1. Risky Business - Managing the Risks in your Research Program
Jennifer Wesley
Manager, Research Risk
University of Guelph

2. California Inspectors Fine UCLA Lab in Fatal Fire
Student's death confirmed as continent's first fatal wolf attack
Chemical leak at genetics lab kills one, injures four
Woman in hospital after chemical-lab mishap
Fumes from lab accident clear UQAM building
Explosion blows professor through ceiling
University of Chicago Microbiologist Infected From Possible Lab Accident
USF grad student burns face in lab accident
Prof dies in lab accident
Researcher may have caught Ebola in lab accident
Yale University Student Killed in Lab Machine Shop Accident
University of Alberta researcher killed in ATV accident
Students' Deaths in Colombia Cast a Pall Over Research
Why lab safety?
Do Accidents really happen?
A Drop of Virus From a Monkey Kills a Researcher in 6 Weeks
Cleveland State sued for lab electrocution
Students injured in WRA lab fire settle suit for $18.9 million
University student hurt in Lakehead lab explosion
Damage estimated at $1.2 million in fire at U of Manitoba

3. Risk = severity x frequency
What is risk?
Risk -uncertainty about outcomes that can be positive or negative
Risk management – the process of making and implementing decisions that will minimize the adverse effects of accidental losses on the organization
Risk = severity x frequency

4. What’s on the line? Personnel Property Net income Liability
Health and safety of you and your colleagues
Property
Liability
Net income
Personnel

5.
Permissions: use of cartoons from this site is free for personal, non-profit, research, and educational purposes - websites, lab-manuals, newsletters or any conventional publication.

6. What Hazards? Chemical Biohazards Radiation
General laboratory equipment
Environmental
Nanomaterials
Controlled goods or technology
Field work
Travel
Political unrest
Transgenic plants and animals
Animal use
Industrial processes and equipment ….

7. Risk Management 101
Plan Do
Check
Act

8. Biohazards Health Canada regulates Human Pathogens and Toxins
Human Pathogens and Toxins Act
Regulations to be Established
Laboratory Biosafety Guidelines
Medical Surveillance
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency regulates plant, animal and veterinary use of biohazards
Institutional “license” and individual permit system
Training
Inspections

9. Radiation
The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission regulated the use of nuclear materials
Very stringent rules
Regular audits/visits
University Consolidated License
Permits for individual users
Ministry of Labour regulates the use of lasers and x-rays
Health Canada regulates the use of Radiofrequencies (Safety Code 6)
Training
Inspections

10. Laboratory Safety Very broad range of issues including:
Chemical safety (WHMIS, TDG, Inventories)
Control of hazards
Engineering controls – e.g. Fume hoods, biosafety cabinets
Administrative controls – SOPs, instruction manuals, etc.
Personal Protective Equipment
Eye Wash Stations and Emergency Showers (ANSI Standards)
The Ministry of Labour require compliance on safety equipment, guarding, house keeping, inspections, hazard identification, etc)
Training
Inspections

11. Containment
- inventory management – chemical inventory
Labelling
Spills of unknown….
Storage on shelves of incompatible material

12. Environmental Protection
Environment Canada/MOE:
Environmental assessments
Field trials with PNT materials
The Ministry of the Environment :
Environmental Compliance Approvals (air)
Hazardous Waste
Refrigerants, Solvents, Chemical Spills
Municipal By-laws
Sewer use, safety related building code issues

13. Field work
E.g. Remote locations, ice surfaces, core drilling, boating, diving, driving, tree climbing, bears, mosquitoes, mountaineering…
What are the hazards? What are the controls?
What will you be doing? Where will you be staying? How will you communicate? Emergency plans? Approvals? Regulatory considerations?....

14. Controlled Research and Technology
Controlled Goods regulations
Chemical Weapons
Export and Area Control lists
ITAR
EAR

16. University Resources University Resources
Office of Research /Environmental Health and Safety
Transgenic plants/animals
Controlled goods/technology
Agricultural Safety
Biosafety
Environmental Management
Facilities Safety and Occupational Hygiene
First Aid
Hazardous Materials Management
Industrial Safety
Injury/Incident Reporting and Prevention
Ionizing and Non-Ionizing Radiation Safety
Laboratory and Research Safety
Regulatory Compliance Liaison and Assistance
Insurance

17. Competent Supervisor/ Due Diligence Respirator fit
WHMIS
Biosafety
Radiation Safety A & B
Lasers
X-rays
Competent Supervisor/ Due Diligence
Respirator fit
Grower Safety Pesticide
Depart Smart
TDG
Lab Safety
First Aid
Chemicals  
Biohazards
Radioisotopes
Supervising/TA
Field work
Lab work
Pesticide application
Transportation of hazardous materials
International travel

18. Resources ehs@uoguelph.ca
Sasha Alexander
Associate Director, Risk & Insurance
x58752
Domenico Barillari
Radiation Safety Officer
x54888
Christi Cooper
Agriculture & Veterinary Safety Officer
x52049
Jeff Dafoe
Facilities Safety Specialist
x52524
Annie Eleveld
Ergonomics Specialist
x56811
Martha Harley
Interim Director, AVP Human Resources
x53356
Chris McNeill
Manager, Facilities Safety & Occupational Hygiene
x58860
Jennifer Minogue
Biosafety Officer
x53190
Ben Pandher
Occupational Hygienist
x54855
Heather Sewell
Rehabilitation Specialist
x54283
Jennifer Wesley
Manager, Research Risk
x56401
Alicja Zachertowska
Laboratory Safety Officer
x54270

19. Conclusion
Regulatory environment in Canada and Ontario is becoming more stringent
Research funding agencies (Tri-Council) are also putting the onus on institutions to “ensure” compliance
E.g. Texas Tech/DHS
University administration bare the responsibility for reporting compliance and are accountable to the regulators and the Board of Governors

20. Conclusion
Many resources available for Health and Safety Compliance and Risk Management:
Office of Research
Environmental Health and Safety/Occupational Health and Wellness
Insurance and Risk Management
Physical Resources