Spiders, molds and tarpaulins in the central laboratory of the CHU Sainte-Justine

It’s a deplorable situation, writes a central laboratory worker in an email accompanied by about 30 photos. The conditions described have been corroborated by some colleagues. All asked to keep their identity secret, for fear of reprisals from their employer.

Besides being aesthetically ugly, these tarps are neglected. We can see unknown particles accumulating there, as well as rings of moldsays one of the workers.

An employee explains for her part that pieces of the ceiling have even fallen and that water has already flowed over her head. She finds that she and her lab colleagues are tired, exhausted and tanned.

” It’s an unattractive workplace. You always feel like you’re in the middle of a construction site. »

Four years ago, construction work on a pharmacy took place on the floor above and the plastic sheets were installed to protect the laboratory workers from possible debris falling from the ceiling.

The project was supposed to last two years, but it was extended by as much due to the pandemic, with all the inconvenience that such an intervention can cause.

Spiders and Cockroaches

the university hospitalUniversity hospital center Sainte-Justine confirms having had to call an exterminator last fall, due to the presence of spiders in the laboratories.

There were spiders everywhere. We found it in the tubes, in the centrifugesexplains Elise Pouliot, acting president of the union.

” Although unpleasant, the presence of the spiders had no impact on the activities of the laboratories and the quality of the services offered. »

The hospital ensures that close follow-up since this episode. Laboratories are environments whose salubrity must be particularly controlled.

In recent months, employees say they have also seen cockroaches and they deplore the presence of mold on the plastic sheeting.

The mold has never been removeddeplores the acting president of the union. There is a hole near the mold stainadds a colleague, supporting photo.

No risks with asbestos, ensures the university hospitalUniversity hospital center

With the holes in the tarps, employees fear breathing in particles falling from the ceiling, whether mold spores Where asbestos particles.

No risk, replies the hospital management: Air quality tests were recently carried out. No asbestos dust was detected.

” the university hospitalUniversity hospital center Sainte-Justine is concerned about providing an adequate working environment for its employees, despite the dilapidated state of certain spaces. »

Given the recent end of the work, the canvases will be gradually removedannounces the hospital.

Despite the inauguration of a new pavilion in 2016, management admits that significant investments are still necessary in order to complete the modernization of the university hospitalUniversity hospital center Sainte-Justine.

Several spaces have not been refurbished since they opened in 1957explains Lucie Dufresne. Laboratories are an eloquent example.

Can’t remove the tarps without shutting down the lab?

Sainte-Justine’s central laboratory operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This is where all priority analyzes are sent day, evening and night.

The challenge is to proceed with the removal of the tarps and the cleaning of the premises without stopping or slowing down the activities.explains Lucie Dufresne.

It’s impossible to close this labadds for his part Elise Pouliot, spokesperson for the union.

Time is running out to find a solution, according to the employees. Many have already left to work elsewhere, while professionals in the field are in high demand.

It’s time for the university hospitalUniversity hospital center Sainte-Justine invests in innovation and the creation of new laboratoriesconcludes Elise Pouliot.