Set up a research space for work with hazardous materials
- 210 Materials Management Building (MMB)
- hse.info@ualberta.ca
New researchers at the U of A must identify, assess, and control hazards prior to beginning work at the university. Follow the steps below to get started:
Contact HSE at hse.info@ualberta.ca to set up an appointment to register your worksite in the HSE module of the ARISE database. You will need the following information:
- Hazards used in the space (e.g., chemical, biological, radiological, UV, high voltage, etc.)
- Personnel in the space
- Equipment in the space (lasers, X-rays, scintillation counters, biological safety cabinets, autoclaves)
Work with the following types of hazardous materials at the University of Alberta may require additional permits or approvals:
- Nuclear substances
- Biological materials (transfer of biological materials, research grant approvals, etc.)
- Chemicals
- Physical hazards
You must have approvals in place before beginning work with hazardous materials.
The following equipment will need to be certified or tested by HSE before work can begin:
- Lasers
- X-ray
- Biological safety cabinets or enclosure device (email hse.info@ualberta.ca)
Learn more about certification and testing of laboratory equipment.
Health, Safety and Environment offers the following services to prevent illness or serious injury that could be associated with exposure to hazards:
- Audiometric testing
- Personal radiation monitoring (dosimetry)
- Health assessments related to pregnancy or change in immune status
- Vaccination consultation
- Post-exposure response planning
- Reporting and tracking laboratory-acquired infections
Learn more here.
Remember to complete the following documentation and have it readily available for review by your research team or by HSE inspectors:
- Unit action plan/emergency response plan
- Working alone procedure
- Hazard assessment
- Safe operating procedures for the processes you will use
- Training records
University research groups that generate hazardous waste should enroll in CHEMATIX, a web-based system to manage waste disposal. Based on CHEMATIX input, HSE will schedule waste pickup and transfer for the university.
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