Health & Safety Policies
- Health and Safety Committee
- First Aid stations
- Reporting accidents
- Emergency response guidelines
- Accidents in undergraduate labs
- Personal safety
- Where to get Material Safety Data Sheets
- Disposal of chemical waste
- Small chemical spills
- Food
- Contact lenses
- Laboratory coats
- Doors propped or wedged open
- Autoclaves
- Centrifuges
- Microorganisms
- Traveling Abroad - Field Research
U. OF T Health and Safety LINKS
Environmental Health and Safety
Working with Biohazardous Materials?
Biosafety Program
1. Health and Safety Committee members
Michael Arlt (Worker co-chair), 416-978-6178
Dinesh Christendat, 416-946-3340
Laura Ferlito, 416-978-2084
Bruce Hall, 416-946-8780
Sally Holton, (Management co-chair) 416-978-6515
Liz Rentzelos, 416-946-3340
Debbie Tam, 416-978-5807
Tanja Vasic, 416-978-3331
2nd floor lounge, Room #2054
Trained First Aid Personnel: Alice Cheung and Tanja Vasic
4th floor lounge, Room #4043
Trained First Aid Personnel: Cathy Guo and Danielle Marcos
Report all accidents to cao [dot] eeb (at)utoronto [dot] ca?subject=health%20%26%20safety%20issue , Room #3055F, Tel. 418-978-6515
4. Emergency response guidelines
Campus Police
NON-Emergency Tel# 8-2323
Emergency Tel# 8-2222
Environmental Health & Safety Co-ordinator, Hazardous Waste Management
Rob Provost TEL: (416) 978-7000 EMAIL: rob [dot] provost (at)utoronto [dot] ca
- Chemical Emergency Response
- Chemical Waste Disposal Services
- Gas Cylinder Disposal
- Laboratory Decommissioning for Hazardous Materials
- PCB Waste Management
- Radioactive Waste Disposal Services
- Certification Approval (Air and Noise)
Chemical Technicians
Mario Reyes TEL: (416) 978-4821 EMAIL: mario [dot] reyes (at)utoronto [dot] ca
Chemical & Biological Hazardous Material Technicians
Aman Khan TEL: (416) 946-3473 EMAIL: aman [dot] khan (at)utoronto [dot] ca
Cynthia Thomas TEL: (416) 946-3473 EMAIL: c [dot] thomas (at)utoronto [dot] ca
Radiation Service Technicians
Luis Ponte TEL: (416) 978-2050 EMAIL: luis [dot] ponte (at)utoronto [dot] ca
Peter Smith TEL: (416) 978-2050 EMAIL: pj [dot] smith (at)utoronto [dot] ca
Environmental Air Compliance
Matthew White TEL: (416) 978-7910 EMAIL: matte [dot] white (at)utoronto [dot] ca
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS (HAZMAT) 9-1-1
PULL FIRE ALARM TO EVACUATE BUILDING
A course Supervisor is responsible for the safety of their course technicians, TA's and undergraduate students. They must be made aware of any potential hazard in laboratory procedures and in use of chemicals, and they must know what to do in case of an accident.
In case of fire or accident call 8-2222 (University police emergency number) and contact designated First Aid Trained Personnel if required.
If the injured person has to be taken to emergency hospital call the U. of T. Police 8-2323 or 8-2222. They will provide Transportation to hospital. They will also call an ambulance if required.
Report the accident to cao [dot] eeb (at)utoronto [dot] ca within 24 hours. There is a special form for undergraduate students and non-employees.
All TAs, technicians, and faculty must have had a WHMIS training within the last three years. All chemicals used in the laboratory must be accompanied by MSDS. These sheets should be kept in a place that is accessible to everyone in the lab.
WALKsmart 416-978-SAFE (7233)
Offers a reliable, safe alternative to walking alone on campus at night by providing escorts to walk you from one campus building to another or from one campus building to the nearest TTC stop.
Workalone Program 416-978-2323
The Working Alone Service is available to all members of the community who work on the campus during the quiet hours of the evening, weekends and statutory holidays. University Police will visit or telephone you during the period you requested.
7. Materials Safety Data Sheets
MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets) are provided by suppliers when you first order materials (Keep these where the materials are being used).
MSDS sheets can also found on-line:
Room 1011 is our designated chemical waste storage room. It is located in FORESTRY. All chemicals stored for disposal in this room have to be LABELED with special chemical waste labels. This room is kept locked at all times. Michael Arlt (Room # 1023C) has the key to it.
No Sharps Please :
Absolutely no containers with "sharps" (glass pipettes, needles, etc.) should be placed in Room 1011. Containers with sharps are NOT picked up by chemical waste personnel. All sharps need to be first decontaminated by user when necessary. All glass and other pointed objects such as plastic pipette tips should be placed in designated red 20L pails for disposal. Needle and blade sharps must be separately and carefully collected in a yellow approved needle and blade waste container. When full, these yellow containers are placed next to the 20L pails used for glass and other sharp waste.
No Orange Biohazardous Bags or Bags with Biohazard symbols:
Biological material (cultures, etc.) are not considered chemical waste and will not be picked up . All biological waste material should be autoclaved and deposited in appropriate designated garbage container in your department (see section 14).
