IHM News - Winter 2013

Volume 50, Winter 2013

Canadian Publications Mail Agreement # 40739009

ENHANCING THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS OF PROPERTY MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONALS

Inside President's Message.......2 RADON: Buildings Harbour Invisible Cancer Agent .............................. 3 Avoiding Human Rights Complaints ..................... 6 IHM Profiles Its Members ........................ 7 Conducting Better Fire Safety Inspections ..........8 Winter Storm Safety Tips................................10 IHM Certificate in Property Management & Course Completion .................. 12 New IHM Members..... 12 IHM’s Annual In-Class Course.......................... 13 IHM Annual Conference Program at a Glance ....14 IHM Annual Conference Program at a Glance ....14

IHM News • Winter

Conducting Better Fire Safety Inspections

P r e s i d e n t ’s M e s s a g e

Hello Members, On behalf of your IHM Board of Directors, this winter newsletter comes with best wishes to all for a safe, happy and prosperous New Year.

How was your 2012? Did you accomplish all, or some, of your goals? Have you made strategic plans for 2013 in either your professional or personal life, or both? At the end of the year many of us often look back and ponder, in one way or another, about the events that happened and the accomplishments achieved. IHM has achieved excellent progress at sustaining our educational program and efforts to move forward with partnerships that will help continue our collective success. 2012 was one of the busiest years ever for the IHM education program, students through Humber College totaled 245 and distance learning students totaled 224; an increase of 25 students over 2011. Congratulations to all involved in supporting the IHM education program, it is such a critical part of our mandate. I encourage all AIHM members to contact the IHM administration team to see if you can help with the education program in a way that suits your availability, your involvement with the Institute is invaluable so thank you in advance! The 2012 IHM Educational Conference was another achievement very well done by all that planned, presented and attended. Opportunities to advance and strengthen education and accreditation offered by IHM were seized in 2012 and will continue to be a focus in the upcoming year.

Because IHM is an association of property management professionals offering accreditation, ongoing educational and knowledge building opportunities, an article in this newsletter should be of particular interest to all of you. The article is about the hidden dangers of Radon, a radioactive, colourless, odourless gas that is naturally occurring and can potentially be found in any home or rental property. This is information that we need to know, and it is information that we need to share with each other. You can help your IHM colleagues by remembering to visit our website, www.ihm-canada.com, and share links, or stories, about industry related issues through the ‘news submission’ option provided.

Finally, a reminder to all of you that in April 2013 there will be another excellent opportunity for IHM members and colleagues to gain industry knowledge and education; the annual IHM Education Conference “Making it Work: Professional & Practical Tools of the Trade” is shaping up to be a fantastic conference. The conference and other learning opportunities will take place the week of April 15-19, 2013 at the Delta Meadowvale in Mississauga and we hope to see you there!

Take care everyone,

Kevin O’Hara, MPA, AIHM, CMM III IHM President

IHM News • Winter 2013

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Feature

RADON: Buildings Harbour Invisible Cancer Agent

By Bruce Decker C.E.T., ROHT, BSSO NEHA/NRPP and NRSB/C-NRPP Certified MTE Consultants Inc.

ccording to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Radon, a radioactive, colourless and odourless gas, is the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers and the second leading cause of lung cancer overall accounting for about 21,000 lung cancer deaths annually. Approximately 2,900 of these deaths occur among people who have never smoked and lung cancer now surpasses breast cancer as the number one cause of death among women.

Second hand smoke is the third leading cause of lung cancer and is responsible for an estimated 3,000 lung cancer deaths every year.1

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(Bq/m3) from the previous allowable level of 800 Bq/m3. A Becquerel is a unit of radioactivity which equals one disintegration (nuclear decay and subsequent release of radiation) every second. As with all known human carcinogens the ALARA principal, or As Low As Reasonably Achievable, is the overall guiding principal used to protect human health. Therefore if one can practically reduce exposure further it should be attempted. Health Canada has estimated that “about 7 percent of Canadians are living in homes above the radon guideline of 200 Bq/m3” which equates to approximately 2.4 million Canadians who are likely overexposed to radon.

Lung cancer from radon exposure is completely preventable. So why does it not get the same or more attention as its very distant and trailing competitor second hand smoke? In recent years Health Canada has been very active at getting the message out, it’s just not main stream, yet. Health Canada has actively been promoting an illness prevention campaign to protect the health of Canadians and help reduce the treatment burden placed on the health care system. It has been estimated that “in the Unites States the annual direct and indirect health care costs due to radon induced lung cancer is over $2 billion dollars annually.”2

Bill182 - An Act to raise awareness about radon, provide for the Ontario Radon Registry and reduce radon levels in dwellings and workplaces, is a Private Members Bill currently under review and awaiting third reading by the Ontario Legislature. If passed the Bill will define a workplace as having the same meaning as the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act and will place duties on owners of workplaces to test for radon and mitigate

In keeping pace with other health agencies Health Canada revised the allowable exposure value for radon in 2007 to 200 Becquerels per cubic metre of air

IHM News • Winter 2013

where levels exceed 200 Bq/m3. A deadline for completion of testing of December 31, 2016 has been stipulated.

