Health & Safety
Our primary objectives are to ensure the health and safety of our people and the environment at UBC. Under the Occupational and Research Health and Safety Policy SC1 (formerly Policy #7) UBC aims to eliminate unnecessary risks, injuries, and occupational diseases, from UBC’s workplace, teaching, and research environments.
Deans, department heads, directors and managers all have the responsibility to develop, implement and maintain all elements of the safety program including the safe and knowledgeable acquisition, use and disposal of hazardous materials used in their work activities. Safety & Risk Services’ Occupational Health and Safety team provides guidance and technical expertise to support that commitment.
The Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) team is comprised of specialists in three groups that complement each other to provide critical advisory services to the UBC Community.
- Safety Programs & Management Systems (SPMS) serves as stewards for UBC’s safety program structure and systems, including educational campaigns and mandatory training courses, regulatory interpretation services, incident investigation, and program resource documentation.
- Research Compliance & Occupational Hygiene (RCOH) works to enhance the health and safety of students, faculty, and staff by advising on applicable safety regulations and health protection practices around the use of regulated and hazardous substances and processes.
- Health & Safety Partnerships (HSP) provides tailored support to the UBC community partners, including the Vancouver Campus Joint Occupational Health & Safety Committees (JOHSCs), in the implementation of safety programming by growing and connecting a network of Safety Champions to core programs and services.
UBC Safe Vancouver app
UBC Safe is a free mobile safety app for the UBC Vancouver campus. This multi-function app puts direct access to campus safety resources and security tools in your hand, while on the go.
Safety & advisory committees
Safety on campus is a joint effort and various committees oversee aspects of safety.
Occupational hygiene
Occupational Hygiene is the anticipation, recognition, evaluation, control and prevention of hazards in the workplace.
Laboratory safety
Research laboratories all have a common core of health & safety program requirements.
Dive safety
Scientific diving allows for direct exploration of previously inaccessible areas and organisms, providing valuable insights into marine ecosystems
Safety programs
Safety programs provides educational support and assists with mitigating risks of UBC workers.
Understanding your safety role at UBC
All members of the UBC community — students, faculty, staff, and volunteers — have a role to play in supporting the University’s Safety Accountability structure.
The Centre for Occupational Health, Safety, and Wellbeing
The Centre, located in the University Services Building, offers a range of health and wellness services.