Need Help ?
Any questions with respect to proper the disposal of chemical wastes should be directed to "hazardous chemical control section" at 978-7000 or 978-4821.
From Waste Disposal Office 8-4821, you can obtain: waste containers (liquid and solids), and roll of chemical waste labels.
Chemical spill kits are to be used only for VERY SMALL spills. Clean up kits are inside the YELLOW wood box located on 3rd floor in the hallway.
If there is a MAJOR spill get out of the lab and call 7000 .... DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CLEAN THE SPILL YOURSELF,
Report all spills to cao [dot] eeb (at)utoronto [dot] ca , Room 3055F, Tel. 8-6515.
Drinking, eating or storing food in research, or teaching labs is strictly forbidden. There are no exceptions to this rule.
Contact lenses should be worn when other forms of corrective eyewear is not suitable and always with goggles.
12. Laboratory Coats
Lab coats are required by anyone working in a lab which uses chemicals and/or cultures microorganisms, i.e., almost all EEB and CSB labs. Labcoats used in labs should not be worn in non-laboratory areas. Laboratory coats are to be worn INSIDE the laboratory BUT have to be removed when leaving the work area.
The Department provides two lab coats for all faculty and staff and provides a laundry service for all faculty, staff and graduate students.
How to get your Labcoat laundered :
Labcoats to be laundered should be placed in the blue laundry basket located in Room 1023C. Before handing in your coat to be laundered, make sure that your name is on it. All laundered labcoats are stored in and can be picked up from same room. Each person should have at least two labcoats. Dirty laundry is picked up about every two weeks.
Bio Safety Level II labs :
All labcoats worn by personnel in level II labs have to be AUTOCLAVED prior to handing them in to be laundered.
13. Doors Propped or Wedged Open
Propping or wedging open doors is strictly prohibited by the Fire Code. Fire doors are installed to provide protection from smoke and flame in the event of a fire, and are required to be closed at all times.
Locations:
All new users of the autoclaves must be trained in their use by an authorized person (michael [dot] arlt (at)utoronto [dot] ca, michael [dot] arlt (at)utoronto [dot] ca) and a record of training is recorded.
- Basement Room # B120
- 1st Floor Room #1023A (Teaching)
- (for assistance see Michael Arlt in Room #1023C)
How Do We Autoclave Garbage?
There are three autoclaves in the Basement Room # B120. One of them (NUMBER 1) has been designated for autoclaving GARBAGE. All other Autoclaves in the Department are NOT to be used for sterilizing garbage.
For all Bio Safety Level I labs in the Building (almost all labs):
When autoclaving garbage use only Clear autoclave bags with NO biohazard symbol on the bag to sterilize all biological material (i.e. petri plates, cultures, etc).
- Do not OVERFILL the bag, leave enough room to close the bag in a safe manner.
- Do not SEAL the bag tightly, leave an opening to allow STEAM formed inside the bag to escape.
- Place the autoclave bag IN A TUB and only then start autoclaving. HOT MEDIA INSIDE THE AUTOCLAVE WILL PLUG-UP THE DRAIN.
- The material coming out of the autoclave is VERY HOT, use oven gloves to protect your hands.
- Once the garbage has been autoclaved, let the material cool for several hours and then place the bag in a regular large garbage can.
For any Bio Safety Level II Labs:
Garbage is autoclaved in bags printed with a biohazard symbol. After autoclaving, these bags are then brought back to the individual research labs and placed in containers provided by the Bio Safety Office at U of T and are then picked up when contacted.
How To Autoclave And Dispose Of Contaminated Sharp Materials?
Autoclave all sharp items such as contaminated broken glassware, pipettes, razor blades in SEPARATE AUTOCLAVE BAGS. After autoclaving, dispose of the bags containing the "sharps" into one of the RED plastic 20L pails in your lab. Once full, these red containers will be capped and removed by Caretakers.
How To Increase Air Flow In Fume Hood?
The intensity of air flow will increase as fume hood sash is RAISED. Fans, located in the ceiling, will then draw extra fresh air into the room in order to compensate for the increased air loss by way of the fumehood.
Air flow can also be increased by pressing the RED "Set-Reset" button on the control panel AND the GREY "Mute" button (the "Mute" button shuts off the alarm) This procedure should NOT be done on regular basis.
Centrifuges are commonly used in biological research laboratories to separate cellular material from a suspending liquid medium. They can range from the small bench- models to the sophisticated ultracentrifuges. Low speed centrifuges can have a speed range of 2000-6000 rpm, while ultracentrifuges can run at 40,000-80,000 rpm. Needless to say, with components revolving at such high speeds, centrifuges constitute a potentially severe mechanical hazard. In addition, there are hazards which are related to the inherent toxicity of the material being centrifuged, such as with biohazardous or radioactive materials.
All centrifuge users must be trained in and be familiar with the safe operation of the equipment. Before using a particular centrifuge, the manufacturer's instructions for that model should be read and followed. Procedures for the safe operation of centrifuges include, but are not limited to, the following:
Ensure that the loaded rotor or buckets and trunnions are properly balanced each time it is used.
