Module 2.1 - Learning objectives
- Know the universal rules that apply to all wet laboratory spaces on campus
- Be familiar with the workplace hazard and safety signage
- Know the rules and practices for entering/exiting labs
Module 2.2 - Lab rules
All persons entering laboratory spaces must abide by minimum requirements, whether entering a biology, chemistry, medicine or engineering lab.
- No food, drink, gum or water is to be consumed within the lab space.
- Mouth pipetting is not permitted.
- No hazardous material or container rinse solution is to be disposed of down a laboratory sink or drain.
- All hazards, injuries, spills or concerns about the environment or process are to be reported to the principal investigator, lab manager or senior lab member immediately. Emergencies (such as injuries, spills of hazardous materials or property damage) are to be immediately reported to Protection Services at ext. 5411 or 613-562-5411. Follow-up action will occur with the appropriate University service or authority. The purpose of the follow-up is to ensure that proper action is taken to eliminate or minimize the risk of recurrence.
- Minimum entry requirements to the lab may vary from one lab to the next; however, the minimum requirements generally are:
- Proper clothing (including long pants and closed-toe footwear)
- A lab coat
- Protective eyewear
Additional protective equipment may be necessary depending on the work taking place within the lab. It is important to note that these requirements apply to everyone. It is recommended that labs maintain a small supply of extra protective eyewear, lab coats, gloves and any lab‑specific protective equipment for visitors entering the lab.
- Hazardous materials are never to be stored in refrigerators used for food. Similarly, food intended for consumption is never to be stored in refrigerators used for laboratory purposes.
- No running, horseplay or inappropriate use of lab materials or equipment is permitted.
- All lab areas are to be kept clean and organized. Avoid the accumulation of rubbish, as this provides a ready source of fuel for fire.
- If safe to do so, chemical spills are to be cleaned up immediately by lab staff, according to the safety data sheet (SDS). If assistance is required, call Protection Services at ext. 5411 or 613‑562‑5411.
- Hazardous products must be stored in the appropriate locations, in secure containers with correct labelling conforming to WHMIS 2015. Cabinets must be appropriately labelled to show their contents. Use secondary containment to segregate small quantities of incompatible materials within the same cabinet. Incompatible materials must be stored separately.
- Lab doors are to remain closed to ensure security and proper room air balancing and maintain negative pressure.
- Maintain proper hygiene and wash your hands regularly.
When leaving the lab
- Clean your work area before you leave.
- Remove gloves or wear a single glove to minimize contamination of public surfaces.
- Return equipment and materials to their proper storage locations.
- Ensure that emergency contact information is up to date and posted near the door and any particularly hazardous equipment or processes.
- Perform a safety check at the end of each experiment or work day. Ensure that gas, water, electricity, vacuum lines, air, heaters, etc. have been turned off/secured.
- If an experiment must be left running overnight, the details of the experiment must be left on the fume hood, including reaction temperature, how long the reaction is to be left running, and the solvents in use. If the reaction is being heated, this must be done using a properly secured thermocouple.
- Lower the sashes on fume hoods.
- Remove and leave your protective equipment (including gloves and lab coats) in the lab.
- Wash your hands.
- Ensure the lab space is secured against unauthorized entry.
Module 2.3 - Signage
The University has rolled out a comprehensive signage package intended to convey internal workplace requirements. The signage does not replace WHMIS labels or Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG) placards, which serve specific purposes (to identify hazardous materials in the workplace and during transportation, respectively). The workplace signage is intended to augment these existing hazard identification systems. The signage is bilingual, most often visual in nature and found on all laboratory doors. Several examples are depicted below, with additional symbols in the linked documents.
- Hazard symbols are based on hazard criteria and are colour‑coded (PDF, 491KB) (red = flammable, blue = water‑reactive, etc.).
- Signage for safety-related devices is often depicted on a green background with the device symbol in white (PDF, 170KB).
- Requirements for personal protective equipment are depicted with the required equipment inside of a black circle (PDF, 277KB).
Colour can also play a vital role in identifying hazards. For example, yellow piping is used for natural gas and a red button is an emergency stop. Some larger labs also have a location map showing the location of hazardous materials. These locations are conveyed by the internal hazard symbol relative to their location within the lab space.
An example door sign shows how information is displayed and communicated to users at the lab entry. Take a look on the door to your lab and identify the hazards and required personal protective equipment. It is excellent practice to observe these requirements prior to entering any laboratory.
