Safety and Health
TRU Faculty of Science
Safety and health are important aspects of working and studying in the Faculty of Science. We encourage all members to investigate what is available on this website. The aim of the site is to make available a number of resources in safety and health for faculty, staff and students in Sciences. You will be able to access information on safety orientation, and safety and health policies and procedures. Also on this site there are easy links to forms required for tracking and reporting safety and health issues.
Scent reduced workplace
The Faculty of Science recognizes the importance of reducing exposure to scents as many people experience negative health reactions to such chemicals.
Safety Forms, Guides & Protocols for Faculty
Please refer to the following documents to guide you when you are orienting new employees, working in the field, working alone, or using toxic or biohazardous materials.
Biohazard Application Form
An application through ROMEO is to be completed prior to use of potentially biohazardous materials in lab sessions or research activities.
Download Biohazard Application FormBiosafety Manual
This manual describes requirements and procedures established for work with potentially hazardous biological agents. These are applicable to all laboratory research activities and teaching labs that may involve exposure to these agents.
Download the Biosafety Manual PDFField Trip Planning Guidelines
Please read this document and follow the guidelines prior to taking a class, group or individual on a domestic or international field trip. You are required to follow these guidelines and complete the necessary forms.
Copies of the pre-trip planning form, informed consent forms, or waivers should be left in the science office. Medical questionnaires do not go to the office. Instructors take medical forms with them in the field where they may need them.
- Informed Consent
- Release of Claims and Waiver
- Medical Questionnaire
- Pre-trip Planning form
- Driver Information form
- Insurance arrangements when using rental or personal vehicles
Hazard/Incident Reporting
Explanation about incident reporting and forms.
Download Hazard/Incident Reporting PDFSafety Training Checklist New Employees
This form is intended to be used for all new employees in Science.
Download Safety Training Checklist for New EmployeesWorking Alone Protocol
The Working Alone Protocol provides specific guidelines for TRU Faculty of Science employees and students according to WorkSafe BC.
Download Working Alone ProtocolHazardous Waste Disposal
Hazardous Waste
It is important that hazardous waste generated at TRU and in the Faculty of Science is disposed of correctly. Please ensure all hazardous waste is labelled correctly (all components identified) and stored in the chemical storage unit. For additional information, please see Risk and Safety Services' Hazardous Waste Management page.
Chemical Waste
TRU disposes of hazardous chemical waste through a certified waste removal company twice a year, in the spring and winter. Waste pick-up is arranged through the Risk and Safety Services (RSS). Prior to pick-up all hazardous waste is to be organized, labelled, recorded in the Waste Tracking spreadsheet and moved to the chemical storage unit. RSS will send out an email reminder one month prior to pick-up for all departments to add their waste inventory to the spreadsheet. If you have waste that needs to be disposed of, please contact safety@tru.ca to ensure you have access to the tracking sheet.
Biohazardous waste is disposed of in a couple of ways:
- Sharps, including used medical tubing, scalpels, used medications, used glass medication jars etc. are disposed of through BIOMED Disposal. Department coordinators are to contact BIOMED for ordering and disposing of their sharps containers.
- Biohazardous lab waste is to be collected in the red garbage bags in special bins. This waste is autoclaved on site and once decontaminated is safe to dispose of in regular waste. Any questions about decontamination are to be brought to the Microbiology Lab Tech or the Biosafety Officer (250-371-5807).
- Dissection waste/animal carcasses (not contaminated with anything other than the solution the specimen was stored in) can be disposed of in the regular waste. However, all specimen/carcass waste is to be collected, double bagged, frozen and then brought to the landfill on a pre-arranged date and time. Once waste is collected and frozen, please put in an Archibus request for facilities to pick up the frozen waste. If you have questions about dissection waste, please contact safety@tru.ca.
If you have any questions about any waste generated, or items you need disposed of and are not sure if they can go in general waste, please contact safety@tru.ca for any recycling specific questions, please contact sustain@tru.ca.