The Act further mandates that testing be conducted by a “radon measurement specialist”. Failure for an individual to conduct the testing is a contravention of the Act and upon conviction carries a maximum fine of $25,000 or imprisonment for a maximum term of 12 months.

If a corporation is convicted of an offence a maximum fine of $500,000 can be imposed. The Bill also amends the Building Code Act, 1992 by “requiring any building that will be used as a dwelling to be constructed in a manner and using materials that minimize radon entry and facilitate post-construction radon removal”.

As radon decays, it produces other radioactive materials called progeny (or daughters) such as polonium, bismuth, and lead. These materials, depending on their various isotopes, have half-lives of minutes to milliseconds. Here in lies the danger. Once the radon has entered the building it can easily be inhaled continued on page 4

Table 1: Threshold criteria for indoor radon levels and typical outdoor levels World Health Organization

100 Bq/m³

2.7 pCi/L

U.S. EPA

150 Bq/m³

4.0 pCi/L

Health Canada

200 Bq/m³

5.4 pCi/L

Outdoor Ambient Range

5 to 15 Bq/m³

0.1 to 0.4 pCi/L

Bq/m3 = Becquerel per cubic metre of air (1 becquerel = 1 disintegration per second) – SI Unit pCi/L = Picocurie per litre of air (1 Picocurie = 0.037 disintegrations per second) American Unit

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deeply into the lungs. Consequently building occupants now have hundreds to thousands of radioactive isotopes decaying inside their body bombarding sensitive fully exposed lung tissue with alpha and beta radiation. The key fact to remember is that this is now an inter-

Once solid uranium decays to radon it becomes a mobile gas that can move through the pore spaces in soil and rock and find escape to the atmosphere or a pathway into a building. Radon has a radioactive half-life of 3.8 days which means it will take about 38 days to fully

Many of the soils in North America are broken up bits of uranium rich Canadian Shield rock that was bulldozed, pulverized washed and spread by the glaciers and their melt water. This crushed up gravel and soil now has more radon emission surfaces than the parent rock

‘In fact, a phenomenon called “stack effect”, the same force that draws hot smoke up a chimney, turns most all buildings into a low pressure vacuum that actively sucks soil gas and radon into it.’ nal dose of radiation where the body’s layer or dead skin can offer no protection from the alpha or beta radiation.

This exposure increases an individual’s risk of lung cancer just as smoking does, which as a society we have taken steps to control.

Radon is a naturally occurring colourless and odourless radioactive gas that is created from the radioactive decay of uranium. A large amount of the earth’s crust is made up of uranium baring rock.

Canada, and particularly Ontario, is a major source and producer of uranium.

Nine of the fifteen closed and decommissioned uranium mines in Canada reside in Ontario.3 Between 2004 and 2008 Canada retained its position as the world leader in uranium production, accounting for about 29% of global output. In 2008, Canadian uranium production output totalled 9000 tonnes of uranium metal.4 This demonstrates that we need not travel far to find a source of uranium as there is plenty literally in our own backyards. Unrefined uranium barring rock is not intensely radioactive. It does however have a radioactive half-life of around 4.5 billion years, so the source is not going anywhere soon and certainly not within the next few generations. It would take approximately another 40 billion years (give or take a few millennia) for the world’s current natural uranium barring rock to deplete itself. So there is plenty of uranium available to degrade to radon and increase cancer risk across the country.

IHM News • Winter 2013

decay. Therefore, Radon gas has plenty of time to migrate from the rock or soil into and throughout a building. In fact, a phenomenon called “stack effect”, the same force that draws hot smoke up a chimney, turns most all buildings into a low pressure vacuum that actively sucks soil gas and radon into it. A house or multi-story building will act just like a chimney where warm buoyant air rises and escapes from the upper floors. This causes a vacuum in the lower floors and basement causing the radon to migrate towards and into the building. The force of stack effect is impossible to negate with typical construction and ventilation design. Therefore even in a brand new home with the latest air tight construction, radon will quite readily enter the building.

The United States has been conducting radon testing and mitigation in buildings for decades, so why has Canada not followed suit? I often hear the multitudes of counter arguments: “my house doesn’t sit on bedrock or uranium mine tailings”, or “the geology in this area does not support radon”. The ultimate excuse is the “it’s naturally occurring we can’t get away from it”. Outdoor radon levels range between 5 to 15 Bq/m3 which is very low . Using our buildings, where the average person spends approximately 90% of their time, like vacuums to suck up and concentrate radioactive contamination in an enclosed space is far from a natural exposure, and is far from what our bodies are able to deal with.

did. Experts in the United States and Canada have shown that predicting a building’s indoor radon concentration based purely on geographic location is inaccurate and unsafe. Houses located side- by-side can and do show significantly different results. The only way to know what the radon concentrations in a building are is to test it.

