Incidents against the Person
Assault 8 0 1 0 7 0 0 6 3 4 0 0 4 3 2 7
Threats or Harassment 10 4 4 5 6 3 3 7 11 2 0 3 8 3 1 1
Mugging or Robbery 0 0 0 1 2 4 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 2 0 0
Sexual Assault 2 0 0 0 3 1 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 2 7
Homicide 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 20 4 5 6 18 8 3 13 14 12 0 3 12 8 5 15
% of Total Crime 4.4% 30.8% 6.5% 6.1% 6.7% 32% 5.0% 9.2% 4.0% 48.0% 0 0.8% 3.9% 27.6% 9.4% 6.6%
Incidents against Good Order
Indecent Exposure or Peeping 3 1 2 1 8 1 1 3 10 1 0 2 9 0 1 1
Altercation or Drunkenness 3 1 6 1 1 0 5 6 1 0 3 4 1 0 6 16
Bomb Threat 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Drug or Liquor Law Violation 0 0 9 14 6 0 7 21 2 0 9 31 1 0 5 68
Weapons Law Violation 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0
Other 3 0 8 10 2 3 6 8 6 0 5 7 12 1 3 7
Total 9 3 27 27 18 4 20 38 21 2 18 45 23 1 15 92
% of Total Crime 2% 23.1% 32.5% 27.2% 6.7% 16% 33.3% 26.8% 6.1% 8.0% 41% 38% 7.6% 3.4% 28.3% 40%
TOTAL NUMBER OF RECORDED INCIDENTS
452 13 79 99 269 25 60 142 345 25 44 126 304 29 53 228
(1) These statistics represent only those incidents that were reported to McGill Security Services. (2) “Off Campus” incidents refer to incidents occurring adjacent to McGill property. (3) Macdonald Campus is shown in two columns. “Mac Campus” indicates incidents that occurred on Mac Campus property, and “Mac and JAC” indicates incidents that occurred on the joint Macdonald - John
Abbott College (JAC) property,
McGill University Annual Safety Report 2015-2016 Page 21 of 29
7.3 Benchmarking Criminal Incidents
The Criminal Incidents Index (CII) measures the number of criminal incidents on both McGill campuses per 1,000 students over a specified fiscal year, compared to eight other Canadian universities whose student populations exceed 20,000 and for which criminal incidents data are available. Campus Public Safety relies on its own resources to collect this data given that there is no national body that publishes such statistics. Universities publish their own statistics with considerable delay and, as a result, the CII cites statistics for the previous fiscal year, 2014-2015. As a result of this delay the statistics for McGill University are for the fiscal year 2014-2015 and thus do not match the current year statistics presented elsewhere in this report. Note that these statistics are calculated based on individual interpretation of annual reports published online by the various listed universities. The definition of criminal and how statistics are categorized across each university may vary.
Figure 12 Criminal Incidents Index (CII), by Fiscal Year
University
2014-2015 2013-2014 2012-2013
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McGill University 329 39,497 8.3 389 39,349 9.9 357 38,779 9.2
McMaster University 455 26,077 17.4 444 30,117 14.7 417 24,400 18.2
Queen's University 433 22,199 19.5 399 22,114 18.0 452 24,582 18.4
University of Alberta 185 38,681 4.8 361 38,733 9.32 360 39,312 9.16
University of British Columbia(1)(2)
230 52,721 4.4 365 51,447 7.1 320 39,000 8.2
University of Toronto(1)(2)(3)
624 53,770 11.6 666 58,286 11.4 617 57,795 10.7
University of Waterloo(1)
526 32,900 16.0 658 35,900 18.3 655 31,577 20.8
University of Western Ontario
427 28,908 14.8 498 27,360 18.2 544 35,000 15.5
York University 734 52,418 14.0 594 52,800 11.3 786 55,000 14.3
Average 12.3 Average 13.1 Average 13.8
(1) Annual security reports represent a calendar year. (2) Statistics include only the main campus for U of T and UBC. (3) Statistics are for the 2015 calendar year.
