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Laboratory Safety Program

The Áù¾ÅÉ«ÌÃ’s Laboratory Safety Program is a foundational program supporting all laboratory activities and applies to all persons under the auspices of the Áù¾ÅÉ«Ìà working in a laboratory for research and/or teaching purposes.

The Laboratory Safety Program is designed to monitor and promote compliance with applicable federal and provincial legislation including acts, codes, regulations, standards, and other directives. Program documents further outline general best practice guidelines, and they contain additional requirements that go beyond regulatory requirements to effectively manage risks and make UCalgary laboratories a safe working environment.

Contact Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) to ensure that the proposed laboratory space meets minimum health and safety requirements and is suitable for the intended purpose (e.g. research, teaching, equipment, storage, etc.). Principal investigators, managers, and supervisors must complete Lab Onboarding with EHS.

All questions and inquiries regarding Laboratory Safety should be directed to ucsafety@ucalgary.ca

Workshops are to follow the Laboratory Safety Program documents, as necessary.

Environment, Health and Safety offers Laboratory Safety Training.

The Laboratory Safety Manual is to be reviewed annually and appropriate actions taken as specified below.

The Laboratory Safety Manual may take the form of a physical binder or may be in an electronic format as long as requirements are met. Requirements include Supervisor authorization/approval and accessibility of documents/records to lab personnel, EHS, auditors, etc. It is important to document that records exist and where they canÌýbe located.

'Retain' is defined as: keep in printed or digital format in the manual.

'File' is defined as: keep in printed format in the manual.

File under this tab. Last revised: 2024.04.16.

Complete and retain under this tab.

Hazard Assessment and Control

Complete and retain records under this tab. Keep for three years after the person has left the lab. Last revised: 2024.04.16.

  • Ìý-ÌýComplete and file under this tab for the specific buildings in which lab personnel work. Last revised: 2018.11.01.
  • Ìý- Review and follow standard.ÌýPrint Weekly Activation and Flushing of Emergency Eyewash Record andÌýplace inÌýRecord Holder onÌýEmergency StationÌý(if present), otherwiseÌýfileÌýin manual under this tab.ÌýRetainÌýthe past three years worth of recordsÌýunder this tab. Last revised 2018.12.12.
  • Ìý- File under this tab. Last revised: 2014.03.11.
  • Spill Response Contents and InstructionsÌý- File under this tab. Last revised: 2014.01.07.
  • Ìý- Review before completing or updating the Laboratory Placard. Last revised: 2018.12.14.
  • Ìý- Complete,Ìýprint in color and post outside all entrances to lab spaces. Last revised: 2018.12.14.
  • Ìý- Review and follow rules. Last revised: 2015.10.25.
  • Ìý- Request a copy from EHS and post inside lab, near the entrance(s) to all lab space(s).ÌýLast revised: 2011.06.17.
  • Ìý-ÌýReview and follow guidelines. Last revised: 2009.09.09.
  • Ìý-ÌýReview and follow standard; complete procedure. Last revised 2023.10.17.
  • Ìý- Review and follow standard. Last revised: 2013.08.16.
  • Working Alone Program- Review and follow guidelines.
  • - Last revised: 2024.01.30
  • Ìý- Review and follow standard. Last revised: 2019.06.24.
  • -ÌýComplete and retain under this tab. Last revised 2022.01.20.
  • Ìý-ÌýReview and follow Code of Practice as applicable.
  • Ìý- Review and follow standard. Last revised: 2010.01.27.
  • Ìý-ÌýComplete andÌýretainÌýlab-specific Standard Operating Procedures under this tab. Last revised: 2013.05.29.
  • Ìý- Review and follow standard. Last revised: 2022.07.06.
  • - Review and follow standard. Last revised: 2022.03.01.
  • -ÌýReview, complete and retain with HACF. Issued: August 2021.Ìý
  • - Review and follow guidelines. Last revised: 2022.05.10
  • Ìý- Review and follow standard. Last revised: 2023.06.21.Ìý
  • Ìý- Review and follow program. Last revised: 2017.02.22.
  • Ìý- Review and follow program. Last revised: 2022.05.05.
  • Ìý- Review and follow program. Last revised: 2017.11.30.
  • Ìý- Review and follow standard. Last revised: 2018.02.02.
  • -ÌýReview and follow standard. Last revised: 2021.11.19.
  • Ìý- Review and follow standard. Last revised 2024.05.14.
  • Ìý- Review and follow standard. Last revised 2024.05.14.
  • Ìý- Review and follow standard. Last revised 2024.05.14.
  • -ÌýReview and follow standard. Last revised: 2023.12.12.Ìý

°ä³ó±ð³¾²¹³Ù¾±³æâ„¢ is aÌýchemical management software solution used at the Áù¾ÅÉ«Ìà for a variety of Environment, Health and Safety program functions.