Air testing is easily done by deploying a small sampling detector in the lowest lived-in level of the building and leaving it undisturbed for a period of time.

Depending on the sampling method used, sample durations range from 24 hours to one year. Health Canada recommends sample durations of 3 to 12 months and never less than 1 month.

The reason for such long sample durations is to compensate for fluctuations in radon concentrations from daily and seasonal weather, occupant activity, and other inherent variables. This provides a much more representative exposure value assessment than short duration samples. All sampling should be done by a “radon measurement specialist” to ensure accurate and defensible results.

Health Canada has published the Guide for Radon Measurements in Residential Dwellings (Homes); the Guide for Radon Measurements in Public Buildings (Schools, Hospitals, Care Facilities, Detention Centres), and Reducing Radon Levels in Existing Homes: A Canadian Guide for Professional Contractors to provide direction on proper assessment and mitigation of radon. The guidelines stipulate testing

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should be conducted in the lowest-level occupied (occupied by an individual for more than 4 hours per day) in all rooms simultaneously. If no basement exists within the building, the ground floor rooms are tested instead. Further details are provided on testing methods, sample locations, detector placement, minimum number of samples per square area and proper quality control measures during sampling and analysis.

The sample requirements vary depending on the building use. In particular, schools and hospitals have greater and more prescriptive sampling requirements. Some of the significant requirements are: • Testing of all rooms with floors of walls that contact ground or are above a crawl space; • A minimum of 1 detector every 200 m2 of floor space for larger rooms; • Sampling of every third room on floors above the lowest occupied level; • Sampling of every third room on the top floor of the building; • Sampling of every third room of every fifth floor for multi-story buildings; and • For schools, the numerical correcting of measured values to reflect the weighted average radon concentration during school hours.

Table 2: Health Canada recommended remedial action time lines Radon Concentration

Recommended Remedial Action Time

> 600 Bq/m3

In less than 1 year

200 Bq/m3 to 600 Bq/m3

In less than 2 years

<200 Bq/m3

No Action Required

mented to ensure it is operating properly. Regardless of whether or not a mitigation system is installed, retesting should be conducted whenever major renovations are performed.

There are several ways to mitigate radon levels in a building and each building is unique and requires careful consideration of cost verses benefit to optimize health and safety with available funds.

The most effective and perhaps preferred method of mitigation is sub-slab depressurization (SSD). A typical SSD system involves coring holes through the basement floor slab and installing draw piping and an air tight in-line fan that exhausts to outdoors. A small fan generates a slight negative air pressure relative to the building interior under the floor slab. This prevents the radon from entering the building and vents it outdoors for dissipation where it is diluted to an acceptable level. Care must be taken in exhaust placement to ensure that radon is not exhausted where it could be re-entrained into the subject building or drawn into a neighbouring building.

Radon measurement specialists and mitigation contractors must meet an acceptable level of expertise to be granted proficiency status.

The National Environmental Health Association / National Radon Proficiency Program (USA) NEHA/NRPP - and the National Radon Safety Board / Canadian National Environmental Health Association NRSB / C-NRPP designations are proof that an individual possesses the requisite skills and knowledge to conduct radon testing, assessment and mitigation.

A Radon Potential map of Canada has recently been completed which can aid in determining if you reside in a high risk area. A link to purchase the Radon Potential Map of Canada and a list of accredited measurement providers and mitigation contractors can be found on the Canadian Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists (CARST) website at www.carst.ca. It is clear however that the map cannot be used as a replacement for testing a building.

The only way to know what the radon concentrations in a building are is to test it. n

Once sampling is complete the results are simply compared to the 200 Bq/m3 criterion as a pass or fail. If the building has elevated radon concentrations mitigation measures to reduce the concentration should be implemented within a reasonable time frame.

Health Canada concludes that short term tests of less than 2 days in duration should not be used to determine mitigation requirements and should ultimately be followed up with a long term test.

Short term tests, however, do practically serve the important purpose of determining if mitigation measures have been effective upon completion of implementation. Most health agencies recommend a building be retested every 2 years after a mitigation system is imple-

IHM News • Winter 2013

Join us at IHM’s 2013 Annual General Meeting Thursday, April 18, 2013 Delta Meadowvale Hotel & Conference Centre Mississauga, ON Our AGM will be held in conjunction with the 2013 Annual Educational Conference.

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Legal Corner

Avoiding Human Rights Complaints

By Krista Siedlak Bernardi Human Resource Law

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English may be discriminatory if it is not an essential duty of the position.

tatistics published by the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal for the first two quarters of the 2012-2013 fiscal year demonstrate that approximately 70% of applicants are self-represented.

This is significant because it means more individuals are pursuing claims without the deterrent of legal fees, making employers even more vulnerable. In light of these statistics, it is imperative to ensure that you are operating in accordance with the Code, whether it is at the time of hire, during the course of employment, or as part of your decision to terminate.

During Employment 1. Use employment policies and apply them consistently with all employees.

Do not play favourites.

