University of British Columbia
PA-12: Workplace Health and Safety

Baseline is 3 year average.

UBC continues to develop and implement workplace health and safety strategies to reduce the frequency of employee injuries, as well as the duration of time loss. Two UBC departments provide leadership and expertise in this area – Risk Management Services (RMS) and the Workplace Health Services (WHS) unit of Human Resources.

RMS identifies, assesses, and manages all types of risks (strategic, academic, operational, financial, hazard, and reputational) across the University (faculty, research, students, and administration). RMS services include Enterprise Risk Management: Risk Registers (risk identification and assessment), Occupational and Research Safety, Environmental Impact Mitigation, Emergency Preparedness, Continuity Planning, Insurance Placement, Insurance Claims Management, Loss Prevention, Personal Information Security and Governance, and Internal Consulting Assistance.

WHS includes a Return to Work team that assists employees to return to work after illness and injury, including long-term disability, and to remain at work in modified duties when possible. The Occupational & Preventive Health unit administers targeted medical services to employees whose work involves risk of exposure to biological, chemical, and physical hazards (e.g., immunizations, occupational health screenings, pregnancy planning resources, etc). The unit’s Ergonomics function assists with the prevention of musculoskeletal injuries.

While health and safety programs apply to the entire University, departments with higher risk have been targeted in recent years.
• In 2009, UBC initiated a successful pilot project in Building Operations, which saw a 30% reduction in time loss injuries in 2009 as compared to 2008. This downward trend continues, with a 26% reduction of time loss injuries in 2013 compared to 2012. Some of the measures that contributed to this noteworthy decrease were active investigations of all incidents, including those that did not cause physical injury, comprehensive reporting of incidents through a dedicated first aid system, facilitated intervention at the earliest possible stage of injury, and greater engagement of direct supervisors.
• The Abilities Management Program (AMP) within Building Operations has also contributed to the reduction of employee time loss through early intervention, where modified duties for ill or injured employees are offered.
• In 2010 the successful AMP program was rolled out to the Food Services unit of Student Housing and Hospitality Services, and a 30% reduction in time loss injuries was observed in 2011. This downward trend continues in Food Services, with a 55% reduction in time loss injuries in 2013 compared to 2012.
• In 2014 AMP is being expanded to the Housing & Conferences unit of Student Housing and Hospitality Services.

Workplace Health Services, Human Resources
http://www.hr.ubc.ca/health/

Risk Management Services
http://riskmanagement.ubc.ca/health-safety

FTE calculations are for UBC Vancouver only and include all paid full-time, part-time, sessional, casual employees, graduate and undergraduate teaching/research assistants, and all paid student appointments as tracked by Human Resources for WorkSafeBC claim reporting.