Know You Foe, Work Safely: MBI Safety Day and Safety & Health Management Awards

Learning about safety seems only to be functional, but part of it can be really fun too!

The MBI Safety Committee organized MBI Safety Day with the theme “Know Your Foe, Work Safely” on 11 October. Through a series of useful talks and fun games, the MBI committee got to learn about potential perils in the both the lab and general workplace (plus the proper ways to take care of them) and celebrated the good work MBI has done in terms of forging and maintaining a secure working environment — so well that MBI received a Commendation Award for Safety and Health Management during the NUSSHA Ceremony later on 23 October.

Engaging the expertise of Dr Suzette De Leon, an Associate Director of the Office of Risk Management and Compliance at NUS, she went through the various guidelines and requirements which scientists and technicians need to adhere to when working with pathogens. For instance, the proper methods of handling, correct permits and channels for applying, and how to prevent problems one may encounter during the procurement process.

Switching tracks from physical safety to psychological welfare, Jesudas Raj, a Wellbeing Specialist Partner from the Office of the President (Health and Wellbeing), taught us some valuable lessons on how to beat stress before it beats us. For example, identifying the sources of stress and recognizing how is affects oneself behaviorally, the different ways of perceiving and managing it, as well as transforming some of the bad sort into the good kind.

Besides the talks from the field professionals, the Safety Committee followed up with a more hands-on approach to learning about safety — by combining grub and games in a free-and-easy lunch session. After an address about how MBI has managed to build such a strong culture of safety over a decade by Director Rong Li, participants were tucking into the buffet or chilling with ice-cream while doing crossword puzzles on lab hazards or arranging puzzle tiles of GHS labels. Everyone was gifted with useful tupperware containers and winners even get to receive extra reusable bags.

On this note, MBI would like to thank the Safety Committee (especially Bee Leng, Christine and Cynthia) for organizing such a such an engaging Safety Day, as well as all members of the Committee past and present guarding our welfare.