2. Be flexible. Allow employees to meet their personal and family obligations such as by implementing a flextime policy or giving them personal days off.

3. Implement a harassment policy and educate all employees about what is and is not harassment. A training program is an essential part of your duty to provide a harassment-free workplace and will go a long way to preventing problems.

The objective of this article is to provide you with some helpful tips on how you can avoid human rights complaints during the various stages of the employment relationship: from hiring right through to termination.

The Hiring Process 1. Use the phrase “equal opportunity employer” in your job advertisements and mean it. Base your selection decisions on a candidate’s qualifications, not extraneous things like hobbies or other information that you discovered while conducting a background check.

2. Do not request Facebook passwords or ask candidates to show you their personal Facebook pages since doing so could give you access to prohibited information.

3. Examine your job ad to ensure that it is not discriminatory, either directly or indirectly.

IHM News • Winter 2013

4. Ensure that your application forms do not request information you are not entitled to have, such as marital status, citizenship or the name of the schools a candidate has attended.

5. Confirm that everyone involved in the hiring process has been properly trained on what questions they can and cannot ask potential employees.

6. If you are using a selection test with potential candidates, make sure it only tests the duties of the particular position you are filling.

7. Make certain the qualifications you require are directly related to the duties of the position. For example, requiring candidates to be fluent in

4. Ensure you provide equal access to training and other learning opportunities, as well as promote based on objective criteria.

5. Train your managers and supervisors in how to manage effectively and fairly, and on avoiding unintentional discrimination (such as disciplining employees of colour more harshly).

Also, provide coaching to them, as necessary, on how to deal with employee concerns as they arise.

6. Review your compensation practices to ensure that they are not discriminatory.

7. Recognize and accommodate disabilities. Work with employees to help them perform the duties of their job.

Perform a physical demands analysis

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so that you know what is required in the position.

8. Implement an accommodation policy that outlines both your obligations and that of your employees.

9. Provide training to managers on the duty to accommodate and on managing mental health issues in the workplace.

End of Employment 1. Irrespective of if you are doing a mass termination or an isolated termination, ensure that your decision to terminate is in no way related to one of the 16 prohibited grounds of discrimination.

2. During downsizing, make sure that the selection criteria is objective and doesn’t result in discrimination against employees based on the protected grounds of discrimination.

5. If terminating an employee, provide the grounds for the termination and do not engage in a debate with the employee during the termination interview process. Handle the termination meeting with dignity and respect and provide support services, if possible.

6. If absenteeism is the basis for termination, ensure that it is not related to disability, family or marital status, or religious practice.

7. Do not have a mandatory retirement policy. If you decide to offer an “early retirement” package in the course of restructuring and/or downsizing to promote voluntary exits, ensure that they are truly voluntary and in no way coercive.

3. Apply your termination or end of employment policies consistently.

8. Conduct a thorough exit interview of all departing employees to ensure that discrimination under the Code is not one of the reasons for the departure and place the corresponding notes in the former employee’s personnel file.

4. Ensure that the termination is not based on the employee’s conduct that was a response to discriminatory treatment from co-workers.

9. If you are providing a severance package, ensure that the release addresses any potential human rights complaints.

For the Tribunal to make a finding of discrimination, the employee or former employee must establish, on a balance of probabilities, that discrimination has occurred. Once this has been established, an employer must demonstrate that its decision-making process and policies were reasonable and made in accordance with the Code. At the end of the day, if you have done your due diligence and followed the tips outlined above, you will be better equipped to defend any potential human rights complaints, and will be rewarded with a better organization in the process.

Krista Siedlak is a lawyer and HR Advisor with the boutique firm Bernardi Human Resource Law. Krista provides strategic and practical advice on all aspects of human resource law. She works extensively in the field of workplace respect and harassment, ranging from training managers and employees, to conducting workplace audits and investigations, to resolving complaints.

Krista speaks and writes frequently, including at the Human Resource Professionals Association and Osgoode Professional Development Program. n

IHM Profiles Its Members

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o far, we’ve shared an overview of what the average IHM member looks like and their educational achievements. In this issue, we’ll see where they’re employed.

Employment is primarily in local or regional governmental housing authorities, but a number of members are employed in private sector property management, non-profit housing and co-op housing:

IHM News • Winter 2013

Municipal Housing Corp. ......41.0% Private sector property management ..........................16.9% Non-profit housing ................13.3% Co-op housing ........................12.0% Facilities ....................................4.8% Not currently employed in the industry ..............................3.6% Just over 85% of members are employed in an urban or suburban setting, with the largest group (about two-thirds) being in an urban setting. As might be expected, therefore, about half of members work in

organizations with greater than 1,000 units under management, and slightly over 40% work for organizations with budgets greater than $10 million dollars; over half work with budgets greater than $5 million dollars.

One quarter of members are (nonCEO) housing managers, and a slightly smaller number are either property managers or assistant property managers. About 9% identified themselves as being in non-management positions. n

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Fire and Life Safety Corner

Conducting Better Fire Safety Inspections

By Carola Hicks

different areas within a single facility or to monitor the same area on an ongoing basis.

