![]() One of the key units advising the EOC and its subcommittees since the appearance of COVID-19 has been Environmental Health and Safety (EHS). The EOC’s mandate is to oversee the continuity of activities in accordance with government directives and public health and safety guidelines. ![]() Run by the Emergency Management and Preparedness staff at CPS, the EOC brings together representatives from many areas of the University, from academic, administrative and operational units to legal and communications advisors. We will only authorize access to additional buildings if we are confident that we can provide a healthy and safe environment,” says Pierre Barbarie, Director of Campus Public Safety (CPS) and EOC Director for the COVID-19 response. “The health and safety of our community is the top guiding principle right now. “Shifts are staggered so we can meet physical distancing requirements.” Health and safety firstĮfficient cleaning protocols, proper signage and adequate provisioning of PPE are some of the factors going into the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC)’s assessment of whether the University can safely proceed with the next phase of the phase-in. “Over 250 employees from FMAS have been working regularly on campus, many of them every day, especially since the start of the ramp-up of research and construction activities,” says Denis Mondou, newly-appointed Associate Vice-Principal, FMAS. ![]() These operations all fall under Facilities Management and Ancillary Services (FMAS), arguably the McGill unit that has had the most staff working on McGill campuses since mid-March. Moreover, all drinking water pipes are flushed before the reopening of a building. “We are purging the indoor air out of the buildings and reprogramming each of the HVAC systems to increase outdoor air intake, up to 100 per cent fresh air, where possible,” says Dominic Gagnon, HVAC Manager.Īlthough viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 are not known to spread through HVAC systems, McGill is taking the additional precaution of maximizing outdoor air intake, in accordance with recommendations from the industry and public health experts. Meanwhile, the Building Operations team has also been busy getting the buildings ready for the reopening of labs. “Users are responsible for cleaning their work surfaces and equipment.”īuildings and Grounds also receives all orders of personal protective equipment (PPE), such as masks, gloves and disinfectants, and delivers them to the labs. In the case of high-touch surfaces, it’s done every two hours,” Lazaris explains. “We clean and disinfect all common areas. Especially demanding since Lazaris’s unit is also responsible for cleaning and disinfecting the buildings. ![]() “This second group of buildings was demanding,” Lazaris says of the seven research-intensive buildings that were part of Phase 2 of the gradual research ramp-up. His team has been busy installing the signage that will direct the building users to the designated entrances and exits, provide instructions on how to use the elevators, and remind them of hygiene and physical distancing directives. George Lazaris, Director of Buildings and Grounds, is making a final visit to the buildings that are scheduled to open next. It is late May and the progressive ramping up of research activities is underway at McGill. Director of Buildings and Grounds George Lazaris and his team oversee the installation of new signage in McGill buildings before they reopen, in addition to the cleaning and disinfecting of common areas and the delivery of PPE to the labs. ![]()
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