Hazardous materials

A hazardous material is any chemical or substance that poses a physical or health hazard. EHSO’s Hazardous Materials Program includes the following sections: 

Cardboard boxes on dolly next to van.

Hazardous materials

Risk assessment

A hazard is a source of potential damage, harm or adverse health effects on something or someone, while risk is the probability and severity that a person will be harmed or experience an adverse side effect if exposed to a hazard. A risk assessment identifies the hazards and associated risk when working with a hazardous material and determines the appropriate ways to eliminate those hazards or control the risks.

Risks must be assessed before work begins with a new hazardous material or when an existing hazardous material is used in a new process or area. It is the responsibility of a Supervisor who is directing work with hazardous materials to assess the risks prior to bringing that material into a workplace and the responsibility of an Employee, Student or Visitor to assess the risks prior to using a hazardous material in the course of their work.

More information on how to conduct a risk assessment for chemicals can be found on the Chemical safety page.

Chemical safety

The Chemical Safety Program facilitates and ensures the safe and knowledgeable use of chemicals in the workplace, lab or classroom. Visit the Chemical safety page for information on chemical inventories (Vertére), WHMIS, handling & storage, chemical risk assessments and procurement, chemical safety lab permits, and spill and emergency response.

Emergency Showers and Eyewash Stations

Emergency showers and eyewash stations are critical safety features designed to minimize injuries in the event of exposure to hazardous materials. These stations provide immediate decontamination and are essential in labs, workshops, and other areas where hazardous chemicals or materials are handled. 

To learn more about proper installation, maintenance, and usage guidelines, please see the Emergency shower and eyewash station guideline.

Emergency shower and eyewash station guideline (PDF) 

Emergency eyewash and shower- user guide (PDF)

Sharps

Sharps include needles, scalpels, lancets, razor blades, scissors, metal wire, retractors, clamps pins, staples cutters, glass items, and any other object that can cut or puncture the skin. Biologically & chemically contaminated sharps provide an additional infection and health risk. Sharps can be found on campus for use in work and research as well as sharps used for personal medical purposes or those that are found incidentally. All sharps must be safely handled and disposed of in a way that protects the safety of the UM community and the environment. Learn more about the EHSO Program on Sharps Handling and Disposal.

Personal Medical Sharps (Needles and Syringes)

Sharps used to support personal medical care and treatments (typically needles and syringes) can be contaminated with both pharmaceutical drugs and well as human blood and bodily fluids. These sharps must be handled with care as per medical advisement and also must be disposed of in medical sharps containers that have been provided in identified washrooms on both Fort Garry and Bannatyne campus for the required use by UM Community members.

Fort Garry Locations

  1. ALC – Rooms 158 & 159 (multi-stall washrooms)
  2. Extended Education – Room 164 (universal washroom)
  3. Max Bell – Rooms 120 & 121 (washrooms within locker rooms)
  4. University Centre – Rooms 110B & 110E (universal washrooms)
  5. Engineering – Rooms E2-247 & E2-249 (multi-stall washrooms)
  6. Drake – Room 149M (accessible stall within multi-stall washroom, has its own sink)
  7. Armes – Room 106A (universal washroom)
  8. Tier – Rooms 102 & 112 (multi-stall washrooms)
  9. Dafoe Library – Rooms 105 & 107 (multi-stall washrooms)
  10. Helen Glass – Rooms 237 & 239 (multi-stall washrooms)
  11. Agriculture – Rooms 122 & 124 (multi-stall washrooms)
  12. University College – Rooms 134B & 135D (multi-stall washrooms)

Fort Garry- Personal Medical Sharps Map

Bannatyne Locations

  1. Apotex – Rooms 102 & 108 (multi-stall washrooms)
  2. Brodie – Rooms 171 & 172 (multi-stall washrooms)
  3. Medical Services – Room S015 (universal washroom)
  4. Dentistry – Rooms D127 and/or D129 (universal washrooms)

Bannatyne- Personal Medical Sharps Map

Hazardous waste

The responsible disposal of hazardous waste protects human health and the environment. EHSO can assist in disposing hazardous waste in accordance with federal and local regulations.

The Hazardous Waste Management Program provides guidelines and support services for the disposal of all chemical, radiological and biological waste produced at the university. Any waste which has one or more of the properties listed below must be treated as hazardous waste:

  • Flammable
  • Corrosive
  • Toxic
  • Reactive
  • Compressed Gas
  • Radioactive
  • Biohazardous
  • Unknown

Further information on the hazardous waste program, including how to dispose of different types of hazardous waste and mechanisms for pick-up, can be found under the Hazardous Waste section on the EHSO page of UM Intranet site.

Please contact EHSO if you have any questions. Some helpful documents for our Hazardous Waste Program can also be found listed below including the Hazardous Waste Disposal form.

Transportation of dangerous goods

In accordance with the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act and Regulations, any University of Manitoba employees shipping dangerous goods must be certified for the applicable means of transportation.

EHSO offers two half-day courses in Transportation of Dangerous Goods (Ground) and Transportation of Dangerous Goods (Air). Ground certification training can be offered separately, but air certification training must be offered in combination with ground training.

Please contact EHSO to be registered for the appropriate course.

Transportation of dangerous goods (ground)

Any person shipping, receiving, or transporting dangerous goods by ground must be certified for ground transport of dangerous goods. This half-day course will cover all aspects of shipping, transporting, and receiving dangerous goods and is required for all University employees transporting dangerous goods.

Ground certification is valid for three years.

Transportation of dangerous goods (air)

Any person shipping or receiving dangerous goods by air must be certified for air transport of dangerous goods. Course attendees may include laboratory staff shipping medical samples by air (medical samples and dry ice are both regulated as dangerous goods). Ground certification must be taken with air certification and both courses will be offered the same day.

Air certification is valid for two years.

Certification training to receive dangerous goods

EHSO provides Transportation of Dangerous Goods Training through UMLearn for individuals who receive dangerous goods.

This training is available to individuals who only receive dangerous goods and is not applicable to individuals packaging dangerous goods for export.

Contact us

Environmental Health and Safety
Room 191 Extended Education Complex
406 University Crescent
University of Manitoba (Fort Garry campus)
Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2 Canada

P310 Pathology Building
770 Bannatyne Avenue
University of Manitoba (Bannatyne Campus)

ehso@umanitoba.ca
204-474-6633