McGill University Annual Safety Report 2015-2016 Page 22 of 29
8 2015-2016 SAFETY ACTIVITIES
8.1 McGill Safety Training
Figure 13 on the following page summarizes the safety training sessions provided by the various McGill safety units between May 1st 2015 and April 30th 2016. Overall, there were 26 more individual training sessions offered but 250 fewer participants than the previous year. The drop in participation is primarily due to a change in the Alcohol Beverage Server Training; in October 2015 this training was absorbed by the Campus Life & Engagement team as part of an all-encompassing server training (previously Security Services staff only covered a small portion of this workshop). Security Services now offers an Event Security presentation to all newly-elected executives of student associations, which addresses security considerations for on-campus events. Other new training modules introduced this year include an Asbestos Awareness Session, the Biosafety for Managers training, WHMIS for Non-Lab Personnel and the new category “In-person EHS sessions and certifications”, which encompasses exam rewrites, refresher trainings and first time safety trainings not otherwise included in the table.
McGill University Annual Safety Report 2015-2016 Page 23 of 29
Figure 13 Safety Training Sessions Conducted by McGill Safety Units, by Fiscal Year
S: Sessions P: Participants
2015-2016 2014-2015 2013-2014 2012-2013
S P S P S P S P
Ammonia Leak 2 15 1 26 N/A N/A N/A N/A
Asbestos Awareness Session (1) 1 25 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Asbestos General Training(3) 7 96 3 51 0 0 2 22
Asbestos High Risk Management 1 7 0 0 0 0 2 33
Asbestos Practical Training(6) 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 15
Biosafety for Manager (1)(8) 6 63 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) 1 8 1 11 1 8 N/A N/A
Ergonomic Workshop for HR Advisor (1)(8) 2 11 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
First Aid in the Workplace 19 184 17 188 12 160 16 189
Guest Lecture(2) 1 70 1 79 0 0 1 37
Hazardous Waste Training for Lab Personnel(3)(4) 7 245 4 153 9 288 16 379
Hazardous Waste Training – Web Training (3)(4) 14 251 12 268 N/A N/A N/A N/A
In-Person EHS sessions or certifications(7) 12 122 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Internal Responsibility Laboratory Managers 2 57 3 39 1 11 1 24
Internal Responsibility Managers & Supervisors 0 0 2 33 1 6 3 46
IRS - Enforcement Workshop (1)(8) 1 13 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Introduction to Biosafety(3) 13 558 13 400 12 287 10 214
Laser Safety(3) 5 99 5 109 4 97 4 127
Lock out Tag out (LOTO) 0 0 1 22 N/A N/A N/A N/A
Machine Guarding(8) 0 0 0 0 1 23 1 23
myLab (Chem Module) 9 172 3 72 N/A N/A N/A N/A
myLab (Hazard by Location) 0 0 0 0 1 19 N/A N/A
myLab (Rad Module) 1 3 2 10 3 21 3 19
N95 Respirator Fit Testing 0 0 9 69 0 0 2 9
Powered Air Purifying Respirators (PAPR) 1 2 1 2 0 0 4 15
Radiation Safety(3) 4 43 6 79 6 73 7 115
Radiation Safety Web Refresher Training(3)(4) 7 40 6 31 7 32 4 43
Radiation Safety Awareness 1 2 5 62 2 26 N/A N/A
Respirator Fit Testing 4 13 5 26 3 10 9 41
Safeguarding Science (PHAC) (1)(8) 1 25 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Safe Use of Biological Safety Cabinets(3) 12 444 12 318 11 258 10 268
Sante et sécurité général sur les chantiers de construction (ASP) 1 7 0 0 1 7 N/A N/A