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liminating fire hazards is a central part of any workplace safety program. Basic tasks include ensuring that exits are clear and unobstructed; that there are appropriate, easily accessible fire extinguishers and that people are trained in using them! These seem straightforward; however, in reality are often overlooked. When employers fail to carry out these tasks, sadly such breakdowns can lead to fatalities.

The key is to remain constantly vigilant for problems such as obstructed exits and malfunctioning fire extinguishers, so they can be corrected before fire breaks out (or an inspector finds them for you). Forming fire inspection teams, to conduct regular inspections and ensure that those teams know what they’re doing, is a good way to ensure compliance with fire safety requirements. It’s a training imperative. And providing those teams a questionnaire is a good way to ensure that those teams do their inspections effectively.

Simply training workers is not enough.

They need procedures and forms to ensure effectiveness of their roles. A questionnaire, that describes what to check during each inspection, is a powerful tool.

What the Law Requires

Keep inspections short and focused: A well organized questionnaire enables team members to do an appropriate and thorough inspection.

Among other things, each exit must be clearly visible and continuously maintained so that it’s free of obstructions or impediments.

The Portable Fire Extinguishers Standard sets requirements governing the placement, use, maintenance and testing of portable fire extinguishers.

Among other things, portable fire extinguishers must be mounted, located and identified so that they’re readily accessible. They must also be fully operational at all times and visually inspected at least once a month. Workers expected to use fire extinguishers must also be trained how to do so.

Standards that address fire safety in the workplace include:

Your Model Questionnaire helps to:

The Means of Egress Standard requires that exits are available to escape from fires and other emergencies.

Standardize inspections: A questionnaire results in standardization of inspections.

For example, it enables you to compare

IHM News • Winter 2013

Identify and correct problems early: A questionnaire can be tailored to the uniqueness of your facility. For example, if your fire exit is near a heavy vehicular traffic area, you can design the questionnaire to ensure that there is a safe meeting area if evacuation is necessary.

Build fire safety awareness: Having fire safety teams conduct inspections builds awareness not just among team members but also residents. A well designed questionnaire can maximize the awareness-building function for all parties in a housing complex.

After inspections, hold meetings with facility managers to discuss the findings.

This is especially valuable when inspections reveal major or recurring safety problems. Appoint somebody to take charge of corrective actions and set a deadline. Once the deadline passes, do a follow-up inspection to verify that corrections have been made.

Carola Hicks graduated from the University of Toronto and worked as a healthcare provider for more than 40 years. Carola is CEO of Workplace Safety Group, a company providing Occupational Health & Safety solutions to help clients achieve due diligence compliance.

Toll-free:1-866-347-7707 E-mail:carola@workplacesafetygroup.com Web: www.workplacesafetygroup.com n

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Sample Questionnaire for Housing Complexes INSPECTION INFORMATION Inspection Date: Inspecting Team Member: Area/Location Inspected: Inspectorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Signature:

1. Are all exit doors clearly marked?

Yes No If no, explain:

7. Are there any signs of corrosion or mechanical damage to any of the portable fire extinguishers?

Yes

No

If yes, describe including extinguisher(s) and location(s): 2. Are all exits and exit routes unobstructed?

Yes

No

If no, explain:

3. Are there any doorways that could be mistaken for exits Yes

No

8. What is the last inspection date shown on each fire extinguisher (list each one separately)

If no, explain:

4. Do people know where portable fire extinguishers are located?

Yes

No

Corrective Actions to be taken:

If no, explain:

5. Are individuals trained to use portable fire extinguishers?

Yes

Date for corrective actions to be completed:

No

Should this instruction be provided?

Yes

No

6. Have any portable fire extinguishers been removed from the area?

Yes

No

If yes, has equivalent protection been provided?

Yes No Explain:

IHM News â&#x20AC;˘ Winter 2013

Carola Hicks graduated from the University of Toronto and worked as a healthcare provider for more than 40 years. Carola is CEO of Workplace Safety Group, a company providing Occupational Health & Safety solutions to help clients achieve due diligence compliance.

Toll-free:1-866-347-7707 E-mail:carola@workplacesafetygroup.com Web: www.workplacesafetygroup.com

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Feature

Winter Storm Safety Tips Source: The Electrical Safety Authority December 2012 - www.esasafe.com

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inter is upon us, bringing the promise of snow, ice and strong winds. As we brace for a cold and snowy season, the Electrical Safety Authority wants to ensure that you and your loved ones are prepared for potential electrical safety hazards, such as downed powerlines and flooding.

Severe and even fatal injuries can occur by touching or even being in close proximity to powerlines and electrical wires.

The flow of electricity through the human body can burn, severely injure or kill. That leaves no room for mistakes â&#x20AC;&#x201C; never put yourself in electricityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s path.

In the community: 3 Downed powerlines may be live.

