Jennifer WesleyManager, Research RiskUniversity of Guelph

Risky Business - Managing the Risks in your Research Program

California Inspectors Fine UCLA Lab in Fatal Fire

YALE UNIVERSITY STUDENT KILLED IN LAB MACHINE SHOP ACCIDENT

A Drop of Virus From a Monkey Kills a Researcher in 6 Weeks

U n i v e r s i t y o f C h i c a g o M i c r o b i o l o g i s t I n f e c t e d F r o m P o s s i b l e L a b A c c i d e n tUSF grad student burns face in lab

accident

University of Alberta researcher killed in ATV accident

Prof dies in lab accident

Student's death confirmed as continent's first fatal wolf attack

Students' Deaths in Colombia Cast a Pall Over Research

Cleveland State sued for lab electrocution

Researcher may have caught Ebola in lab accident

Students injured in WRA lab fire settle suit for $18.9 millionDamage estimated at $1.2 mil l ion in fi re at U of Manitoba

University student hurt in Lakehead lab explosion

CHEMICAL LEAK AT GENETICS LAB KILLS ONE, INJURES FOUR

Woman in hospital after chemical-lab mishap

Explosion blows professor through ceiling

Fumes from lab accident clear UQAM building

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 organizationRisk = severity x frequency

What’s on the line?

• Health and safety of you and your colleagues

Property

Liability

Net income

Personnel

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 ….

Risk Management 101

Plan

Do

Check

Act

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

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

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

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

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?....

Controlled Research and Technology

Controlled Goods regulationsChemical WeaponsExport and Area Control lists ITAREAR

University ResourcesUniversity 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

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

Lasers

X-rays

Supervising/TA

Field work

Lab work

Pesticide application

Transportation of hazardous materials

International travel

http://www.uoguelph.ca/ehs/courses/index.cfm

Resourcesehs@uoguelph.ca

www.uoguelph.ca/research/guelph-conduct-research

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

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

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