Town Hall(5) 1 27 2 82 N/A N/A N/A N/A
Type A Package Training (Radiation)(3) 1 10 1 3 2 21 N/A N/A
WHMIS for Lab Personnel(3) 25 1308 18 1366 25 1750 36 2,036
WHMIS for Lab Personnel Web Training3)(4) 22 841 13 780 4 61 N/A N/A
WHMIS for Non-Lab Personnel 6 103 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Alcohol Beverage Server Training 3 120 25 762 21 1020 32 862
Active Shooter Protocol Training 4 67 10 295 8 216 3 69
Event Security Presentation 6 19 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Non-Violent Crisis Intervention 4 48 2 19 8 80 7 69
RAD (Rape Aggression Defense) 4 35 2 26 4 50 4 49
Incident Command System (all levels) 6 128 4 98 3 26 4 106
Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) 1 24 1 16 1 16 1 24
Evacuation Teams 25 392 19 420 22 254 21 302
Fire Extinguisher Training 3 19 8 21 2 19 N/A N/A
Hot Work Web Training N/A 9 N/A 18 N/A 74 N/A N/A
Hot Work Classroom Training 3 9 6 30 11 102 N/A N/A
Total 249 5,734 223 5,984 186 5,015 205 5,136 (1) New Training Module
(2) Title of seminar: Macdonald Orientation, organized by Prof. Linda Wittebol and Ms.Blanchette as guest speaker.
(3) Mandatory training includes an examination to establish competency.
(4) Presentation on Cool McGill, and/or on EHS web site as video presentation
(5) Safety related Town Hall sessions
(6) Session no longer offered
(7) This category regroups all types of sessions from exam rewrite, refresher training to first time safety training certificates.
(8) Sessions provided upon request.
McGill University Annual Safety Report 2015-2016 Page 24 of 29
8.2 2015-2016 Highlights
8.2.1 Environmental Health and Safety
Asbestos Database
The EHS unit launched a new web-based asbestos database to collect and maintain information about asbestos-containing buildings at McGill, and began the process of introducing it to the various campus stakeholders. The database will help ensure safe practices and knowledge sharing with regards to work being done in asbestos-containing areas of campus. Gamma Cell Decommissioning
Two “gamma cells” were decommissioned and removed from the University. These high-energy radioactive sources were the last of 5 owned by the University and their departure marked a significant reduction in security and safety risks on campus. Montreal Neurological Institute Partnership
EHS entered into a Service Level Agreement with the Montreal Neurological Institute to provide oversight services in the area of radiation protection, improving on-site safety for staff and patients. Hazardous Waste Control Banding On October 30th 2015, the HWM team performed a “control banding” exercise which consists of a risk management tool where you associate a hazard/exposure (toxicity, biohazard, etc.) to a control measure (ventilation, Personal Protective Equipment, etc.). The goal of this exercise was to improve contamination controls in our facility, as well as reduce exposure to different hazards for our employees and the McGill community. myLab Chemical Waste Disposal Module On March 7th 2016, Hazardous Waste Management launched the “chemical waste disposal” module, which is part of the myLab software. This upgrade allows McGill researchers to use myLab in order to dispose of their chemical waste, which further centralizes their hazardous material management experience in a one-stop shop. The old web form used previously for this purpose was successfully decommissioned.