Stay at least 35 feet or 11 meters away as electricity can travel through water and the ground around powerlines. Immediately report any downed wires to the local hydro company and call 911.

Remain well back.

3 Refrain from clearing snow, ice or storm debris until the power is disconnected or powerlines are repaired.

3 If a powerline lands on your vehicle, remain in the vehicle until emergency responders arrive.

Exiting a vehicle that has been contacted by a live powerline is extremely dangerous. Similarly, do not attempt to assist someone in a vehicle touched by powerlines.

IHM News â&#x20AC;˘ Winter 2013

Around your home: 3 Heavy accumulation of snow and ice can bring trees and branches down onto powerlines causing blackouts and electrically charged hazards. Inspect the trees surrounding your property and call your local hydro company to trim branches away from overhead powerlines.

3 Stay warm, cozy and safe. Do your research before buying portable heaters and electrical blankets and ensure they bear a recognized certification mark.

3 Melting snow and ice can contribute to flooding. Beware if water gets into your home as electrical systems may be affected. If you suspect damage to your electrical system, contact a licensed electrical contractor to make the repair.

3 When flood water rises above electrical outlets or power cords or is near the service panel, it could be energized. Contact your local hydro company to disconnect the power immediately.

3 Do not plug in or attempt to use electrical appliances that have been wet until they have been checked by a licensed electrical contractor or serviced by the manufacturer.

correctly, can provide security and comfort during power outages.

Only use in dry, well ventilated areas and never connect portable generators to electrical appliances or wiring components that have been impacted by flood water.

3 Portable generators can cause electrical hazards if connected or used incorrectly. Check the generator and all component parts to ensure that they have been approved by a recognized certification agency.

Portable generators that are permanently installed into your electrical wiring are required to have a transfer device to protect your home and the utility system by preventing generator power from flowing back into the utility system.

For more information on electrical safety when stormy weather hits, visit: http://www.powerlinesafety.info/stormy _weather.php.

The Electrical Safety Authority's (ESA) role is to enhance public electrical safety in Ontario.

As a delegated administrative authority acting on behalf of the Government of Ontario, ESA is responsible for administering specific regulations related to the Ontario Electrical Safety Code, the licensing of Electrical Contractors and Master Electricians, electricity distribution system safety, and electrical product safety. ESA works extensively with stakeholders throughout the province on education, training and promotion to foster electrical safety across the province. n

3 Portable generators, when used

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Education

IHM Certificate in Property Management & Course Completion Program Completion Certificates Elizabeth Black Daniel Budahazy Jennie Richardson

Strategic and Financial Planning for Property Managers Sandra Blake Andrew Acchione Byron Bucknor Naime Busho Darlene Curran Antonia David-Yap Bita Di Lisi Florin Dragomirescu Lancelot D'Souza Claudia Frutos Roman Gbego-Tossa Tasadduq Javed Sal minardi Asif Minhas Tereza Moguilevskaia Anna Nosek Swetlana Nwaokoro Jonathan Pioquinto Sandra M. Ruffolo Wendy Singh nadezda Siuda Alexandre Tavares Esteban Vergara Jack Yong

Building Maintenance for Property Managers Reneta BakarlievaFidanaova Paul Banman Viktor Basha Claude Boulos

IHM News â&#x20AC;˘ Winter 2013

Tal Frenkel Justin Gibson Jennifer Goldstone Oksana Guchok Joshua Heffern Hans-Samuel Hirsbrunner Don Jones Alexanra Koumoudouros Lyne Labelle Stephanie G. Lake Kirk Lumsden Edgar Moreno Rodriguez Carmen Puoolo Ardin Qoraliu Andrea Reynolds Kaelen N. Sherman Liisa Taskila Brad Toulouse Rick Tuzi Elvira Vigo Sabina Zecirovic

Human Relations for Property Managers Vivian J. Abraham Ahmed Ali Deeq Ali Sajeenthan Anton Marlon Arscott Irene Bazos Lorrane Boodhai Claude Boulos Susan Campbell-Emans Elizabeth Castillo Elena Certain Elifa Chan Human Relations Kathiresu Cheliyan Colleen Cybulski Nancy Dart Nadia Eroshok Anne-Marie Fobert-Poirier

Charles Frankland Elvira Gabbassova Justin Gibson Johan Hernandez-Bolanos Hans-Samuel Hirsbrunner Manoranjini Jeyanthan Jacqueline Kariuki Shu Wa Lee Debbie Mayerhofer Paul McGrory Uros Milenkovic Edgar Moreno Rodriguez Adrian Morina Vipul Patel Carmen Puopolo Jeffrey Radun Jacqueline Rosettani Joanne Seip Rakesh Sharma Kaelen N. Sherman Oana Stanila Sri Indah Tansaningrum Rayka Todorova Ayla Vandermeulen Karen Van Dyk Vikram Verma Tracy Wylie Ilir Xhaxhka

Welcome to Our New Members Accredited Members Monique Bertrand Sandra Stiff Laura Cristina Vivas

Corporate Membership Homestarts Incorporated

New Candidate Members Alex Ardeleanu Marlon Arscott Kala Caley-Neal Sharon Carolan-McKinnon Josie Cuirrier Nancy Dart Kelly Edmonds Sandi Enns LeRoy Gillingham

Property & Building Administration Paul Banman Sadia Jagroop Jessica Mackenzie Cheryl Porter

Brunilda Hyka Janet-Lea Law Debbie Mayerhofer Jennifer O'Farrell Beata Roszak Joanne Seip Nadezda Siuda Stephen So Sina Talaei

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Sign Up Today for IHM's Annual In-Class Course!

