Resources for all Chemical safety research areas.

General Chemical Safety Resources

What Regulations and Acts govern Chemical safety?

• Controlled Drugs and Substances Act
• Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS)
• Chemical Weapons Convention Implementation Act
• Occupational and Research Health and Safety Policy SC1

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What forms and checklists are needed for general Chemical safety?

• Chemical Safety Manual (PDF)

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Exposure Control Plans (ECPs), Guidelines (GDLs) & Safe Work Procedures (SWPs) for Chemical Safety

What ECPs, GDLs and SWPs do I need for Chemical safety?

Exposure Control Plans (ECPs)

• Exposure Control Plan for Carcinogens, Reproductive Toxins and Sensitizers (PDF)
• Exposure Control Plan for Cytotoxic Substances (PDF)
• OH-ECP-001 Exposure Control Plan for Isocyanates (PDF)
• OH-ECP-002 Exposure Control Plan for Lead (PDF)

Guidelines (GDLs)

• Glove Selection Flowchart (PDF)
• CHEM-GDL-002 Working with Nanomaterials – Guideline (PDF)
• CHEM-GDL-003 Cryogenic Liquids Safety (PDF)
• Safety Data Sheets and Pathogen Safety Data Sheets Guideline (PDF)

Safe Work Procedures (SWPs)

• CHEM-SWP-001 Acidic Basic Spill Clean Up (PDF)
• CHEM-SWP-002 Flammable Liquid Spill Clean Up (PDF)
• CHEM-SWP-003 Mercury Spill Clean Up (PDF)
• CHEM-SWP-004 Cytotoxic Spill Clean Up (PDF)
• CHEM-SWP-005 Isoflurane Spill Clean Up (PDF)
• CHEM-SWP-006 Receiving, Storage and Transport of Cytotoxic Substances (PDF)
• CHEM-SWP-007 Cytotoxic Substances – Waste Management (PDF)
• CHEM-SWP-008 Working Safely with Piranha Solution (PDF)
• CHEM-SWP-009 Working Safely with Hydrofluoric Acid (PDF)
• CHEM-SWP-010 Working Safely with Picric Acid (PDF)
• CHEM-SWP-011 Working Safely With Peroxide Forming Compounds (PDF)
• Working with Perchloric Acid Safe Working Procedure (PDF)

Risk Assessment for Chemical Hazards

What is a Risk Assessment?

Risk assessment is a term used to describe the overall process or method where you:

• Identify hazards and risk factors that have the potential to cause harm (hazard identification).
• Analyze and evaluate the risk associated with that hazard (risk analysis, and risk evaluation).
• Determine appropriate ways to eliminate the hazard, or control the risk when the hazard cannot be eliminated (risk control).

When should a Risk Assessment for Chemical Hazards be done?

There may be several reasons a risk assessment for chemical hazards is needed, including:

• Before a new research project involving hazardous chemicals is introduced.
• Whenever you have safety concerns regarding the use of a hazardous chemical.
• When required as part of a permit application.

I need to do a risk assessment. Where do I start?

UBC Safety & Risk Services (SRS) developed a Risk Assessment Guide (PDF) that explains the steps involved in writing a risk assessment.

• Read the guide and complete tables 1 and 2 with the data specific to your chemical hazards/processes.
• Submit the completed tables to SRS for review.
• An SRS advisor will analyze the data, complete the additional sections and generate a final risk assessment document.

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UBC WHMIS Program

What do I need to know in order to work safely with hazardous materials?

The purpose of the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) program is to inform employees about hazardous products used in the workplace through a combination of warning labels, hazard symbols, safety data sheets and training. All elements of the WHMIS Program are explained in the first document below. The label templates (small, medium and large size) are provided as tools that can be used when generating workplace labels. Before using the templates, read section 6 of the WHMIS Program Document.

• WHMIS Program Document (PDF)
• Small label template (WORD)
• Medium label template (PDF)
• Large label template (PDF)

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