  1. Laboratory Setup Instructions

    Last revised 2018.12.18.

  2. Chemical Inventory Instructions

    Last revisedÌý2023.10.04

  3. Perpetual Chemical and Compressed Gas Inventory Instructions

    Issued 2022.10.31.

  4. Chemical Reconciliation Instructions

    Last revised date: 2024.01.29

  5. Hazardous Waste Disposal Instructions

    Last revised 2021.04.08.

  6. Annual Key Actions Instructions

    Last revised 2024.01.02

  7. Laboratory Compliance Inspection Corrective Action Instructions

    Issued 2018.05.09.

Container Barcode Labels

Chemical containers are added to the chemical inventory using pre-printed, unassigned container barcodes (1 x 0.5 inch in size) which are provided by EHS and can be collected from locations listed below.Ìý

Follow Chemical Inventory Instructions and Perpetual Chemical and Compressed Gas Inventory Instructions to add chemical containers to inventory in Chematix (see Chematix Instructions dropdown).Ìý

Storage Unit Barcode LabelsÌý

Storage unit barcodes are printed by Chematix users on Avery Label sheets using any laser printer on Campus. Avery Label sheets (30 labels per sheet, label size 2 5/8 x 1 inch) are provided by EHS and can be collected from locations listed below.Ìý

Follow Chemical Inventory Instructions to set up storage units and to print storage unit barcodes (see Chematix Instructions dropdown).Ìý

Locations to collect labelsÌý

Main CampusÌý

  • Faculty of Science: Science Stores, SB 50; Bio Sciences Stores, BI 35Ìý
  • Schulich School of Engineering: Engineering Workshop, ENA 03Ìý
  • Faculty of Kinesiology: Human Performance Lab, KNB 103BÌý
  • UService: Math Sciences MS 773 – Walk-In hours: Tue/Wed/Thu – 1:00pm to 4:30 pm only, see UService websiteÌý
  • Faculty of Arts: Arts Building and Parkade, AB 748Ìý
  • EHS office: MacKimmie Tower (MT). Please email chematix@ucalgary.ca with a request prior to collection.Ìý

Foothills CampusÌý

Spy Hill CampusÌý

  • Clinical Skills Building, Clean Stores, CSB 138Ìý

Chematix barcode scanners to assist with the chemical reconciliation process are available to sign out from the following locations:Ìý

Main CampusÌý

  • Faculty of Science: Connect with instrumentation or teaching staffÌý
  • Schulich School of Engineering: Engineering Workshop, ENA 03Ìý
  • Faculty of Kinesiology: Human Performance Lab, KNB 103BÌý
  • Faculty of Arts: Arts Building and Parkade, AB 748; Earth Sciences ES 918ÌýÌý
  • EHS office: MacKimmie Tower (MT). Please email chematix@ucalgary.ca with a request prior to collection.Ìý

Foothills CampusÌý

Spy Hill CampusÌý

  • Clinical Skills Building, Clean Stores, CSB 138Ìý

Follow Chemical Reconciliation Instructions to reconcile the chemical inventory (see Chematix Instructions dropdown).Ìý

  1. Annual Key Actions Explanation Guide

    Last revised 2023.11.30.

  2. Laboratory Self-Inspection Checklist & Explanation Guide (Voluntary)

    Last revised 2023.11.21.

  3. Laboratory Compliance Inspection Explanation Guide

    Last revised 2024.02.21.

  • Hazardous Products Act and Regulations (WHMIS)
  • Occupational Health and Safety Act, Regulation and Code
  • Transportation of Dangerous Good Act and Regulations
  • Export and Import Permits Act
  • Chemical Weapons Convention Declaration
  • Canadian Environmental Protection Act and Regulations

The Laboratory Safety Advisory Committee provides advice and input to the Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) Department on the Laboratory Safety Program.

  1. Terms of Reference

    Revised: 2022.09.01

  2. Membership

    As of 2023.06.01

Biosafety Program

The Áù¾ÅÉ«Ìà has developed a Biosafety Program to assist all persons involved in the purchasing, handling, storage or disposal of biohazards for research and teaching purposes; to promote and monitor compliance with both federal and provincial legislation over biosafety and biosecurity.

Learn more

Radiation Safety Program

The Áù¾ÅÉ«Ìà has developed a Radiation Safety Program to assist in the requirements for compliance to both federal and provincial legislation/guidelines pertaining to the acquisition, use and disposal of radioactive materials, and radiation emitting devices (X-ray units and lasers).

Learn more