IHM is pleased to announce that the Building Maintenance for Property Managers Course (one of the four core courses within the Institute's Certificate In Property Management program) will be offered in an in-class format.

Registration Includes:

The course will be offered in a rigorous five day format beginning Monday, April 15th to Friday, April 19th, 2013

Course manual, handouts, breaks and lunch for four days, breakfast for five days and dinner on Thursday April 18th.

The purpose of this course is to provide an understanding of maintenance management services for those involved in the property management sector or a related field. It will give a general overview of management systems, such as the principles of residential construction, building science(s), specification writing, managementâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s responsibility for the management of life safety systems, contract management, and the impact of the Construction Lien Act.

New non-members who complete the course will receive a one-time complimentary Candidate Membership until December 31st, 2013.

A certificate of completion will be awarded to all attendees upon successful completion of the course. The final exam will be written onsite at the end of the course and students will be notified of their final mark within two weeks of the course.

For a list of benefits of membership with IHM please visit the website at www.ihm-canada.com

IHM students are encouraged to take advantage of this unique opportunity for an in-class learning environment outside of a community college.

Building Maintenance for Property Managers Monday, April 15th to Friday, April 19th, 2013

Hotel Accommodation

SPACE IS LIMITED - Last Day to Register is Monday, March 25th, 2013. No cancellation will be accepted after March 25th, 2012.

Note: IHM will courier the course manual on March 26th as students may be required to read and complete certain chapters from the manual prior to the course, so strict adherence to published registration deadlines will be observed.

To register, please complete the following or register online at www.ihm-canada.com m Member

Name:

m Non-Member

Organization:

Prov:

Phone:

Email:

For reservations call 905-5424003 or 1-800-422-8238.

Be sure to mention you're attending the IHM Conference (Group Booking LEIHM0413).

Reservations must be made by March 13, 2013 to guarantee rates and availability Special Rate: $139.00 single/double

Address: City:

Delta Meadowvale Hotel & Conference Centre 6750 Mississauga Road, Mississauga, ON L5N 2L3

Postal Code:

Method of Payment

Registration Fees: Fee

HST

Total

Member

$595.00

$77.35 = $ 672.35

Non-Member

$695.00

$90.35 = $785.35

Total Due: $

m Cheque

m Visa

Card Number:

m M/C

m Amex Exp:

/

Signature: Printed Name:

HST # 13021 6567 RT0001

Online registrations also available at: http://www.ihm-canada.com/EDUCATION/inclasslearning-April19-2013.asp Institute of Housing Management, 2175 Sheppard Ave. E., Suite #310 Toronto, ON M2J 1W8 Tel: (416) 493-7382 Ext 255 | Toll Free: (866) 212-4377 | Fax: (416) 491-1670 | email: ihm@taylorenterprises.com

PROGRAM AT A GLANCE Tuesday, April 16th

Thursday, April 18th

Pre-Conference Workshop for Building Maintenance (optional)

Trade Show & Awards Luncheon

Presentation on Effective Building Inspection followed by a Hands-on Tour and Inspection of Peel Living Facility Workshop Leaders: Ed Cipriani, AIHM, Manager, Building Sciences/Asset Reliability, Halton Region Bruno Colavecchia, Manager, Residential Operations, Peel Living

Concurrent Education Tracks: Building Management & Administration Track • Tenant Insurance Programs • Communication Secrets That Will Make You A Successful Leader • Dealing With Mental Health Issues

Wednesday, April 17th

Building Maintenance Track

Opening Luncheon

• Best Practices (2 sessions)

Featuring: The Honourable Kathleen Wynne

• Capital Planning

Concurrent Education Tracks: Building Management & Administration Track • Performance Management & Employee Discipline • Project Management

Annual General Meeting Annual Dinner, Entertainment & Dancing Featuring Mr. & Mrs. Hypnotist

Building Maintenance Track • The Preventative Maintenance Plan • Smoke-Free Housing

Friday, April 19th Breakfast & Keynote Speaker

Kickoff Party - Reception, Dinner & Karaoke

Featuring Drew Dudley, Founder & Chief Catalyst, Nuance Leadership Development Services Inc.

For more information or to register, please click on: http://www.ihm-canada.com/CONFERENCE/2013Conference-Registration.asp IHM News • Wnter 2013

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IHM Job Posting and Resources Whether you are looking for a job or looking to hire a Property Management professional, this webpage has lots to offer. Separate sections have been designed – one for job postings and the other for resources and links to other websites. And remember – posting a property management related position is completely free of charge to IHM members.

