Frequently Asked Questions

Please complete the Orientation Form and the Access Form . Once completed please forward them to your departmental administrative assistant (BMI, CMM, EPI, NRI or KRC). If you work anywhere else in the building and require an access card or keys, please forward your completed forms to the Health, Safety and Risk Management at medsafety@uottawa.ca.

Please complete the Access Form and submit it to your departmental administrative assistant (BMI, CMM, EPI, NRI or KRC).

Speak with your departmental office or administrator to get a key for your office or lab.

Check with your lab manager to see if he/she already has access to the Vertére chemical inventory system. If not, please contact the Health, Safety and Risk Management Office by email.

No. If the chemical is a stock solution, it does not need to be barcoded. Note, however, that if it is a commercial chemical (bought from a supplier) it must be barcoded. If this is not the case, please contact the Health, Safety and Risk Management office so that a barcode can be provided.

Ask everyone in the lab about the nature of the chemical. If no one can identify it, please contact the Health, Safety and Risk Management Office.

The University is making continuous efforts to reduce the airborne transmission of COVID-19. The design of a building, its occupancy load, and HVAC (heating, ventilating, air conditioning) system maintenance can all affect the potential spread of the virus.

To ensure our comfort, the air we breathe in the building must be “conditioned”, i.e., heated, cooled, humidified, or dehumidified, depending on the time of year. In addition, filters are used to trap and collect large and small particles such as dust, allergens, and microorganisms, providing healthier indoor air quality for everyone.The filters used in our buildings are rated for residential, commercial, and general hospital use .There are higher-performing filters, but they are typically used in surgical operating rooms, clean rooms and other industrial contexts that require absolute cleanliness.

Being such a large building, RGN is served by high standard air filters (called MERV-13) and, in the case of the research labs, a 100% fresh air supply. The Peter Morand buildings utilize even higher standard filters (MERV-14 & MERV-15).

It is a regulatory requirement imposed by Ontario’s Ministry of Labour. As per the Occupational Health and Safety Act, a designated health and safety representative shall inspect the physical condition of the workplace “at least once a year” R.S.O. 1990, c. O.1, §§ 9 (26)- 9(28).

The uOttawa hazardous waste labels can be ordered using the Hazardous Materials Technical Services Regular Collection Request form under "Supply and Equipment Order" and/or from the Health, Safety and Risk Management office (RGN 1114).

By submitting a request using the Hazardous Materials Technical Services Regular Collection Request form. Door to door collection days are Wednesdays and Fridays. In order to request a “next day service” the request form must be submitted no later than 10AM the day prior. All requests received past the deadline will be scheduled in the next available time slot.

Contact Technical Core Services to request a waste pickup, if in BMI or CMM, or bring the container to the chemical waste room, located at RGN 1145 (outside next to the main loading dock) on Wednesday mornings at 9:30am.

An empty chemical container may contain residues and should therefore be considered potentially hazardous. Liquid residues should be triple-rinsed (using a small quantity of water or an appropriate solvent) and this rinsate collected in a properly labeled waste container for eventual disposal as chemical waste. Empty solvent bottles can be left in a fume hood to prevent strong smelling/potentially flammable vapours from stinking up the lab or waste room. Rinsed/vented empty bottles will be collected at the RGN chemical waste room along with chemical waste at our weekly drop-off time.

Broken glass (including ‘retired’ laboratory glassware) is considered a hazard and will not be recycled. Broken glass should be placed in a designated cardboard box that is clearly marked BROKEN GLASS. The bottom of the box should be securely taped to prevent any glass shards from slipping through. Once the box is full, please close the box, tape the seams, and place the box beside your regular lab trash receptacle. Alternatively, place the box containing the broken glass in the hallway outside the lab door for housekeeping to collect during the evening. Never place broken glass in the regular lab trash.

Newer non-digital laboratory thermometers often use alcohol or a non-toxic compound that looks similar to mercury. If you are certain that you have a mercury thermometer and would like it replaced free of charge, please contact the Health, Safety and Risk Management office.

If you have a broken mercury thermometer, please contact the Health, Safety and Risk Management office immediately. Have everyone else leave the area; don't let anyone walk through the mercury on their way out. We will respond to the scene with a mercury spill kit and manage the cleanup.

Biohazardous sharps containers are provided by the biosafety compliance specialist, although the Health, Safety and Risk Management office can help if it’s urgent. Email the biosafety compliance specialist for further information.

All questions about radioactive products and wastes should be directed to the Radiation Compliance Specialist.

Visit our Training webpage for links to all required training sessions.

Register online and sign up as ‘Other’ (guest).

Yes. All employees at the University of Ottawa must complete WHMIS training, regardless of their previous employment. If you work in an office environment, complete WHMIS for office workers. If you work in a laboratory, be sure to complete WHMIS for laboratory workers.

Please contact the Office of Risk Management.

Log into My Workshop History using your uoZone credentials and simply click on the Past Training tab.

The University’s corporate general liability (CGL) insurance does not cover visitors. If you were responsible for damaging expensive equipment or for causing a fire or a flood, what would you do?  Liability insurance protects you financially in case a civil suit is filed or in the event of an insurance claim. Your home institution should have liability insurance and this should extend to your visit to uOttawa. If your home institution does not cover you, coverage should be obtained from an alternate source. Together with our insurer, the University of Ottawa has created an inexpensive short-term policy that we would encourage you to purchase. If you have any further questions, please contact the Health, Safety and Risk Manager.

As the principal investigator or supervisor, you must inform the Health, Safety and Risk Manager of the volunteer’s start date and end date as well as any risks involved in the volunteer’s work. This must be done before the volunteer starts working in the lab/office. The volunteer must complete all of the applicable training and meet with the Health, Safety and Risk Manager to sign an informed consent form/waiver.