University of Manitoba

U of M - Administration - Human Resources - Environmental Health and Safety Office - Biological Safety

Biological Safety

Responsibility for Laboratory Biosafety Guidelines (the University of Manitoba follows and is compliant with the Public Health Agency of Canada Guidelines) is coordinated by the Biosafety Officer, 204-789-3675; cole3@cc.umanitoba.ca
Compliance with the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission is coordinated through the Radiation Safety Coordinator as outlined on the Radiation Safety web page.  The Radiation Safety Coordinator can be reached at 204-789-3613 or radsafe@umanitoba.ca

NEW Web Page! The Animal Care Occupational Health Program is the occupational health program intended to serve animal care workers, researchers and technicians.  Program delivery is accomplished through protocol review, teaching and annual inspection of animal use labs and facilities. 

For info on Biosafety Permit Applications and Biosafety Project Approval Certificates  visit the link at the top of the column on he right: Biosafety Program Details and Forms.
For a general Biosafety Program overview scroll down to the botton of this web-page.

CHEMICAL SAFETY PROGRAM

This program provides resources and guidance for the compliant, safe, and responsible use, storage, handling, disposal and emergency planning information for chemicals used in teaching, research and workplaces in the university according to provincial health and safety legislation, specifically Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health Regulations  - Manitoba Regulation 217/2006 Workplace Safety and Health Regulation (under CHAPTER W210 10/02 The Workplace Safety and Health Act)  PART 35 WORKPLACE HAZARDOUS MATERIALS INFORMATION SYSTEMS APPLICATION  and PART 36 CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL SUBSTANCES APPLICATION.  This includes providing site specific consultations and advice on selection and use of personal protective equipment (e.g., respirators and gloves), safe use of other research equipment, shipping and transporting hazardous materials, confined space entry etc.

New Principal Investigator Lab Registration Form - If you are a Principal Investigator (PI) new to the U of M, submit this form to EHSO to obtain your personal User ID and Password for access to the chemical and biological inventories and biosafety permit application on the EHSA database.

Basic Lab Safety & WHMIS Presentation and Laboratory Safety Checklist for New Lab Personnel.  Resources for providing instruction to staff / students and maintaining records on laboratory health and safety.  

Procedure: Working Alone U of M Procedure regarding the precautions necessary for the safety of employees working alone or working in isolation.  This procedure has been adopted to ensure the University meets the requirements of the Workplace Safety and Health legislation and regulations.

Minors in Laboratories Procedure Procedures for access by minors to laboratories and other hazardous work areas at the University. Consent Form

Combined Laboratory Inspection Program (CLIP)  - To provide support to the University research community, the Environmental Health and Safety Office (EHSO) has undertaken a team project to combine lab inspections regarding aspects of chemical, biological, radiological, fire protection and life safety.  A combined laboratory CLIP self-inspection check list has been developed within EHSO.  (updated December 18, 2006)

WHMIS Coordinators
At the university a network of WHMIS Coordinators, appointed by the appropriate unit director/department head, are responsible for implementing and maintaining WHMIS in their area.  At present, the University has over 50  WHMIS Coordinators representing various departments.  EHSO provides a “Train-the-Trainer” role as well as providing a large variety of ongoing consultation services.

The following link provides info on WHMIS Coordinators' Duties along with Recommended training for WHMIS Coordinators (Training Matrix)

MSDSs
In order to provide Material Safety Data Sheets and western Canadian legislation and Canadian Standard Association standards, the EHSO continues to subscribe to the web based Academic Support Program (ASP) software package from the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) . This information is available to all staff and students on campus through the University’s web based information system and through a link on the EHS databse chemical inventory form.

WHMIS Handbook
The 5th (2008) Edition of the University of Manitoba WHMIS Handbook has been published and can be downloaded or is available in hard copy.The WHMIS Handbook is included in the first year Chemistry laboratory course and thus forms part of the curriculum. The Manitoba Labour Provincial WHMIS GUIDELINE is also available for download.

Fume Hood Surveys
The university has approximately 450 fume hoods located at its two campuses.  Regular surveys of face velocities and other safety functions are undertaken and work orders are sent to Physical Plant on a priority basis.


BIOLOGICAL SAFETY PROGRAM

The EHSO has a biological safety program under the direction of the Biological Safety Advisory Committee.  This program provides resources and guidance for the compliant, safe and responsible use of biological materials according to:
 Human Pathogens and Toxins Act  (HPTA)
 Public Health Agency of Canada’s (PHAC) ‘Laboratory Biosafety Guidelines’
 Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA)‘Containment Standards for Veterinary Facilities’
 Workplace Safety and Health Act 217/2006 Part 35 and 36 (WHMIS and Chemical & Biological Substances Application) 
 Tri-Council Agency of Canada Memorandum of Understanding, Schedule 13: Reserach Involving Biohazards
City of Winnipeg waste by-laws
 Federal transportation and importation legislation.

Biological Safety Advisory Committee( BSAC)
The BSAC is responsible for providing advice and direction on all aspects pertaining to the use of biologically hazardous agents at the University of Manitoba.  U of M Biosafety Policy and Procedure. provides support for the BSAC Chair who provides assurances on behalf of the University for researchers funded by external granting agencies and contracts. 

Biosafety Permits
Permits are required to work with biological material in all research, teaching and clinical /diagnostic areas in all University of Manitoba buildings.  The Biosafety Permit Applications register the Principal investigator's lab locations and proposed containment level, people and training, safety equipment, actual or proposed biological inventory and disposal methods and are issued on condition that the work is done according to the above listed regulations and guidelines.  Biosafety Permit Application information can be found at the following link Biosafety Permits

Biosafety Project Approval Certificates
Biosafety Project Approval Certificates are required in addition to the Biosafety Permit regisitration, for the release of funds for external grants and contracts.  They provide the opportunity for the PI to complete a more detailed reisk assessment of their project and procedures for review by the BSAC. When reviewed by the committee, the certificate will certify with the applicant, that the proposed project will be carried out in accordance with the principles outlined in the Public Health Agency's of Canda's  'Laboratory Biosafety Guidelines' or CFIA’s 'Containment Standards for Veterinary Facilities' if applicable.  The review aspects of this are currently under development.
For U of M researchers working in non-U of M buildings, for example St. Boniface Hospital Research Foundation, a facility-specific assurance document is required in lieu of the U of M Biosafety Permit.

Further information on the Biosafety Project Approval Certificate can be obtained from the office of the Chair of the BSAC. Phone: 789-3375 The certificate forms are additionally available on the EHSO website Biosafety Permits

 

 

 



© UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA
Environmental Health and Safety Office
Winnipeg, MB, Canada R3T 2N2
University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB  R3T 2N2 Canada
Tel 204-474-6633  Fax 204-474-7629  Email EHSO@umanitoba.ca