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Research Safety Programs

  • Service available to: Faculty, Staff, Students, Researchers
  • Themes: Consulting, Equipment, Health and Wellness, Help and Support, Research, Safety
  • Service Category: Health, Safety, and Wellbeing
  • Service Areas: Laboratory Safety, Chemical Safety, Biosafety, Radiation Safety, Cannabis Safety, PPE Fit Testing

Description of Service

This service provides faculty, staff, researchers, and students with support for research safety in the workplace through proactive programs and services. Advice and guidance provided through this service facilitates safe research on campus across all fields (e.g. physical sciences, life sciences, health sciences, engineering, social sciences).

Programs and services include:

  • Developing safety manuals and protocols, standard operating procedures (SOPs), University Codes and Standards, and emergency response plans for a variety of research areas, including: laboratory safety, chemical safety, nanoparticle safety, radiation safety, biosafety, off-campus research safety, working alone safety, etc.
  • Supporting the use of controlled or hazardous materials through the safe acquisition, use, storage, transportation, abandonment, transfer, release, and/or disposal.
  • Identifying and implementing requirements related to signage, training, safety equipment, storage, and other.
  • Maintaining an inventory of chemicals to support emergency personnel when responding to an incident in a laboratory.
  • Providing local risk assessments, which include guidance on the selection of personal protective equipment (PPE)
  • Providing core research safety training for all personnel conducting research at the university.
  • Inspecting or testing of safety equipment: safety showers (annually), fume hoods (annually), and eye-wash stations (annually).
  • Approving, auditing and supporting research activities requiring permits under federal jurisdiction (biosafety, radiation safety, cannabis).
  • Hazardous waste disposal including chemical, biological, and radioactive waste.

Anyone performing research at the university must consult with the specific Safety Resources team to support safe research environments and adherence to any related regulations.


Access

Faculty, staff, researchers, and students can request advice, help, and support from safety resources using the following methods:

In-Person:
Research Annex
Main Office Room 150 - Entrance B
Training Room 140 - Entrance A
105 Maintenance Road
Saskatoon SK  S7N 5C5
Phone: 306-966-4675
Fax: 306-966-8394
Emailsafetyresources@usask.ca

Outside of core hours, please phone 306-966-5555 for any emergency assistance.


Availability of Support

Core Hours: 8:00 am–4:30 pm Monday to Friday
After Hours: Outside of core hours, please phone 306-966-5555 for any urgent assistance regarding research safety.


Service Standards

  • The department of Safety Resources operates to provide occupational health and safety support to all groups across campus and to uphold municipal, provincial, and federal legislation regarding workplace safety. Research safety encompasses all activities within research programs, from the laboratory to the field to the office. 

Service Exclusions, Limitations, and Restrictions

  • All students/workers must be trained to work safely around identified hazards.
  • Supervisors must identify training requirements, provide site specific training, provide required PPE, and to ensure safe working conditions.
  • Supervisors must perform formal workplace inspections.
  • Supervisors are responsible for the creation and implementation of a Working Alone/After Hours Plan.
  • Lab managers or designated workers are responsible for flushing emergency eyewash stations weekly and safety showers monthly.
  • Lab managers or designated workers are responsible to monitor fume hood function and arrange for service as necessary. Fume hood alarms are local alarms only and should be responded to by lab personnel.
  • It is the responsibility of lab personnel to appropriately clean and decontaminate any equipment and/or areas being serviced, disposed of, relocated, transferred, and/or decommissioned prior to permitting any work by any service personnel (trades, movers, or external parties). The Equipment Release Form must be completed beforehand.
  • Approvals are required before a fridge or freezer can be purchased at the university.

Service Charges

  • There are generally no charges associated with using Research Safety Programs.


Related Terms

AED, Autoclaves, Biohazardous Materials, Biological safety, Biopathogens, Biosafety, Biosafety Permits, Biosecurity, Cannabis, Cannabis safety, Chemical, Chemical Inventory Program, Chemical Safety, Controlled substances, Emergency eye wash stations, Emergency response plans, Emergency showers, Eyewashes, Fire extinguisher, First aid, First aid kits, Fit testing, Fume hoods, Glove boxes, Hazard assessments, Hazardous, Hazardous materials, Hazardous waste, Lab safety, Laboratory Safety, Laser, Live animals, Nanoparticle Safety, Nuclear, Nuclear substance permits, Off-campus Research Activities, Pathogen, Permits, Permits, Personal protective equipment (PPE) (e.g. lab coats; gloves; nitrile gloves; respirators; eye and face protection: glasses / goggles / face shield), Radiation Safety, Radioactive, Research, Risk Group, Safety showers, Sharps containers, Spill response, Testing log, Toxins, Working Alone, X-ray