FAQ
Q1: Can we have more/less/different milk?
Q3: Who should I contact about a burnt out light bulb?
Q4: It is too hot/cold/humid, what do I do?
Q5: I’ve noticed a strange noise/smell. Who do I tell?
Q8: What safety courses do I need to do?
Q9: What to do if lab equipment breaks?
Q10: Can I bring a visitor to the GSC?
Q11: I lost/forgot my card! What do I do?
Q12: I've moved desks and I want a new phone. How do I do that?
Q13: Do you have a filing cabinet for me?
Q14: What do I need to do upon permanent departure from the GSC?
Q15: What is my voicemail password?
Q1: Can we have more/less/different milk?
Every kitchen in the GSC follows a rota. Each week, a specific individual is responsible for tidying up the area and stocking up consumables like sugar and tea. If you notice that the milk order needs to be increased or decreased, contact Lab Ops.
Q2: Can we get more honey?
Due to cost restrictions, we can only purchase one jar of honey per week.
Q3: Who should I contact about a burnt out light bulb?
Contact Lab Ops, who will notify building maintenance.
Q4: It is too hot/cold/humid, what do I do?
Lab Ops should be contacted for all facilities-related issues. If we can’t fix the problem, we will contact building management.
Q5: I’ve noticed a strange noise/smell. Who do I tell?
If you notice a strange noise or smell, notify your supervisor and co-workers. Try to identify the source. If the noise/smell presents a danger, immediately evacuate the area and call 911. If you determine that the noise/smell does NOT present an immediate danger, notify Lab Ops.
Q6: Broken fridge freezer?
Fridges and freezers break down frequently at the GSC. For lab users, contents of fridges/freezers can be moved to backup units while in repair. Contact your supervisor to determine where your backup unit is. Notify Lab Ops of the malfunction. If a non-lab refrigeration unit breaks down, contact Lab Ops as well.
Q7: How do I dispose of this?
There are many different types of waste that can be generated at GSC. For comprehensive instructions on waste disposal at GSC, refer to Appendixes 10,11,12 and 13 of the GSC’s Occupational Health & Safety Manual. If further clarification is necessary, contact your lab manager or Lab Ops.
Q8: What safety courses do I need to do?
All GSC members are required to take the Fire Safety and STEPS courses, which can both be completed on the PHSA’s on-line Learning Hub. All GSC lab members are required to either take or provide certification for WHMIS training (done online), Laboratory Biosafety, and Cytotoxics Safety. The Laboratory Biosafety course is supplemented with a separate and mandatory Biological Safety Cabinet Use course, which is offered semi-annually. Depending on the nature of your work, you might be required to take the Radiation Safety course. If you’re unsure about which courses you need to take, discuss with your supervisor or contact Lab Ops.
All course certification should be submitted to Lab Ops (6-626 at Echelon, 8-113 at CRC).
Q9: What to do if lab equipment breaks?
Submit an email to repairs@bcgsc.ca. A JIRA ticket will automatically be created, and Lab Ops will contact the appropriate company and facilitate repairs.
Q10: Can I bring a visitor to the GSC?
Visitors (except children) are welcome at the GSC with approval from Lab Ops. They must be accompanied at all times, and be aware of safety measures that are pertinent to the area they are visiting. More details about our visitor policy, which includes information about media and tour groups, can be found at <visitor policy>.
Q11: I lost/forgot my card! What do I do?
Temporary access cards can be signed out from reception at Echelon. Unfortunately, temporary cards are not available at CRC. If you lose your Echelon card, a new card can be obtained by contacting Lab Ops. At Echelon, there is a $25 cost for a replacement. At CRC, there is a $20 handling fee and a $20 deposit for a replacement card. Refer to our Card Policy for more information.
Q12: I've moved desks and I want a new phone. How do I do that?
In theory, if you had a phone at your old desk, you should have brought it to your new desk. If this wasn’t possible (due to a shared phone, for example), create a JIRA ticket with Lab Ops. If a dedicated phone is necessary, we will provide you with a phone. If a dedicated line isn’t necessary, we will arrange to have your name or group added to a nearby phone, and update our directories accordingly.
Click here for more information on GSC telephone policies.
Q13: Do you have a filing cabinet for me?
We try our best to accommodate office furniture requests. The best way to go about getting a piece of furniture is to create a JIRA ticket. Lab Ops will then keep an eye out for any spare pieces. If a spare item cannot be located, we will obtain permission from your supervisor and purchase any items that are deemed necessary or critical.
Q14: What do I need to do upon permanent departure from the GSC?
Any GSC member who leaves the GSC should make an effort to clean their work space and remove any personal items from common areas. For non-lab members, this means getting rid of all used stationery, personal affects, and wiping the work area down. Materials for this purpose can be found under most kitchen sinks throughout the GSC. For lab members, this means safely disposing of any leftover reagents, ensuring that unneeded samples are discarded, and that any useful samples or reagents are clearly labeled and organized. It is a good idea to consult with your supervisor to determine what needs to be done before you depart.
If you had a nameplate during your time with the GSC, please leave it behind. Also, please return any access cards you had during your stay.
Q15: What is my voicemail password?
If you've never changed it, your voicemail password is probably one of the defaults: 112233 or 123456. If you've changed it, and forgotten it, create a JIRA ticket for labops by emailing repairs@bcgsc.ca and ask us to have it reset for you.