Laboratory Safety
Health, Safety and Environment offers the following services to assist researchers who are working in a laboratory environment at the University of Alberta:
- Consultation with researchers to answer environmental, health, and safety-related questions
- Review and approval of research involving hazardous materials
- Inspections of laboratories to verify safe practices
- Inspection and authorization of certain laboratory equipment
- Development of resources, such as guidelines, templates, and training tools to facilitate safe work practices
Ensure that you understand and follow the steps to set up, maintain, and close out your laboratory safely.
Setting up a laboratory at the university?
- Before you begin, complete the New Principal Investigator Survey to notify HSE where you will be working and what research you will be conducting.
- Follow the steps to set up your research space safely and to ensure that all members of the research team are trained and competent to begin work.
Once research is underway
- Regularly inspect your workplace and equipment and correct outstanding issues. HSE will contact you annually (or more frequently, depending on the work you will be doing) to set up a formal laboratory inspection. Find out how to maintain the safety of your space using this checklist.
- Access the HSE training page and HSE document cabinet routinely for the latest eLearning courses, guidelines, manuals, and information documents.
Closing out the space? (permanently or for a renovation)
Are you leaving the university, transitioning to a new space, or shutting your laboratory during a renovation or repair? Learn what you'll need to do before closing out a research space.
Contact HSE with any questions: hse.info@ualberta.ca