8.2.2 Campus Public Safety
Full-Scale Exercise
After eight months of collaborative preparations, on November 7th 2015, over 50 McGill University staff members took part in a coordinated full-scale exercise with local first responders (SPVM and Urgences-Santé, as well as Police Technology students from John Abbott and Ahuntsic colleges). The exercise involved two separate scenarios on McGill’s downtown campus: a hazmat spill followed by an active shooter incident. The intention was to assess and put into practice the University Emergency Response Plan that had been finalized earlier in the year. Overall, the event was a great success and allowed participants to identify and repair potential issues that could arise in a real emergency scenario, as well as solidified our already well-established working relationships with external agencies. Gault Nature Reserve Patrols
In early 2016, the Security Services Operations team began discussions with the Gault Nature Reserve team to assist in seasonal preventative patrols on evenings and weekends, with the primary goal of enforcing rules and bylaws on-site and increasing overall site safety for all users. A Service Level Agreement was drafted in the spring for patrols to begin in May 2016, creating favourable conditions for
McGill University Annual Safety Report 2015-2016 Page 25 of 29
increased communication and collaboration between Campus Public Safety and the Gault team (see additional information in 9.2.1 The Year Moving Forward). John Abbott College Client Service
After many years of collaboration between Macdonald Campus Security Services and their client, John Abbott College, a milestone was reached in the finalization of an Emergency Response Plan for the college, the result of extensive work between 10 people from both institutions. The plan was completed in March 2016 and has been in operation since that time, and ensures more streamlined response to major incidents taking place at the college. Divest McGill Sit-In
On Tuesday March 29th, 2016, nine students with the group Divest McGill occupied the fifth floor of the James Administration building requesting a meeting with Principal Suzanne Fortier, while other members set up a dozen tents outside the James Administration building. The group was peaceful and open to discussion and collaboration with Security Services and the Dean of Students, and beyond their presence, there were no disruptions or additional incidents. The group left voluntarily on Monday April 4th after meeting with the Principal.
9 THE YEAR MOVING FORWARD
9.1 Environmental Health and Safety
9.1.1 Environmental Health & Safety Key goals and objectives for the Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) units for this coming year will be largely driven by compliance to new legislation. In the area of Biosafety, on December 1, 2015, the federal government enacted the Human Pathogens and Toxins Regulations. These regulations require that the University complete three major tasks in the coming months, a process which is ongoing:
1) Register all locations where biohazardous materials are used with the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC)
2) Ensure researchers maintain a running inventory of such materials 3) Ensure that laboratories comply with the safety requirements laid out by the PHAC. For EHS this
will mean registering the locations, creating a university-wide inventory tracking system for biohazards and integrating biosafety into general lab inspections.
On July 15, 2015 the Ministry of Transports amendments to the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations came into effect, requiring more detailed information on the shipping manifests for hazardous waste. For the Hazardous Waste Management group this will mean having their solvent wastes analyzed for a more detailed chemical composition and implementing the chemical waste module of the myLab system. In 2016, the Quebec regulation respecting occupational health and safety will require that building owners conduct an inventory of all asbestos-containing building materials, make the inventory report available to the public and put in place a program to regularly inspect areas containing friable asbestos. For EHS this will mean the migration of the existing asbestos database to a web-based interface, adding additional data where needed, and expanding the scope of asbestos inspections to satisfy the new regulations.
McGill University Annual Safety Report 2015-2016 Page 26 of 29
9.1.2 Hazardous Waste Management Pending budget approval and in the interest of sustainability, Hazardous Waste Management plans to invest in a new centralized autoclave to avoid the necessity of transporting biomedical waste long distances for disposal. The results of HWM’s control banding exercise completed in October 2015 will be the subject of a presentation at the next College and University Hazardous Material Management Conference (CUHMMC) held in Miami, Florida. The department will also evaluate the possibility of hosting the conference in the next 3-4 years. A project is being initiated with Campus and Space Planning office to improve traffic and pedestrian safety in the loading dock area of the Life Sciences Complex, near McIntyre. There have been numerous near-miss incidents involving cars, delivery trucks, taxi, bicycles and pedestrians, and the department is proactively creating a plan of action within this calendar year.
