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Safety and Security

Lab safety

Lab safety manual

Safe practices and procedures for all UFV labs

WHMIS training

An essential component of lab safety

A laboratory is a place of learning and discovery, but is not without risks and hazards. Everyone who enters a UFV lab needs to be aware of and follow the safety guidelines that apply to each space, piece of equipment, and substance. Your safety and long-term health depend on this, so please take the time to become thoroughly familiar with the safety programs and manuals relevant to your situation.

 

Chemical safety

The chemical safety program at UFV details safe practices for storing, using, and disposing of chemicals in UFV labs.

A cornerstone of chemical safety is the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System, or WHMIS for short. Please be sure to consult the WHMIS training instructions and learn how to find Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for the chemicals you handle.

 

 

Radiation safety

The use of radioactive materials or equipment is regulated at the federal (Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission) and provincial (BC Occupational Health & Safety Regulation) levels. Anyone working with radioactive materials at UFV must obtain a permit from the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission and complete training in the safe handling of radioactive isotopes.

For more information, please contact UFV's radiation safety officer: Dr. Olav Lian — 604-504-7441 ext. 4307. 

 

Biosafety program

The Biosafety Program at UFV ensures that all faculty, staff and students know how to safely handle biological agents that can be hazardous to people, animals and the environment, in a way that complies with all regulatory requirements.

The UFV Biosafety Manual provides information to safeguard UFV personnel from any accidental exposure to biohazardous agents.

Download the Biosafety Manual »

Principal investigators, faculty, or staff working with any biohazardous agents as defined below are required to obtain a Biosafety Permit.

If you have questions about UFV’s Biosafety Program, please direct your questions to ibo@ufv.ca

These could be, but are not limited to, the following:

  • bacterial pathogens and their toxins
  • viruses
  • mammalian blood
  • blood products
  • mammalian body fluids possibly contaminated with infectious agents
  • fungus
  • cell lines
  • prions
  • animal carcasses and organs
  • mycoplasms
  • parasite

In addition, materials such as DNA or RNA used to produce genetically altered organisms or other genetic manipulations are considered potentially biohazardous.


Authority for governance of the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) is mandated by the Chief Financial Officer and Vice President, Administration and administered by Safety & Security.

See more information about Institutional Biosafety Committee governance at UFV.