Ensuring worker health and safety is a priority as it prevents injury and illness and improves productivity. The Centre for Occupational Health, Safety, and Wellbeing integrates occupational safety and health protection into workplace policies, programs, and practices to promote worker health and wellbeing. The Centre, located in the University Services Building, offers a range of health and wellness services which includes ergonomic services, injury prevention education, physical conditioning, health screenings, and onsite physiotherapy and massage therapy.
The Centre works in partnership with various UBC and community groups, including the Allan McGavin Sports Medicine Clinic Physiotherapy, UBC Pharmacists Clinic, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Kinesiology, and the BC Cancer Agency. Support from CUPE Local 116, CUPE 2950, IUOE Local 115, and the Association of Administrative and Professional Staff (AAPS) contributes to the Centre’s efforts in advancing worker safety, health, and wellness.
How to request access to The Centre
Please review and submit this access request form. Once the completed form is processed, you will receive an email confirming that your UBC Card access to The Centre has been activated.
If you have any questions, comments or concerns regarding The Centre for Occupational Health, Safety and Wellbeing, its programs and services, please contact safety.risk@ubc.ca.
Physical Conditioning
Through the development of the Centre for Occupational Health, Safety and Wellbeing, Safety and Risk Services, and UBC Facilities aims to advance worker safety, health and wellbeing. Fitness classes are available only to VPFO employees and are free to attend.
Get your body moving and your heart rate racing with personalized training sessions under the guidance of a Kinesiologist and the motivation of a small group.
Relieve your body’s tension and improve your strength, flexibility, and balance. You will enhance relaxation and release stress while improving total muscle condition.
This high-intensity training (HIIT) workout combines body weight, muscle conditioning, cardio, plyometric and explosive moves to give you a total body workout that burns calories, strengthens and builds lean muscles.
This 45-minute workout is designed for functional total body conditioning. You will be guided through a full body muscular strength and endurance session using high repetition movement and non-cardio exercises. Workout with the use of bodyweight and a variety of weighted equipment.
One-on-One Personal Training
- Wellbeing Workshops & Events
- Safety and Occupational Development Training
- Information & Resources
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Physical Assessment
The Centre for Occupational Health, Safety and Wellbeing, in collaboration with the Allan McGavin Sport Medicine Centre Physiotherapy Clinic, offers complimentary physical assessments to VPFO employees.
If you are just getting started, needing guidance or just an update to your current routine, this program is sure to provide you with what you need to get you started. This program will provide you with a Certified Personal Trainer who will assess your current fitness level with a standardized protocol and create an exercise program best suited to your health and wellbeing goals.
Contact matt@allanmcgavinphysio.com for further information and to book an appointment.
The Functional Movement Screen (FMS) is a tool used by physicians, physiotherapists, personal trainers and other health care professionals to analyze fundamental movement patterns.
The screen tests 7 movement patterns that will measure the performance of basic locomotor, manipulative and stabilizing movements. By placing an individual in extreme positions where weaknesses and imbalances are more noticeable, health professionals can distinguish what treatment is most appropriate.
At the end of the FMS, you will:
- be educated on the results of the screen
- Prescribed basic exercise techniques
- Be given an area to focus improving
The FMS is a tool that has been used by everyone including high performance athletes. This tool can be used in injury prevention, rehabilitation and strength environments.
Contact matt@allanmcgavinphysio.com for further information and to book an appointment.
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Allan McGavin Sport Medicine Centre Physiotherapy Clinic
Located in the Centre, the Allan McGavin Sports Medicine Centre Physiotherapy Clinic is part of an established and innovative clinic with long-standing relationships within the sports medicine community. Our team of experienced therapists are committed to providing the highest level of care. Taking a hands-on approach to your rehabilitation and customizing a plan for your recovery, our goal is your safe return to activity as soon as possible.
Physiotherapy is a healthcare profession dedicated to working with people to identify and maximize their ability to move and function throughout their lifespan. Specifically, physiotherapists can improve clients’ quality of life by:
- Promoting optimal mobility, physical activity and overall health and wellness;
- Preventing disease, injury and disability
- Managing acute and chronic conditions, activity limitations, and participation restrictions
- Improving and maintaining optimal functional independence and physical performance
- Rehabilitating injury and the effects of disease or disability with therapeutic exercise programs and other interventions; and
- Educating and planning maintenance and support programs to prevent recurrence, re-injury or functional decline
Physiotherapy is anchored in movement sciences and aims to enhance or restore function of multiple body systems. The profession is committed to health, lifestyle and quality of life. This holistic approach incorporates a broad range of physical and physiological therapeutic interventions and aids.
Please note physiotherapy sessions are fulfilled through your extended health benefits plan as a UBC employee.
At the Allan McGavin Sports Medicine Centre Physiotherapy Clinic at The Centre, massage therapy is performed by a Registered Massage Therapist (RMT) using a variety of hands-on techniques in order to alleviate pain, improve mobility and promote rehabilitation. Prior to prescribing treatment, your massage therapist will conduct a comprehensive assessment and diagnosis of your musculoskeletal injuries. Target tissues for massage therapy may include muscles, tendons, ligaments, skin, joints, or other connective tissue, as well as lymphatic vessels and/ or gastrointestinal organs. If necessary, your RMT may prescribe and integrated approach with our team of physiotherapists in order to promote a complete recovery and successful return to your activities.
Please note massage therapy sessions are fulfilled through your extended health benefits plan as a UBC employee.
Book through the Allan McGavin Sports Medicine Physiotherapy Clinic
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Injury Prevention
The Centre for Occupational Health, Safety and Wellbeing offers a series of interactive sessions focusing on the areas of the body that are most frequently injured or causes pain.
The sessions currently being offered are:
- Healthy Back
- Healthy Shoulder
- Healthy Knee
Led by a physiotherapist, participants learn how to keep your back, shoulder or knee healthy and avoid injury. Each program covers anatomy, movement patterns, the best evidence-based exercises for stability, and relevant ergonomic advice. Reach out to the Safety & Risk Services team if your VPFO unit is interested in a complimentary injury prevention workshop.
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Health Screenings & Clinics
The Centre for Occupational Health, Safety and Wellbeing, in conjunction with our campus partners, offers a variety of health screenings and clinics throughout the year to identify and mitigate your risk and protect your health and wellbeing. Information about screenings and clinics will be communicated through the VPFO Update newsletter. All health clinics are offered free of charge for VPFO employees.
Fairs typically include heart health screening, diabetes awareness, lung health, and mammography screening.
Services are provided by licensed pharmacists and pharmacy students from the Pharmacist Clinic – UBC Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences or the BC Cancer Agency.
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