TRENT UNIVERSITY RISK MANAGEMENT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
MANUAL
Subject: Chemical Safety
Approving Authority: VP Administration
Contact: EHS Officer
Number: RMP 034
Effective Date: December 14, 2007
Applicable Legislation:
Control of Exposure to Biological or Chemical Agents, R.R.O. 1990, Regulation 883
Designated Substances Regulations (R.R.O. 1990, Regulation 835, 836, 837, 838, 839,
840, 841, 842, 843, 844, 845, and 846)
Environmental Protection Act, R.S.O., c.E.19
Fire Protection and Prevention Act, 1997, Regulation 388/97, Fire Code
Industrial Establishments, R.R.O. 1990, Regulation 851
Occupational Health and Safety Act, R.S.O. 1990, c.O.1
Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act, 1992, c.34
Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System, R.R.O. 1990, Regulation 860
Intent
(a) To encourage and promote the safe use of potentially hazardous
chemicals.
(b) To comply with the Occupational Health and Safety Act, the
Regulations for Industrial Establishments and related statutes.
Definitions:
hazardous Any material with one or more of the following properties:
material
 Compressed gas;
 Flammable or combustible;
 Oxidizing;
 Poisonous;
 Corrosive;
 Dangerously reactive,
Except for:
 wood or products made of wood;
 tobacco or products made of tobacco, or;
 manufactured articles;
 Cosmetics, devices, drugs or food within the meaning of the Food
and Drug Act, unless used in University operations, including
teaching and research.
spills
An unintentional release of a hazardous material likely to result in one or
more of the following:
 impairment to the quality of the natural environment - air, water, or
land;
 injury or damage to property or animal life;





SOP
adverse health effects;
safety risk;
making property, plant, or animal life unfit for use;
loss of enjoyment of normal use of property; or
interference with the normal conduct of business.
Standard Operating Procedure: Documentation outlining the essential
safety instructions and procedures to be followed when conducting
laboratory work that presents extraordinary risks.
Requirements of the Control of Exposure to Biological or Chemical Agents
Regulation:
3 (1)
Every employer shall take all measures reasonably necessary in the
circumstances to protect workers from exposure to a hazardous biological
or chemical agent because of the storage, handling, processing or use of
such agent in the workplace. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 833, s. 3 (1).
Requirements of the Designated Substances Regulation (eg. benzene):
6.
(1) Every employer to whom this Regulation applies shall cause an
assessment to be made in writing of the exposure or likelihood of exposure
in a workplace of a worker to the inhalation, absorption or contact with
benzene.
(2) In causing the assessment to be made, the employer shall consider and
take into account such matters as,
(a) the methods and procedures used or to be used in the
production, processing, use, handling or storage of benzene;
(b) the extent and potential extent of the exposure of a worker
to the inhalation, absorption or contact with benzene; and
(c) the measures and procedures necessary to control such
exposure by means of engineering controls, work practices and
hygiene practices and facilities.
(3) In causing the assessment to be made, the employer shall consult
thereon with the joint health and safety committee and the committee may
make recommendations with respect to the assessment.
(4) A copy of the assessment made by an employer shall be given by the
employer to each member of the joint health and safety committee.
Requirements of the Environmental Protection Act:
14. (1)
Subject to subsection (2) but despite any other provision of this Act
or the regulations, a person shall not discharge a contaminant or
cause or permit the discharge of a contaminant into the natural
environment, if the discharge causes or may cause an adverse effect.
Requirements of the Ontario Fire Code:
4.12.3.1.
(1) Except as provided in Article 4.2.6.4., containers used for the storage
of flammable liquids or combustible liquids in a laboratory shall be of not
more than 5 L capacity and shall conform to Subsection 4.2.3.
(2) Except as permitted in Sentence (3), not more than 300 L of flammable
liquids and combustible liquids, of which not more than 50 L shall be
flammable liquids, shall be permitted in the open area of a laboratory.
(3) Quantities in excess of those permitted in Sentence (2) shall be stored
in cabinets conforming to Subsection 4.2.10. or in a room conforming to
Subsection 4.2.9.
(4) Containers of flammable liquids or combustible liquids shall be kept
closed when not in use.
4.12.4.1.
(1) Except as provided in Sentences (2) to (4), a laboratory shall conform
with the requirements of Section 2.8.
(2) Fire drills required in Subsection 2.8.3. shall be held at intervals not
greater than six months in laboratories.
