The back-to-school energy on campus is a special one – new students are eager to start their academic careers and for some students, it is their first time away from home. Returning students are coming back after a well-deserved break. Faculty and staff are also beginning a new semester; for some, it will all be new and for others, it will be all too familiar. There is much to learn and to get re-acquainted with: How long will it take to walk from the McConnell Engineering building to the Education building? Is there still construction at the Macdonald-Steward Library Building? Where is the bookstore?
Reminders
Along with these logistical thoughts, we need to recall some simple safety measures. Risk Advisory and Insurance Services has collaborated with Campus Public Safety as well as Student Housing and Hospitality Services and have come up with a list of key reminders for everyone coming to campus, whether it is your very first semester or your graduating year.
Security Services
Security Services offers service on a 24-hour basis to all members of the McGill community. Our agents patrol the campus, manage building access, transport students and staff with disabilities and respond to incidents and emergencies.
For an emergency requiring ambulance, fire or police, call 911. Then, call Security Services who will coordinate with emergency responders. Downtown 514-398-3000 or Macdonald Campus 514-398-7777.
If only internal help is required, such as issues involving water leaks, suspicious persons, strange odours, and the like, please only call Security Services.
Visit the Security Services website for more information.
Hazardous Waste Management
Hazardous Waste Management provides a full hazardous material disposal service to the McGill community.
If there is a hazardous material spill, call Security Services, Downtown 514-398-3000 or Macdonald 514-398-7777:
- Identify yourself and clearly state that you are calling about a spill.
- Be precise about the type of spill; for example, is it a solvent spill? Is it a radioactive liquid spill?
- Provide information about your location (building, floor, room number) and the extent of the damage.
- All of this information is crucial as it tells the first responder what equipment will be needed when they arrive on site.
- Once the incident has been dealt with, you need to complete the Spill Report
Visit the Hazardous Waste Management website for more information.
Environmental Health and Safety
Emergency eyewash stations located in research buildings need to be flushed weekly. The person carrying out this task should document it by putting their initials and the date on the attached tag.
Unfortunately, accidents on campus can happen. If you have been involved in an accident , report the event to your supervisor immediately and complete the Online Accident, Incident & Occupational Disease Form promptly.
If you believe you require medical assistance, consult a physician. If you consult a physician, you will also need to complete and sign the Printable Accident & Incident Form and attach it to your online report.
If the physician provides documentation, you should provide a readable copy of this documentation to your immediate supervisor or your HR Advisor.
Depending on the type of accident, EHS will follow up with you and your supervisor and you may be asked to participate in a (work) accident investigation.
For more details, visit the Environmental Health and Safety website.
Fire Prevention Office
The Fire Prevention Office is on-call 24/7. They are also engaged in prevention, training, planning, drills and more.
If you hear an alarm, exit the building immediately.
Office of Emergency Management:
The Office of Emergency Management develops and implements programs and standards for emergency management.
Stay informed and receive important emergency alerts. Sign up for McGill’s emergency notification systems by visiting the Office of Emergency Management website.
Rain or shine, weather warnings are divine! Keep up to date on weather alerts via your weather app or the Environment Canada website.
Parking Services
Parking Services coordinates parking and transportation activities on the downtown campus.
If you hold a temporary parking permit, display it visibly on the left-hand side of the dashboard or the windshield of your vehicle. Even better, tape it so that it is always visible.
If you lose your permit, communicate with Parking Services immediately at 514-398-4559 regarding the replacement and associated costs.
If you have two vehicles registered, you will be responsible for transferring the temporary parking permit from vehicle to vehicle. Should you realize at the time you park your vehicle that you have forgotten to transfer the permit, please contact Parking Services immediately at 514)-398-4559.
Photocopies of or physical alterations to the temporary parking permits are not authorized.
Visit the Parking Services website for more information.
Student Housing and Hospitality Services:
Student Housing and Hospitality Services welcomes more than 3,000 students to our residences each year.
Help eliminate tailgating. Tailgating (also known as piggybacking) is when unauthorized individuals gain access to a restricted area and/or building by following someone who is authorized to enter:
- Do not hold the door for anyone without a valid McGill ID and do not prop building doors open.
- Always ensure that perimeter doors are locked when leaving the residence.
- Always lock your doors when leaving your residence room.
- If you have a deadbolt in your room, make sure to secure it when you go to sleep.
As a risk analyst at McGill since 2005, Melissa Ng Wan deals with assessing and preventing potential risk exposures to ensure the safety and security of the university community through insurance and other risk transfer methods.
Risk Advisory and Insurance Services (RAIS) promotes and advances the use of risk management practices in order to protect McGill University's human and physical resources against potential loss and minimize the adverse affects should a loss occur. From research involving animals, cells and rockets, to teaching medicine, music and law, to building operation, maintenance and renovation, what goes on at a university can be a risky business. Prevention plays an essential part in the management of these risks. RAIS is happy to bring you this series of important prevention reminders to help minimize the risk of loss and damages.