Posted on May 3: The changing face of risk management
[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/Nancy_Wilkopt.jpg” caption=”Nancy Wilk”]A new face and a new name are helping to refresh the direction of health and safety issues on campus.
This week, Environmental & Occupational Health Support Services (EOHSS) will be promoting awareness of important safety issues and showcasing their new Wentworth House offices for North American Occupational Safety and Health Week.
“Workplace safety affects everyone, not just workers,” says Nancy Wilk, who joined the EOHSS team as manager last November. “Right now our focus is on building strong relationships with stakeholders that includes workers, but also visitors, students, volunteers, and everyone else on campus.”
Wilk is a certified industrial hygienist, and worked for many years with the Ontario Ministry of Labour and as a consultant in all aspects of environmental and occupational health. She is a published author in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine, and has developed and taught a variety of occupational health and safety-related courses at Mohawk College, the Canadian Environmental Research and Training Institute, Niagara College and Resource Environmental Associates. She says the experience in dealing with diverse areas of workplace health and safety has served her well in making the switch to her current position.
This year, the department officially changed its name from Risk Management Services. Wilk says the new name more accurately reflects the office's many duties and responsibilities as well as their support services function as part of the larger Human Resources Services team.
“Risk management is one aspect of what we do,” says Wilk. “We are also responsible for responding to concerns as they arise across campus, particularly those that are health and safety-related as well as comfort issues, such as indoor air quality.”
In addition to addressing safety concerns and insurance issues, the staff provides health, safety and fire training to staff and students. They also administer supervisory due diligence training, insurance information, coordination of student event approvals, waste management coordination and auditing, as well as support and expertise to McMaster's Joint Health and Safety Committees.
The team has recently put the entire risk management manual online in, and they have organized events and seminars for North American Occupational Safety and Health Week, which runs from May 3 to 7.
The week kicked off at McMaster this morning (Monday) with guest speaker Rob Ellis, a spokesperson for the Young Worker Awareness Program sponsored by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board. He talked to more than 300 local high school students and university summer students about workplace safety and accident prevention.
In February 1999, Ellis, a Burlington-based small business owner and father of four, lost his 18-year-old son David in a workplace accident.
For a full list of Workplace Safety Week events, visit http://www.workingatmcmaster.ca/link.php?link=Job+Matters%3AEOHSS or phone ext 24352.
Photo caption: Nancy Wilk, manager of EOHSS, in front of the office in Wentworth House. Photo credit: Chantall Van Raay
