Meet Nick Steel, Senior Advisor, Health & Safety, Safety & Risk Services.
My pronouns:
He/him
Title:
Senior Advisor, Health & Safety
Department/unit:
Safety & Risk Services
Campus:
While I am based at the Vancouver campus, my team and I provide occupational health and safety support to students, faculty and staff all over B.C.
How long have you worked at the UBC Faculty of Medicine?
17 years! Aye caramba. The time has flown!
Tell us what you do at the Faculty in one or two sentences:
We help to keep people safe. We do that by developing, implementing and sustaining health and safety programs for Faculty of Medicine students, faculty and staff, with the goal of reducing workplace hazards and lowering risk.
One way that we do this is through our annual workplace inspection survey, where faculty and staff members answer a few questions about their workstation — helping to identify and address potential hazards, while ensuring that we’re in compliance with WorkSafeBC regulations. Look for the survey link every January!
What’s your favourite thing about your work?
It’s continually great to be able to work alongside all the brilliant, dedicated and just lovely people in the Faculty.
That and getting folks at the Safety & Risk Services office to coordinate their outfits every Thursday. During the summer it was tropical Thursday (lots of Hawaiian shirts!) — now that it’s fall, we’re switching to plaid. 😊
What’s one personal experience you would encourage others to do/try?
As a member of Safety & Risk Services, I’m tempted to say “complete the safety inspection survey!” But let’s go with participating in team sports. Whether it’s coaching, playing or supporting, I’ve always found a lot of joy from being part of a team.
What makes you laugh?
A lot of things — I think I’m a pretty easy laugh. I enjoy a lot of different forms of comedy, from stand-up to satire to straight silliness.
Share an accomplishment that you are proud of from the past year:
Our Faculty went from having one Joint Occupational Health & Safety Committee (JOHSC) to having five! Developing and resourcing those committees was a big accomplishment for the team and we’re really excited to see that so many colleagues are passionate about health & safety.
Published: November 2025