9.2 Campus Public Safety
9.2.1 Emergency Management & Preparedness As the relationship between Campus Public Safety and the Gault Nature Reserve expands, there has been an increased focus on extending McGill’s preparedness mindset to this site in the coming year. A Gault Nature Reserve emergency plan is in its early stages and there have been ongoing discussions to train Gault staff on the Incident Command System. The Emergency Planning Officer, in collaboration with other Campus Public Safety Units, will also explore how best to extend existing emergency response plans to include the Gault site. Following the success and lessons of the Full-Scale Exercise, a need arose for an EOC Working Group to meet outside of an emergency situation with the goal of discussing and improving EOC processes and structures. Possible scenarios will be covered case-by-case with all members of the EOC, anticipating potential issues and collaborating on solutions so that clear steps are established ahead of time, creating clearer protocols during a possible emergency scenario. The group will meet a few times over the coming year to better establish its purpose and determine needs. After a successful ammonia response drill on the downtown campus in 2014 and finalization of the Glenfinnan Arena ammonia response plan in 2015, this year preparations are being made for an ammonia drill to take place at Macdonald Campus in summer 2017. 9.2.2 Fire Prevention The Fire Prevention unit aims to improve consistency of procedures between campuses, with a particular emphasis on enhancing communication with Macdonald Campus with the goal of increasing fire drills and expand implementation of fire watch processes. Also, the addition of a new Fire Prevention Officer position in the coming year will allow for an increased focus on creation and execution of fire safety plans across both campuses. The team is also spearheading an initiative in collaboration with all of Campus Public Safety to develop and implement construction safety protocol in the midst of significant, long-term work taking place on and around the downtown campus. This includes the creation of a multi-departmental Construction Safety Work Group, which will identify hazards related to construction safety, develop action plans and implement procedures (including updated evacuation plans, revised entrance/exit routes, parking and grounds considerations, etc.) to address the ever-changing safety concerns of the McGill community while the city completes its construction projects through 2017.
McGill University Annual Safety Report 2015-2016 Page 27 of 29
9.2.3 Security Services This year, Security Services will continue to streamline procedures, with a particular emphasis on consistency between campuses. The new partnership with the Gault Nature Reserve will also facilitate increased collaboration relating to their processes, ensuring consistent response protocols across all three sites. With the adoption and implementation of the Incident Command System in the past few years, Security Services is also in the process of acquiring better equipment for the Incident Command Post and EOC, including laptops, personal protective gear, high-tech audiovisual tools, etc. This equipment will improve efficiency, facilitate event monitoring and provide better resources for on-site responders, thereby allowing an improved service to the McGill community. Equipment delivery has already begun and should be completed by winter 2016. The Security Services unit is developing a partnership with the SPVM to provide them access to McGill’s exterior cameras. This access will not only improve police response to incidents taking place near McGill (thereby potentially reducing the chance of them spilling onto campus), but will also allow police to better assist McGill responders with large-scale incidents and strengthen the overall relationship with the SPVM. Additionally, Security Services has acquired two new vehicles (one for each campus). The old vehicles were often in need of repair and thus out of service for extended periods of time, increasing response time and reducing overall service. These new vehicles will help ensure that our vehicles are operating at full capacity. After seeing success with process automation in the department (for example, the Round Witness System, implemented in 2015 to monitor security agents’ daily routes, allowed for better tracking of these routes, highlighted inefficiencies in tour itineraries and led to reworking of processes for more effective use of resources), the Security Services unit continues to push for software improvements to automate additional services. One such update is an upgrade to the Lenel alarm monitoring system, which will move Area Access Manager (AAM) training and management online, allowing more time for in-house technicians to respond to alarms and creating a simpler, more streamlined process for AAMs. Additionally, the department will continue working towards acquiring a much-needed online Incident Management System. This critical system will allow:
more efficient tracking of calls to the SOC and incidents on campus,
improved reporting of trends and issues arising from these calls,
improved communication between McGill’s safety units,
better maximization of staff’s time, and
streamlined gathering of the many pieces of information requested through Access to Information requests.
McGill University Annual Safety Report 2015-2016 Page 28 of 29
APPENDIX 1 CAMPUS PUBLIC SAFETY ORGANIZATIONAL CHART
McGill University Annual Safety Report 2015-2016 Page 29 of 29
APPENDIX 2 ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH & SAFETY ORGANIZATIONAL CHART
