Incident Lessons Learned: Workplace Security

Summary

Recently, an individual who was not affiliated with the U of A illegally entered a university biomedical laboratory, remaining overnight in the space. During the investigation, it was determined that the door to the lab had not been locked at the end of the day. Fortunately, nothing was damaged or stolen, but due to the nature of the research occurring in the space, the university was obligated to report the security breach to the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC).

Over the last few months there has been an uptick in reports of trespassing, particularly in university research spaces. 

Consequences

Unauthorized access to administrative spaces (e.g., offices, student rooms and lunch rooms) often results in the theft of personal items and damage to university infrastructure. When these incidents occur in research spaces (e.g., laboratories, cold rooms, autoclave rooms, storage spaces, etc.), they may also result in exposures to hazardous materials and disruptions to research, including suspension of regulatory certifications and licences. Events like these may also leave workers feeling unsafe and could significantly impact the reputation of the university as a safe and secure research environment.

Culture of Care

The Culture of Care Safety Action Plan calls for all employees to take responsibility for their own safety and that of others. With that in mind, always comply with regulatory requirements and university policy and best practices to ensure the security of your workplace.

Call to Action

To secure your workplace:

• Close and lock entrance doors if you will be leaving the space unattended, even if only for a few minutes. 
• Ensure that laptops and physical records (e.g., notebooks, samples and materials) used in research are stored and secured appropriately.
• Keep your keys and access cards with you at all times. Keys stored in work areas must be secured when not in use.
• If you work in a shared space, consider creating a Google Chat so that users can announce their comings and goings to ensure that the last one out secures the space.
• If you see signs of a trespasser in your workplace, contact University of Alberta Protective Services (UAPS, 780-492-5050).
• If you encounter an unauthorized person in your workplace, ask for identification or call UAPS for immediate assistance.
• Create a working alone procedure, post it in the workplace and review it often with your team.

The University of Alberta is committed to the safety, health and well-being of our faculty, staff and students. Every day, we advance this commitment to safety through the Culture of Care: Safety Action Plan.