(3) Personnel working in laboratories shall be trained in the safe handling
of flammable liquids and combustible liquids.
(4) Measures shall be taken to prevent access to laboratories by
unauthorized persons.
4.12.5.1.
A written spill procedure shall be provided for laboratories in conformance
with Article 4.1.6.4.
Requirements of the Regulation for Industrial Establishments:
130
A worker who may be exposed to a biological, chemical or physical agent
that may endanger the worker’s safety or health shall be trained,
(a) to use the precautions and procedures to be followed in the
handling, use and storage of the agent;
(b) in the proper use and care of required personal protective
equipment; and,
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(c) in the proper use of emergency measures and procedures.
No food, drink or tobacco shall be taken into, left or consumed in any
room, area or place where any substance that is poisonous by ingestion is
exposed.
Requirements of the Occupational Health and Safety Act:
36.(1)
An employer shall make or cause to be made and shall maintain an
inventory of all hazardous materials and all hazardous physical agents that
are present in the workplace.
37.(1) (a)
An employer shall ensure that all hazardous materials present in the
workplace are identified in the prescribed manner.
42.(1)
In addition…an employer shall ensure that a worker exposed or likely to be
exposed to a hazardous material or to a hazardous physical agent receives,
and that the worker participates in, such instruction and training as may be
prescribed.
Requirements of the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulation:
6.1
Training Certificate Requirements
(1) A person who handles, offers for transport or transports dangerous
goods must
(a) be adequately trained and hold a training certificate in
accordance with this Part; or
(b) perform those activities in the presence and under the direct
supervision of a person who is adequately trained and who holds a
training certificate in accordance with this Part.
(2) An employer must not direct or allow an employee to handle, offer for
transport or transport dangerous goods unless the employee
(a) is adequately trained and holds a training certificate in
accordance with this Part; or
(b) performs those activities in the presence and under the direct
supervision of a person who is adequately trained and who holds a
training certificate in accordance with this Part.
handling means loading, unloading, packing or unpacking dangerous goods in a
(from the means of containment for the purposes of, in the course of or following
Act)
transportation and includes storing them in the course of transportation.
Requirements of the WHMIS Regulation:
6.
(1) An employer shall ensure that a worker who works with or in
proximity to a controlled product received from a supplier is informed
about all hazard information the employer receives from the supplier
concerning the controlled product and all further hazard information of
which the employer is or ought to be aware concerning its use, storage and
handling.
(2) An employer who produces a controlled product in a workplace shall
ensure that every worker who works with or in proximity to the controlled
product is informed about all hazard information of which the employer is
or ought to be aware concerning the controlled product and its use, storage
and handling.
Policy:
1. Any employee, contractor or sub-contractor working with or near a hazardous
material at Trent University shall complete Workplace Hazardous Materials
Information System (WHMIS) training before commencing work. Work with
hazardous materials shall comply with all WHMIS requirements (see RMP 037,
WHMIS).
2. Any employee, contractor or sub-contractor working with a designated substance
at Trent University shall comply with all designated substance requirements (see
RMP 036, Designated Substances).
3. Any person who prepares hazardous materials for transport, transports hazardous
materials, or receives shipments of hazardous materials must complete training in
the Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG) before commencing work.1
4. Food and drink is prohibited from any room or area containing toxic (poisonous)
materials.
5. Hazardous materials with a potential to explode or become easily ignited shall
only be used or stored indoors if:
a. They are in a hazardous room as defined by sections 121 and 122 of the
Industrial Establishments Regulation, O. Reg. 851; or,
b. Used in a laboratory and stored in a suitable flammable materials cabinet
when not in use.
Anyone working with a flammable or potentially explosive material shall have an
appropriate level training and fully understand the requirements for the safe
handling of those materials.
6. Any person working with hazardous materials will receive instruction in
workplace-specific emergency response procedures before beginning work.
7. Chemical spills will be promptly reported to Campus Security (see RMP 031,
Reporting and Investigating Incidents, Injuries and Occupational Diseases).
1
TDG training is available through the Risk Management Department.
Guidelines:
Many of Trent’s employees and students will have a great deal of knowledge and
experience and fully understand the hazards of the chemicals they work with. Others,
especially those beginning work or studies in a new field, may have a more limited
understanding. Failure to appreciate these hazards creates a potential for serious injury
and disease and property damage. Accidental release may result in environmental
damage. It is vitally important that every person who works with chemicals understands
the associated hazards and works in a manner that effectively controls those hazards.