Ladies and Gentlemen,

Dept. Safety Day will be taking place this year on Wednesday Sept. 30th., Rm 2093, from 9am to around 3.00.  Coffee/Doughnuts and Lunch (Pizza) will be served.

ALL NEW GRADUATE STUDENTS, STAFF AND FACULTY MUST ATTEND.

It is Ontario law that everyone has to have basic WHMIS training.  Furthermore the University has to ensure everyone working under its jurisdiction is aware of its safety procedures.

Your attendance (or non attendance!) will be recorded.

The following is an explanation of why you should attend - received from EH & S (Environmental Health and Safety, U of T):-

“The WHMIS requirements are performance-based, meaning that the employer must

ensure that individuals can safely work with chemicals, know how to

interpret information on labels and MSDSs so that they safely use the

chemicals, and know what to do in case of an emergency involving the

chemicals.

The ESC Safety Day goes beyond pure WHMIS; it's an

orientation into Health and Safety at U of T and the safety culture within

the various departments within the ESC. Speakers cover a

wide range of health and safety topics specific to the departments.

The sessions will provide attendees with a broad base of safety information that

applies at U of T. As well, in terms of due diligence, the departments will

be able to demonstrate (by means of signed attendance sheets) that

staff/students have attended safety sessions in which core information

regarding health and safety is delivered.”

New students who do not attend will have to take the one day course offered by the University later this year.

Furthermore, the University encourages everyone to attend Safety Day every four years.  Let me know if any of you "trained" people are going to attend.

A list of a seminars will be forwarded next week.

Colin J. Bray, co-chair, Dept. Safety Committee.