Occupational Health Program
Welcome to the Occupational Health Program, HSE's comprehensive in-house program that seeks to protect the health and well-being of UBC employees. The program is designed to help UBC staff, faculty and students recognize health risks in their workplace and provide proactive strategies to eliminate or minimize those risks.
Can your workplace impact your health? Can your health impact your workplace?
The University is committed to the protection of employees from occupational hazards, including, but not limited to, the potential health risks associated with exposure to blood and body fluids, and airborne contaminants. Your health depends on breathing clean air; however, in your work environment respiratory hazards may be present. These hazards are often invisible and can cause health problems if you're exposed to them without personal protection.
Other risks posed in the work environment may include the risk of acquiring infectious diseases. If you are unimmunized or incompletely immunized, you may not only be at risk of infection yourself but also at risk of passing on diseases to others. Being fully up-to-date with all of your shots is not only the best way to safeguard yourself, but it also helps protect the entire community. As Minister of Healthy Living and Sport Ida Chong says, "When it comes to protecting your health, getting immunized is as important as having safe water, as vaccines have been proven to both prolong and save lives."
Our Story
Focus on People, Strategy #1 identified the implementation of a comprehensive Medical Surveillance Program for faculty and staff as an institutional priority. The Department of Health, Safety and Environment (Vancouver) spearheaded this priority through the development of a comprehensive program that can be applied to both UBC campus locations. Although the commissioning of the Containment Level III facility at the Life Sciences Centre (LSC) at UBC Vancouver initiated the implementation of the Medical Surveillance Program, it currently has expanded to serve all employees whose work involves potential risk factors. Examples of employees served by the program include the research community, Building Operations, and Student Housing and Hospitality Services.
The need for preventative services for the Okanagan Campus was determined by a risk survey conducted in April 2010. In response to these findings the Department of Health, Safety and Environment (Okanagan) is expanding their current Occupational Health Program to include health services such as health assessments and health monitoring, immunizations, respiratory protection and post exposure follow up. In December 2010 UBC Okanagan hired an Occupational Health Nurse to initiate program expansion which was followed by partnering with a local Medical Specialist to provide clinical expertise for the program.
OHP is set to launch these new services in the summer of 2011, which will be rolled out as a multiphase pilot program. Enrollment will begin with respiratory protection and immunizations for high risk groups and will expand to include all risk groups. As the program unfolds, further services such as audiometric testing referrals will be provided.
Our Services
- Immunization
- Ergonomic assessments
- Health assessment and monitoring
- Human blood/body fluid and infectious agent exprosure follow up
- Medical advice for animal handlers
- Respiratory protection assessment and testing
- Flu prevention
- Referrals for audiometric (hearing) tests
Our Clients
We currently offer targeted programs to a variety of employee groups including those who:
• are exposed to animals and/or human blood and body fluids
• experience a hazardous materials exposure incident
• experience an infectious agent exposure incident
• have potential for musculoskeletal injury
• work in areas where loud noises are a concern
Employees become enrolled in the OHP when they are identified as having exposures in the workplace. They may be identified by their supervisor, by self-referral, or through enrolment in HSE safety courses. Employees who have previously participated in a respirator fit test will be contacted for their annual screening and offered further services through the program.
We encourage employees to provide feedback on issues surrounding their occupational health so that we may continue to grow to meet the demands of the UBC community. If you have a question about your health in the workplace, please contact us.
Privacy
OHP respects the individual employee's dignity, privacy of personal information and confidentiality of personal health information at all times. Data is collected in compliance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (1996) and the Personal Information Protection Act (2004) and formal retention schedules in conformance with UBC policies and procedures.
Have a question about your workplace health? Please contact us to find out more.
Last reviewed 
12/1/2011 9:27:02 AM
Occupational Health Program Team
Toni Harfield, RN, BSN
Occupational Health Nurse
toni.harfield@ubc.ca
250-807-8867
Dr. Gary Victor
Occupational Health Physician
By referral from OHN
Program Location:
Health, Safety, and Environment
Arts Bldg, Room 223
Mailing Address:
The University of British Columbia -Okanagan Campus
Health, Safety and Environment
Occupational Health Program
3333 University Way, Room A223A
Kelowna, BC V1V 1V7
