Discussions

We just received notice that our child’s school will no longer be able to use microwaves as “Workplace Safety and Health protocol, we cannot use microwaves in our lunch program, anymore, unless we have an adult cooking with the microwave.”  
 
Anyone heard of this? I can’t find any documentation on the Manitoba health and safety website?!

Did you ask the principal for more info?! They would likely give you more if you asked directly.

Just a guess (my kid doesn’t go to a Brandon school) but probably had an incident with a kid microwaving something that would go boom. That’s the only reason they would deem them unsafe, or need supervision.

I will inquire. we got notice this evening starting tomorrow. BSD nor JR Reid has any info on their websites. Nor can I find anything on the workplace safety website. Thought maybe someone might know the law.

"workplace health and safety manitoba microwave use", found the following link (among others):  
 
https://www.tmsd.mb.ca/documents/Workplace%20Safety%20%26%20Health%20/Small%20Appliances%20in%20Classrooms%20MSBA.pdf  
 
Connecting the dots, I figure somewhere there is a guideline that says adult supervision required for all microwave use.

My daughter said that the grade 4 and 5 students help the younger grades with the microwave at school. Max 1 minute per child. So far so good.  
 
I am guessing someone microwaved something they shouldn’t have. Someone always spoils it for the rest

When we were in high school there were always a few kids that whenever the teacher left the room for a few minutes would run over, throw a non food item in the microwave and start it just to be funny. Kids will see what they can get away with and things will get damaged. Always a few bad apples.

I have yet to hear anyones concerns of burns... BSD obviously want to prevent injuries.

Parents pay for the lunch program at J R Ried. That payment is for adult supervision and the space for a student to eat there lunch. Why aren't those adults being utilized for microwave use as well. Terrible.

Maybe buy a container that keeps the food hot and your child won’t have to worry about using a microwave. Stop calling people lazy. I am sure supervising the children and monitoring the microwave use is easy. I don’t think the containers that keep food hot are very expensive, that way you can have control over how the food is prepared.

As a retired teacher, I am happy to see this change. It was scary to see children trying to maneuver their way through a busy and active lunch room carrying hot soup. The lunch staff worked very hard to help the children but the task was even more difficult when a busy parent would send a can of food or a box of kraft dinner. Then staff time was needed to find the needed containers and cutlery. Long line-ups for the microwave use also resulted in some children not getting enough time to eat. A thermos is the perfect solution.

How about when you post something you put some facts in. For example, if your going to say "I think they are inexpensive" you could actually take a minute and just look it up and post a range of prices instead. Also you may see some as affordable but it may not be affordable to the next person. Now lets say they do have a container that will keep it hot. Is it going to keep it hot enough for long enough that they aren't going to risk making their kid sick. Heating food as close to the time of consumption is the safest food practice. So, the lazy comment. That was for the school not any individual. The school was being lazy by not dealing with the issue and creating a solution that would enable the microwaves to remain. Instead they just stopped the use of the microwaves. Hence, lazy. One more thing. I do remember the days when we didnt have the use of microwaves and I'm thankful we are using all available technology. Just like i remember the days when we didnt have sewer or running water in our houses. Doesn't mean we should go back to the way it was.

Got an email this afternoon that the JR Reid lunch program will use microwaves once again. However, extra adult hands are to be hired to start thirty minutes prior the lunch break to warm up food, cooking/warming containers are to be purchased for organizing & keeping food warm. But kids are going to be not allow to operate the microwaves what-so-ever. This will raise the lunch fees for the program, but now mom/dad can still throw in a pizza pop or a TV dinner or leftovers or whatever instead of a sandwich. The dilemma at my school is done. ...Now, go talk to your schools parent council/volunteers instead of complaining to strangers who can't help or fix your problems.  
 
Just my opinion, I could be wrong.