Health and Safety
OVERVIEW
The University has an ethical as well as a legal responsibility to provide a safe environment in which to study and work. In addition the University strives to foster the development of a safety consciousness in all members of the University community for the purpose of minimizing the risk of injury to persons or the damage to property or facilities.
- Western's Occupational Health and Safety Website
- Western's Health and Safety Policy
- Western's Fire Safety and Emergency Management website
- Campus Police
The Occupational Health and Safety Act is the primary legislation governing workplace health and safety in Ontario. The Act is designed to protect workers against health and safety hazards. It outlines the rights and responsibilities of all parties in the workplace; it establishes procedures to deal with workplace hazards; and it provides enforcement of the law when compliance has not been achieved voluntarily.
EMERGENCY INFORMATION
In the event of a fire or other emergencies be prepared to evacuate the building quickly and orderly, know where your nearest fire exit is located, do not use elevators.
Follow the protocol outlined in the Laboratory Health and Safety Manual for chemical and solvent spills.
Campus Emergency Phone Numbers
Police/Fire/Ambulance from campus phone: 911
Police/Fire/Ambulance from cell phone: 519-661-3300 (Directs through University Police Dispatch)
Facilities Management Service Centre: 519-661-3304 or extension 83304
Note: if a phone is not available – the elevator phones provide immediate access to Facilities Management Service Centre/work hours, or Campus Police/ off hours
Location of Emergency Equipment
Know the location of emergency equipment nearest you (Safety Showers, Eye Wash Stations, Chemical Spill Kits, Fire Pull Stations, Fire Extinguishers, Exits, telephone, etc.)
Location of Biology First Aid Kits and First Aid Representatives:
Building |
Location of First Aid Kit |
First Aid Rep |
BGS |
Second floor Autoclave Room (BGS 2071) Third Floor Autoclave Room (BGS 3071) |
Vicky Lightfoot |
Greenhouses |
Inside Upper Potting Room | Mag van Hal |
Chemistry |
Outside Room 310 | Kim Baines |
Western Science |
Inside MGU Core (WSC 357) | Kathleen Hill |
Collip |
Outside Room 104 | Vicky Lightfoot |
NCB |
In prep Room 318 and Prep Room 329 | Ray Zabulionis |
Field Station |
Building Number 1 | Peter Duenk and |
BIOLOGY SAFETY AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE GROUP
Safety is a shared responsibility between you, your co-workers and your supervisor. You must know your own rights and responsibilities but you also have the Biology Safety Officer, Vicky Lightfoot, and the Biology SERG (Safety and Emergency Response Group) as a resource to assist you. The function of SERG is to:
- Serve as Emergency Coordinators for their respective areas. Including selecting,
appointing, coordinating and instructing emergency marshals responding to building
emergency evacuations. - Serve as first point of contact and dissemination of safety information and UWO safety
policy for department members in their areas. - Develop Safety policy, guidelines and responses within the department through semiannual
or quarterly meetings with other SERG members - Act as guides/hosts for the JOHSC team during annual safety inspections.
SERG Representatives for each building:
BGS |
Vicky Lightfoot x. 84547 |
Chemistry |
Jackie Sparks x. 81100 |
Western Science |
Raihan Uddin x. 86648 |
Collip |
Vicky Lightfoot x. 84547 |
NCB |
Ray Zabulionis x. 86475 |
Field Station |
Peter Duenk 519-666-0218 |
ACCIDENT REPORTING
All accidents, incidents and close calls, which in another set of circumstances would result in personal injury, must be reported on an official Accident Incident Report Form in accordance with the Accident Incident Investigation Procedure.
Critical injuries must be immediately reported to Occupational Health and Safety (x84741) or through UWO police at 911.
See also the OH&S website on Accident/Incident Reporting
TRAINING
It is mandatory that everyone complete the following training seminars
- New Employee Health and Safety Orientation
Note: available on-line via WebCT OWL. - WHMIS (Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System)
(even if you have had this in another workplace)
Note: available on-line via WebCT OWL. WHMIS training is repeated every three years as required by WHMIS Reg 860. - Safe Campus Community: Preventing Harassment, Violence, and Domestic Violence at Western
Note: available on-line via WebCT OWL - Accessibility Western
Note: available on-line via WebCT OWL - Laboratory Safety - Hazardous Waste (Lab Safety) These sessions are mandatory for all laboratory supervisors and workers. (A worker is anyone who conducts a procedure in a laboratory.)
