Hazardous waste disposal, near misses, and back to campus safety information
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Hazardous waste 101: the perils of pickup
Improperly disposed chemicals, sharps, and other research materials endanger custodial workers and other waste handlers at the U of A. Fortunately, there's a solution.
HSE committees: Did you know?
There are 25 faculty/portfolio Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) committees across the university! These committees include staff, faculty, and students and provide an opportunity to participate in workplace HSE initiatives.
Whew -- that was close!
A near miss is a close call or "freebie" incident where there's no harm done. It can be hard to recognize near misses and to distinguish them from other kinds of incidents. Review this info document and then test your knowledge!
Plan for a spill
Working with chemicals? Be ready for a spill, just in case:
- Review the safety data sheet.
- Read through the Chemical Spill Response Guideline and assemble a kit that is suitable for the volume and type of chemical you're working with.
- Place it in a convenient location and add signage so others know it's there. Note the location in orientation material for new personnel.
- Replenish kit contents as needed.
Special precautions may be required to clean up high hazard chemicals, including the following:
Contact hse.info@ualberta.ca for assistance.
Lunch & Learn July 20 or 27: COVID-19 Hazard Assessment
Join us for an introduction to the U of A's COVID-19 hazard assessment tool.
You'll learn:
- How the U of A's response to COVID-19 has evolved over time
- How to read and interpret the U of A's COVID-19 hazard assessment
- Practical solutions for implementing COVID-19 control measures in your unit
Supervisors and members of HSE committees are encouraged to attend.
Updates to the OHS Act
Changes to provincial OHS legislation, including updates to roles and responsibilities and new terminology, are coming September 2021. Learn how this could affect you.
Welcome back (safely!)
It's a good time to think about safety measures -- COVID-19 related and otherwise -- that may be necessary to get back to working on campus.
New Resources
Documents/tools
- Near misses and unsafe conditions (information document)
- Large capacity batteries (safe work practice)
- How to package hazardous waste (online tool)
- Confined space training bulletin
- Researcher offboarding checklist
Policy & Procedures
- Driver Authorization Procedure: Applies to anyone operating a U of A or personal vehicle while conducting university activities.
HRHSE Learning Opportunities & More
The New Reality: Professionalism Post COVID-19 (July 27, 1-3 pm)
This two-hour workshop will look at professionalism and conflict resolution in a post-pandemic world with practical tips and strategies for managing both. Additionally, the session will increase participants’ knowledge and awareness of bullying and harassment behaviour in the workplace, its impact, and how to address it. REGISTER
Wilderness First Aid course (September 13 & 14, 2021): PRE-REGISTER
Driver's Evaluation, ATV Training, Trailering: Contact Kenji Kinoshita (HSE Fleet Safety Advisor kenji.kinoshita@ualberta.ca)
Are you a field researcher at the U of A? Subscribe to the FRO newsletter to receive monthly safety and training information related to researching off-campus.
