Health and Safety

At Langara College, ensuring the campus environment is safe is important for the well-being of all our occupants.

Health & Safety works proactively to reduce injuries and illnesses by:

  • Conducting safety audits and inspections
  • Documenting and investigating safety concerns and incidents
  • Making safety recommendations
  • Following up with corrective actions when applicable
  • Providing information and training sessions on improving health and safety when needed

First Aid

At Langara College, first aid is provided by Campus Security, Langara Health Services, and several Langara employees trained in Occupational First Aid (OFA). In a medical emergency, OFA attendants are able to quickly respond with life-saving equipment, experience, and expertise.

In addition, OFA attendants are able to communicate with 911 operators to provide medical updates, specific directions and any logistical support necessary to ensure that the emergency response is as fast as possible.

In case of a life-threatening situation:

  • Dial 911 (9-911 from a campus phone)
  • Keep calm and do not leave the patient unattended
  • Ensure the accident scene is safe – minimize further danger to injured person or self. Do not move injured person unless there is a high risk of further injury
  • Inform the Campus Security of your 911 call immediately

For emergency first aid:

  • Call a local 4444 from any internal phone or 604.562.1011; or
  • Use any YELLOW emergency call station located at various places inside of A, B, C, G and L Building; or
  • Call by pressing the RED button marked SECURITY on any pay phone; or
  • Use any Emergency Assistance Tower located at various places of the campus exterior

State the exact location and the nature of the injury and a first aid attendant will respond. Emergency calls are answered 24/7 by the main switchboard or the campus security.

For non-emergency first aid:

 

Please make yourself familiar with Langara College Emergency Procedures regarding your safety and security on the campus. These procedures give detailed information on how to respond to various kinds of incidents.

Communicable Disease Prevention

Langara’s Communicable Disease Prevention Plan supports the health and safety of our community and reflects the BC Centre for Disease Control’s public health guidance for post-secondary institutions.

Prevention measures

Regular Inspections

  • Ongoing air filter maintenance and enhancements, increasing air exchange indoors
  • Ongoing inspections and maintenance of building systems
  • Ongoing inspections of contracted work

Regular Cleaning

  • Clean environment maintained through routine cleaning processes
  • Increased cleaning of high traffic areas and touchpoints (such as washrooms, door handles and elevator buttons)

Community Health Supports

  • Encouraging vaccination
  • Promoting good hygiene practices
  • Requesting that all students, staff, and contractors stay home when sick

What you can do

  • Stay home if you are sick
  • Practice good hand hygiene: regularly wash or sanitize your hands. Cover coughs and sneezes with your elbow.
  • Masking: When there are no health orders in place, the decision to wear a mask is a personal one. The choice to practice additional personal prevention measures should be respected.
  • Stay up to date on all recommended vaccines for communicable diseases.

Safety Tips

At Langara, we strive to maintain safe environment for students, employees and visitors. We also encourage everyone to look after their own personal safety by providing these helpful tips and links. Please make yourself familiar with them and stay alert.

Personal Safety

In a life threatening situation call 911 (9-911 from a campus phone). See our Contact page for more emergency and non-emergency phone numbers.

  • Be familiar with the locations of nearby YELLOW emergency call stations, Emergency Assistance Towers across Langara campus and pay phones which can all be used to call Campus Security in case of an emergency
  • Make use of the Working Alone service. Notify security if you are working or studying alone after hours or while the premises are largely empty
  • If you are out walking after dark, take well-lit routes. Walk in groups of three or more or make use of the Safe Walk service for after-hour escorts
  • Never allow unauthorized personnel to enter a locked building when entering or exiting
  • Please visit the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) website for additional personal safety tips.

Feel safe on campus.

Learn about services such as Safe Walk and Working Alone.
Security Services

Go safely.

The Langara Safe app puts safety resources and emergency help at your fingertips and sends you alerts in the event of an incident or closure on campus. Request your on-campus SafeWalk from the app.
Langara Safe App

Elevator Safety

  • Look inside an elevator before entering. Do not enter if a person inside makes you feel uncomfortable. If a suspicious person enters, exit before the door closes
  • When in the elevator, stand beside the control panel where most College elevator emergency call buttons are located

International Student Safety

Langara College is a destination to many international students. As we strive to provide a safe learning environment on the campus, we also encourage international students to get familiar with International Students Safety tips on the VPD website to ensure off-campus safety.

Scent Awareness

Supporting the health and wellness of its employees and students, Langara College promotes scent free working environment for those individuals suffering from asthma, allergies, and/or chemical sensitivities.

Langara scent awareness initiatives strongly encourage all members of the College community to avoid the use of scented items (i.e. personal care products, air fresheners, heavily scented flowers) to reduce health risks.

Be Scent Aware

Please see the following for detailed information:

Winter Weather Safety

Winter brings colder temperatures, snowfall, and long, dark evenings – all of which can present hazards. Stay safe around campus with our tips and learn about some of the safety services we provide to our community.

Winter Travel Tips

In snowy or icy conditions, Facilities staff work hard to keep pathways clear and salted. Conditions can change rapidly, so it’s important to be aware of the environment in front of you. During inclement weather, choose the safest path between buildings and allow extra travel time. Other tips to keep in mind:

  • Wear appropriate winter clothing, including shoes with good grip.
  • Go slowly, use shorter steps, and don’t take shortcuts over uncleared or barricaded areas.
  • Walk undistracted: don’t text/email while you walk.
  • Avoid carrying large or heavy objects that affect your balance or obstruct your vision.
  • Be aware that you are less visible to motorists after the sun sets; wear bright clothing and use lights to be seen.

Crime Prevention

Please visit the VPD Crime Prevention & Safety for Individuals website for a variety of crime precautionary tips.

Violence Prevention

Violence is not acceptable at Langara College. The College and Health & Safety team take appropriate actions to prevent violence and minimize the risk of violence on campus in the following ways:

  • Campus Health & Safety policy and procedures
  • Regularly assess risk for violence
  • Health & safety workshops
  • Incident response, reporting, and investigation
  • Incident follow-up, recommendations, and safety plans

If you witness or experience violence on campus, please report the incident to campus security. If an incident is believed to involve mitigating or non-culpable factors (i.e. mental health issues, domestic or partner aggression, sexual victimization etc.), Security will refer persons to appropriate campus and community support services and resources.