Research Safety Resources & Documents
The research safety program is essential in keeping our campus labs safe and secure for all who use them. Find resources and documents that apply to all research areas, along with specialized resources for Biosafety, Chemical, LASER and Radiation Safety.
I’m setting up a new lab. What do I need to do?
- Complete the mandatory and role-specific training.
- Determine what permits and registration are required.
- It may be helpful to meet with a Research Safety Advisor to discuss your research program to ensure you’ve got all your bases covered and to set up a time to chat.
How do I get clearance for Facilities to move my lab equipment, fix something in my lab or have renovations done?
Facilities staff are not permitted to move equipment or work on lab space that has not been labelled as free from contamination. Equipment should be surface decontaminated and labelled with a lab equipment clearance form prior to move or repair.
Where repairs or renovations will be done in the lab, as much as possible, space around the work area should be cleared of hazardous substances, sensitive equipment and ongoing experimental materials. Where this is not possible, these items should be labelled with the name and contact information of a knowledgeable person. Post a completed Laboratory Clearance Form at the worksite.
I’m shutting down, retiring or otherwise leaving a lab space for good. What do I need to do?
Before a lab closes, all rooms must be cleared of hazardous substances, lab instrumentation equipment and experimental materials. A guidance document and checklist for this process has been created to ensure all aspects of research termination are considered and addressed. Post a completed, signed checklist on the door.
Biosafety resources
Biosafety Regulations and Acts
- Human Pathogens and Toxins Act
- Human Pathogens and Toxins Regulations
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA Act, Feeds Act, Health of Animals Act, Plant Protection Act, Seeds Regulations)
- Environment Canada – New Substances Notification Regulations (Organisms)
- Occupational and Research Health and Safety Policy SC1
- Aquatic Animals
- Plant Pests
- Terrestrial Animals
- Plants with Novel Traits
Biosafety standards
Biosafety manuals and reference materials
Biosafety guidelines
- BIO-GDL-001 CL2 with CL3 Procedure (WORD)
- BIO-GDL-002 Guidelines for Working with Microbial Toxins (PDF)
- BIO-GDL-003 Laboratory Hand Washing 2019 (PDF)
- BIO-GDL-004 Vacuum Line Set Up (PDF)
- BIO-GDL-005 Security Considerations for Biological Substances (PDF)
- BIO-GDL-007 UV Lamps in BSCs (PDF)
- BIO-GDL-008 Handling & Disposing of Needles (PDF)
- BIO-GDL-010 Working with Microtomes and Cryostats (PDF)
- BIO-GDL-014 Annual Autoclave Validation Protocol (PDF)
Biosafety Safe Work Procedures
Biosafety Standard Operating Procedures
Biosafety animal-related guidelines
Biosafety animal-related Safe Work Procedures
Biosafety animal-related Standard Operating Procedures
Biosafety risk assessments and notices
Chemical safety resources
Chemical safety regulations and acts
Risk Assessment for Chemical Hazards
Initiating a Risk Assessment for Chemical Hazards
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.
Chemical Safety 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)
Chemical safety forms and checklists
Chemical Safety Exposure Control Plans (ECPs)
Chemical Safety Guidelines (GDLs)
- Glove Selection Flowchart (PDF)
- Glove Selection Guideline – interactive tool
- CHEM-GDL-002 Working with Nanomaterials – Guideline (PDF)
- CHEM-GDL-003 Cryogenic Liquids Safety (PDF)
- CHEM-GDL-004 Guideline for 3D Printer Safety (PDF)
- CHEM-GDL-005 Guideline for Lithium Battery Safety (PDF)
- Safety Data Sheets and Pathogen Safety Data Sheets Guideline (PDF)
UBC WHMIS Program
Working safely with hazardous products
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.