My name is Emma Read. I’m on a four-month work term as a Laboratory Safety Assistant at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

I have many responsibilities at AAFC—implementing and overseeing the Respiratory Protection Program is my main focus.   I am also responsible for building a database for all the records, information pages, and inventory of the respiratory protection program. I maintain and update our chemical database, receive new chemicals as they arrive, and enter the materials into the chemical inventory to ensure that they are handled properly.

I fit half and full face respirators to ensure staff safety when working with chemicals, dust, and pesticides. I also assist with air quality testing, work on job safety analysis, and update the online website with forms, documents, and spreadsheets when needed.

I am trained in WHIMIS, and am able to identify and protect against the hazards of such chemicals. I love learning how a chemical database works, and about the chemical properties in general.

I have really enjoyed meeting other students, and hearing about their backgrounds and goals. This whole work term experience has validated my choice to study sciences, as my time here has been interesting, fulfilling and fun.

I will be forever thankful to the Career Education Department for providing me the opportunity to work at a place like the Summerland Research and Development Center. I never thought I would be able to get an experience like this at the age of 18. I know that this knowledge will be further applied in my studies and in future employment positions.

Other students should know that Co-op opens so many doors for you that you probably didn’t even know were there. Always push yourself to do your best, because doing so could result in amazing experiences, (and future jobs!), that you wouldn’t get outside of Co-op.

For more information about the TRU Co-op program visit the website or call 250-371-5627.