Occupational Health and Safety offers a variety of services to assist in providing a healthy and safe laboratory environment.

Laboratory Health and Safety Manual for General Laboratory Practices
The Laboratory Health and Safety Manual provides a minimum set of health and safety standards for the operation of campus laboratories. (Revised June, 2011)

The manual is not all encompassing. There are many special procedures conducted within our laboratories which require unique health and safety precautions.

In all cases the laboratory supervisor is ultimately responsible for teaching safe work practices and must insist upon the use of proper procedures to eliminate unnecessary hazards. To assist in managing a healthy and safe laboratory here is an inspection check list to be used for conducting your own laboratory inspections.

Nanotechnology  
If your research involves the use of nanomaterials, you will find more information here.

The Warning Sign Booklet (3.5mb)
All laboratories must have all hazards identified by signage found in The Warning Sign Booklet.

Material Safety Data Sheets
A material safety data sheet must be available for each hazardous material found in the lab. This page contains links to sites maintained by some of our suppliers and to other collections found on the web. MSDS may be stored electronically but we recommend that for the highest risk / largest volume materials a hard copy of the MSDS be kept on hand for immediate access.

Western Workplace Labels
All materials must be identified. A brief explanation of the Western Workplace Labelling System is found here.

Hazard Alerts

Compressed Gases
Widely used in laboratories, they are often taken for granted but they do represent a significant risk potential. This page highlights the risks and list the corresponding precautions to be taken.

Flammable and Combustible Solvents
Flammable solvents are widely used in laboratories and represent fire hazards which are often ignored. This page provides basic definitions and a list of precautions which need to be followed.

Training
This gives a complete listing of all of the courses offered currently by Occupational Health and Safety.

Laboratory Transfer Guidelines
The Laboratory Transfer Guidelines outline the procedures that are to be followed at Western to ensure that laboratory space is reassigned, transferred or handed over to another researcher in a safe manner.

American Industrial Hygiene Association - Laboratory Safety
This link gives a wide range of information on laboratory health and safety issues.

If you have any other questions please contact Anne Marie McCusker