All laboratory supervisors must attend the Faculty/Supervisor Responsibilities Seminar
You may be required to take additional safety training courses depending upon the type of work you do and/or the hazards you will encounter in you research (e.g. if you work with radioisotopes you need the Radiation Safety Training course). Please refer to the Training Requirements matrix to determine what sessions you need to attend.
Go to this link to register on-line for training:
www.uwo.ca/humanresources/facultystaff/h_and_s/training/training_idx.htm
WORKING IN HOT WEATHER PROCEDURE
As a result of an incident in the summer of 2010 where a graduate student suffered from a heat related illness, the Ontario Ministry of Labour (MOL) issued an order against the University. The order requires the University to develop a "Hot Weather Plan" which will help prepare and protect those working in extreme heat and humidity conditions.
Western’s Occupational Health and Safety team has prepared a procedure to comply with the MOL order. The title of the procedure is "Working in Hot Weather or Hot Workplace Environments" and may be found at this link:
http://www.uwo.ca/humanresources/docandform/docs/ohs1/procedures/Working_in_Hot_Environments.pdf
All University Staff and Faculty who may potentially work indoors or outdoors in hot workplace environments (workplaces with temperatures at or above 32C or with Humidex at 35 or higher) must follow and comply with this procedure.
Occupational Health and Safety will present seminars on "Working in Hot Environments" in the spring of each year.
Faculty, and Supervisors can also provide the training to their students, graduate students, and workers as long as they ensure the following:
1. Communicate the contents of the "Working in Hot Weather or Hot Workplace Environments", the Heat Stress Guide and display the Heat Stress poster
2. Keep records of the training.
POSITION HAZARD COMMUNICATION FORM
All employees must fill out a Position Hazard Communication Form with their supervisor. This form is the Department's communication to Occupational Health and Safety and the employee, of the known potential hazards in the workplace. The form must be completed: a) when a new employee is hired; b) when an employee is reclassified; c) when the hazards change; and d) when the position changes.
LABORATORY SAFETY MANUAL
The Laboratory Health and Safety Manual provides a minimum set of health and safety standards for the operation of campus laboratories. It is the policy of the University that all employees of the Department of Biology adhere to the practices, guidelines and policies described in the manual. Please read the manual thoroughly and discuss any aspects you do not fully understand with your supervisor.
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
The Laboratory Health and Safety Manual outlines Western’s campus-wide policy on minimum Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to be worn by all personnel in all laboratories:
Clothing worn should provide maximum coverage of skin, according to the risk to which you are exposed. The supervisor shall determine the specific requirements in the laboratory. The minimum skin protection in a laboratory in which hazardous chemicals are used requires continuous coverage from shoulders to toes including closed toed shoes. Goggles and face shields may also be required for special procedures (see the Eye Protection Policy for information on appropriate eye protection)
Note: Non-prescription safety glasses, goggles and forms for prescription safety eyewear may be obtained from OHS in Support Services Building Rm. 4190. These items are free for all employees (including Graduate Students)
The minimum PPE should be worn by all the personnel in the lab (including undergraduate students in teaching labs), not just those actively working.
The Biology Department also requires that Lab coats be worn at all times when working in a laboratory.
Note: Lab coats should be laundered frequently, please see Don/Monica in ChemBio Stores for access to the no cost Biology laundry system.
HAZARDOUS WASTE DISPOSAL
Follow proper waste disposal procedures as outlined in the Hazardous Materials Management Handbook.
RPR Environmental handles the waste collection program at UWO. Users of the service have their hazardous waste (chemical, biological and radioactive) picked up weekly at designated loading docks across campus. The pick-up date is every Thursday morning. Click here for the schedule which should also be posted in laboratories
RPR requires the submission of an inventory form with all hazardous waste for it to be accepted.