Load multiple containers symmetrically in the rotor. In addition to the potential physical hazard, failure to balance the rotor correctly will greatly increase the wear on the drive system, and can cause extensive damage to the rotor and centrifuge.
All floor-standing centrifuges must be fitted with interlocks so that it is impossible to open the cover when the centrifuge is in operation. The newer models are built with interlocks; many older models were not built with such protective devices, however, the Ministry of Labour requires these units (centrifuges) to be retrofitted with interlocks, prior to operation.
For bench- centrifuges not fitted with interlocks:
- Always close the centrifuge lid during operation.
- At the end of a run, do not open until the rotating head has come to rest.
- Never s the rotor by hand or with an object.
- There must be a sign displaying the fact that units must not be opened until the rotating head has come to a complete s.
- Do not leave the centrifuge until it has attained its full operating speed, in order to ensure that it is running without vibration. S the centrifuge immediately and check the load balances it vibration does occur.
- Do not exceed the safe maximum speed of the centrifuge as specified by the manufacturer. A particular rotor may also be derated, meaning that it cannot be run at its maximum speed. Derating is usually necessary for rotors which have completed a certain number of runs and accumulated a certain number of hours, for rotors which have become corroded, or for solutions with densities greater than 1.2 g/cm 3 .
- Clean rotors and buckets after use and dry thoroughly. Spillages can seriously weaken the rotor due to corrosion. Rotor components of low-speed centrifuges can be made of brass, steel, plastics or aluminum alloys. Ultracentrifuge rotors are usually made of aluminum or titanium alloys. An aluminum rotor can be easily corroded by acid or alkaline solutions but even solutions containing low concentrations of salts at neutral pH can break down the protective oxide film covering the surface of the rotor
- When centrifuging toxic materials, such as the case with biohazardous or radioactive samples, extreme caution must be taken to avoid contamination of the centrifuge as well as the laboratory:
- Use capped tubes to contain the samples and to prevent the escape of potentially hazardous aerosols.
- Use containers made of unbreakable material whenever possible.
- Carefully inspect the containers for cracks or flaws before using.
- Conduct regular inspection and testing for signs of contamination (e.g. swipe tests).
- Be aware of decontamination procedures which apply to the hazard(s) of your samples.
- Centrifuge biohazardous materials within sealed rotors or buckets. Load and unload these materials within the biosafety cabinet or chemical fumehood.
- Biocontainment features are commercially available for centrifuges; further information can be obtained through the Biosafety Officer (978-3981) or from centrifuge manufacturers.
- Conduct regular maintenance, inspections and servicing of the centrifuge, as outlined in the manufacturer's instructions.
- Examine the centrifuge and its components regularly for signs of corrosion, cracks or undue wear.
16. Safety Procedures Involving Microorganisms
All persons working with microorganisms are required to take BioSafety training given by the Office of Environmental Health and Safety.
Although you may not be working with pathogenic organisms in your studies, you should be aware of safety procedures in dealing with microbes in general. The mammalian immune system is normally able to handle most microorganisms, including those that are potentially pathogenic. However, there are two hazards that must be avoided:
- Persons with diseases that affect the immune system are at risk in handling normally non-pathogenic microorganisms. If you believe that you have such a condition you should consult your physician and you will be excused from the laboratory exercises using microorganisms.
- Living cultures of "harmless" microorganisms can become invaded or colonized by pathogenic ones. Although this is unlikely it is always safest to treat all microorganisms as potentially pathogenic.
All persons working with microorganisms must observe the following rules
- Clothing coming in contact with microorganisms should be removed and washed. The best way to avoid the embarrassment of leaving crucial pieces of clothing behind in the lab is to wear a lab coat. Lab coats are required for these exercises and should be taken home in a plastic bag and washed frequently.
- Never touch living microorganisms with any part of your body. If you do come in contact with microorganisms wash the affected part thoroughly in soap and water.
- Keep laboratory doors closed.
- Never eat or drink in the laboratory.
- Wash your hands before leaving the laboratory.
- Report any spills to an instructor so that they can be cleaned and disinfected.
- Never leave microbial cultures open to the air: keep them covered at all times. Many microorganisms can become airborne and inhaled.
- Sterilize all implements that you have used to handle microorganisms. You will be instructed in how this is done.
- Place all used microscope slides in the jars of disinfectant provided.
- Place all culture vessels away from the edge of the lab bench and away from areas where they could become knocked over.
Does your research ever require you to travel abroad? The U of T has a policy on Safety in Field Research that you should be aware of. The policy can be found at http://www.ehs.utoronto.ca/resources/manindex/policies/fieldres.htm
In addition, I would like to draw your attention to the University of Toronto Guidelines for Safety in Field Research, developed by the Office of Environmental Health and Safety, which compliments the policy and contains various forms to be completed prior to departure. http://www.utoronto.ca/safety/Policies/Resform.pdf
There is also a safety abroad website and an advisor who can provide information on any travel advisories that may be in effect at the time of your departure. http://www.utoronto.ca/safety.abroad/guide.html