Steven Cole
Biosafety Officer
P310 Pathology Building
770 Bannatyne Ave.
University of Manitoba (Bannatyne campus)
Winnipeg, MB R3E 0W3 Canada
204-789-3675
Steven.Cole@umanitoba.ca
Biosafety
The University of Manitoba's biosafety program ensures compliance with federal, provincial, and municipal regulations governing the storage and handling of biological materials on campus.
Overview
Administered by Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) under the guidance of the Biosafety Committee, the program requires that all activities involving the use or storage of unfixed biological materials on UM property are covered by a valid UM biosafety permit.
What is an unfixed biological agent?
As defined by the biosafety policy and procedure:
"Biological Agents” shall refer to any live or unfixed Risk Group 1-4 agents which affect humans, animals, plants or insects and can include, viruses, bacteria, mycoplasmas, protozoa, helminths, prions, molds, fungi, biological toxins, allergens, algae, recombinant DNA molecules, cells, human and animal tissues, human and animal tissue cultures or any other biological material used or stored at the University of Manitoba.
Biosafety resources
To support labs and personnel working with biological materials, the biosafety program provides a range of resources and templates, including:
These resources include:
- Manuals: Comprehensive guides on biosafety and biosecurity practices
- Checklists: Tools to ensure compliance with regulatory standards
- Training Templates: Customizable resources for effective training sessions
- Standards and Guiding Documents: Instructions for common laboratory procedures
- Lab Postings: Necessary signage required for laboratories
These resources are designed to promote safe practices and compliance in all UM laboratories.
The UM Intranet is accessible to UM employees only. Download/share these documents with UM students as required, however, these documents should not be shared with non-UM entities.
Biosafety and Responsible Conduct of Research
The University of Manitoba is committed to ensuring the safe and compliant use of unfixed biological materials in research. To support this goal, researchers must adhere to specific biosafety requirements when applying for funding and conducting projects involving biological agents. Following these guidelines helps maintain a high standard of safety and aligns with institutional and regulatory policies.
Indicating Biological Material Use
Researchers using unfixed biological agents must disclose this information on the Funding Approval Application Form (FAAF).
Approval for Research Funds
To access research funds after an award is granted, biosafety program approval is required. Permit holders must update their biosafety permits via the EHSA system by amending the "Adding Grants and Contracts" section to include the awarded project.
FAAF Compliance
The FAAF serves as a contract between the researcher and the University of Manitoba. As stated on the form:
"Submitting inaccurate or false information in these forms is a breach of the University of Manitoba Responsible Conduct of Research Policy."
Researchers uncertain about whether their current or past projects require biosafety program approval should contact the biosafety team for guidance.
Quality Assurance Reviews
The biosafety program conducts Quality Assurance Reviews to ensure that documentation related to the use of unfixed biological materials remains accurate and up-to-date. Learn more about the Quality Assurance Review procedure.
Regulatory links
Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC)
Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)
Manuals, standard operating procedures and more
Refer to Biosafety and Biosecurity SharePoint site for these resources
Training
Personnel working with biological materials at the University of Manitoba must complete specific training to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. All individuals are required to self-register and complete the latest edition of Biological Safety Training through UM Learn. This online training provides an overview of the biosafety program and how it is implemented at the university.
For Permit Holders and their authorized designates, completion of the Biosafety Permit Administration training is also mandatory. This training, available on UM Learn, is specifically designed for individuals with administrative responsibilities related to Biosafety Permits and is not intended for general lab workers.
In addition to online training, supervisors must provide site-specific training that addresses the biological hazards specific to their research or lab operations.
Who needs to complete the training?
Training is required for any new personnel working with biological materials or for individuals whose previous training is out-of-date. Completion of the current version of Biological Safety Training is necessary to remain compliant. All personnel working with biological materials must be listed on a biosafety permit.
How do I complete the training?
Training is provided through UM Learn. You will need to log in with your UMNetID credentials and self-register for the "Biological Safety Training" course.
Log in to UM Learn to self-register for training
What if I do not have a UMNetID?
If you are not eligible for a UMnetID (i.e. are not a UM student, staff or faculty), your UM Host or Supervisor must complete an Individual Sponsored Account form and submit to IST.
How do I provide site-specific training for my area?
Supervisors are required to provide training on biological hazards specific to their lab. You may use the site-specific training template on the UM Intranet to draft your training.
How do I see my final grade/obtain my certificate of completion?
To review your final grade:
- In the UMLearn, Click the UM Biological Safety Training Course, click your name on the top right-hand side of the screen, scroll down to Progress.
- 2. Scroll to Grades, to view your overall score. This final score will be recorded in our database within a week of completion.
To obtain your completion of training certificate:
- In UMLearn click any course you have completed from the waffle menu, Click Assessments > Awards.
- Click the UM Biological Safety Training icon and scroll to the bottom of the summary window. Click generate certificate this can be saved or printed.
Pathogen transfers
The University of Manitoba holds a Human Pathogens and Toxins Act (HPTA) license with the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC). This license covers all approved biosafety permits at UM.
Transfers of Risk Group (RG) 2 and other regulated materials are permitted under the UM’s HPTA license and are required to be communicated to the biosafety officer. The biosafety officer will also provide proof that researchers can receive these materials from external facilities.
There are some materials that are exempt from PHAC licensure requirements however, they may be subject to Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) regulations.
All unfixed biological materials require an approved UM biosafety permit.
How do I know if my material is regulated?
The Public Health Agency of Canada classifies the risk group of biological materials. These classifications can be found using the ePathogen database or by contacting the biosafety officer.
What is exempt?
- Pathogens or toxins that are found in their natural environment (for example human blood and tissue samples, soil samples etc.).
- Cell lines that do not contain an intact pathogen.
Cell lines that have a part of an animal pathogen as part of their promoter (eg SV 40) may be subject to CFIA import requirements.
Transporting Dangerous Goods (TDG)
When shipping any biological materials, Transport Canada regulations for TDG (PDF) must be followed.
Special considerations
If importing the materials listed below from outside Canada, please email the biosafety officer. These materials are regulated by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and require a different import permit.
- Foreign animal diseases
- Aquatic animal pathogens
- Bee pathogens
- Animal blood, body fluids, tissues and by-products
- Pathogenic plants/plant pathogens or plant-propagating agents
Download the Biohazardous Agent Transfer Request form (PDF).
Summary of import requirements
| RG1 materials, plasmids, pathogens in their natural environments (excludes animal pathogens) |
Approved biosafety permit for materials |
|---|---|
|
Human/Terrestrial Animal Pathogens (RG2) |
|
|
Foreign Animal Diseases, cell lines with animal pathogen promoters, aquatic/bee/plant pathogens, animal by-products |
These are CFIA regulated agents and require:
|
|
Risk Group 3 + Security Sensitive Biological Agents (RG3 + SSBAs) |
Contact the Biosafety Office first! |
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Contact us
Biosafety Program General
P310 Pathology Building
770 Bannatyne Ave.
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, MB R3E 0W3 Canada
204-474-6633
204-789-3906