Just supply us with a copy of the job posting along with the closing date for submissions in either a ‘Word’ or ‘PDF’ format and we will have it posted online – usually within 24-48 hours.

Send your job postings via email to ihm@taylorenterprises.com

CALLING ALL PROPERTY MANAGERS… with stories to share!

We know that a Property Manager’s job can be both challenging and interesting. How often have you come to work with your day all planned in your head only to have something unexpected come along …

We are looking for some stories to share with your colleagues in the Property Management field. If you have an interesting story that you would be willing to author, please contact the Newsletter Committee at ihm@taylorenterprises.com

2012-2013 Board of Directors Past President/Education Co-Chair Deborah Filice, B.A., R.S.S.W., FIHM Director of Housing www.ihm-canada.com Public Health, Safety, Social Services - Housing 220 Colborne Street (Office) P. O. Box 845, Brantford, ON N3T 5R7 President/Conference Tel: 519 759-3330, Ext. 6241 Committee Kevin O'Hara, MPA, AIHM, CMM III Fax: 519 759-5796 Email: DeborahFilice@brantford.ca Supervisor, Area Operations Waterloo Region Housing Secretary/Communications 235 King Street East, 6th Floor Co-Chair Kitchener, ON Canada N2G 4N5 Lynn Alexander, AIHM Tel: (519) 575-4800 Ext. 1218 Region of Durham Housing Services Fax: (519) 893-8447 P.O.Box 623, Whitby, ON L1N 6A3 Email: Tel: (905) 666-6222 kohara@regionofwaterloo.ca Fax: (905) 666-6225 Email: Lynn.alexander@durham.ca Vice President Joanne Kennedy, AIHM Treasurer CDSSAB - Housing Service Harry Popiluk, FIHM 6 Ash Street 2175 Sheppard Ave. E., Suite 310 Kapuskasing, ON P5N 2C8 Toronto, ON M2J 1W8 Tel: (705) 335-6179 Tel: (289) 929-9543 Fax: (705) 335-8199 Email: hpopiluk@gmail.com Email: kennedyj@cdssab.on.ca

IHM OFFICE:

Carolyne Vigon, Operations Manager Josee Lefebvre, Education Coordinator Michelle Romanuk, Editor

IHM News • Winter 2013

DIRECTORS Communications Committee Zeljka Budjinski, AIHM Williams & McDaniel Property Mgmt 66 MacDonnell Street, Suite 301 Guelph, ON L1H 2Z6 Tel: (519) 836-6402 Ext. 29 Fax: (519) 767-0771 Email: zbudjinski@williamsandmcdaniel.com

Conference Co-Chair Deborah Parker, AIHM Girl Guides of Canada 50 Merton Street Toronto, ON M4S 1A3 Tel: (416) 487-5281 Ext. 209 Fax: (416) 487-5570 Email: parkerd@girlguides.ca

Marketing/Membership Co-Chair Barb Butler, AIHM Town Homes Kingston 87 Cassidy Street, Suite 222 Kingston, ON K7K 7B3 Tel: (613) 542-0443 Ext. 105 Fax: (613)542-6305 Email: bbutler@thk.ca

Marketing/Membership Co-Chair Connie Van Sickle, AIHM County of Lambton Housing Services Department 150 North Christina Street, 2nd Floor Sarnia, ON N7T 7H3 Tel: (519) 344-2062 Ext. 2040 Fax: (519) 344-2066 Email: connie.vansickle@countylambton.on.ca

Nominations Chair Kathy Harris, AIHM Regional Municipality of Halton 1151 Bronte Road, Level 1 Oakville, ON L6M 3L1 Tel: (905) 826-6000 Ext. 7507 Fax: (905) 825-3879 Email: kathy.harris@halton.ca

Education Co-Chair Kathi Zarfas, M.P.A., AIHM HSC Housing Services Corporation 390 Bay Street, 7th Floor Toronto, ON M5H 2Y2 Tel: (416) 594-9325 Ext. 218 Fax: (416) 594-9422 Email: kzarfas@shscorp.ca

CANDIDATE REPS Communications Committee Mitchell Grange, IHM (C) Kingston Municipal Non Profit Housing Corporation 37 Cassidy Street, Suite 222 Kingston, ON K7K 7B3 Tel: (613) 542-0443 Ext. 106 Fax: (613)542-6305 Email: mgrange@thk.ca

Conference Co-Chair Michelle Waye Region of Peel 10 Peel Centre, Suite B, 5th Floor P.O. Box 2800, Station B Brampton, ON L6T 0E7 Tel: (905) 453-1300 ext 4435 Email: michelle.waye@peelregion.ca

2175 Sheppard Ave. East, Suite 310, Toronto, ON M2J 1W8 Tel: (416) 493-7382 / 1-866-212-4377 • Fax: (416) 491-1670 • Email: ihm@taylorenterprises.com

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