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Research and Teaching Involving Biohazardous and Radioactive Materials Policy

Effective Date: December 13, 2021
Downloadable Version: PDF ICONResearch and Teaching Involving Biohazardous and Radioactive Materials Policy
  This document is available in alternate format on request.

Purpose/Rationale:

Should the Humber College Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning (hereafter referred to as "Humber" or "the College") engage in research that involves biohazardous and/or radioactive materials the College commits to protecting employees, students, the community and the environment from potential hazards that may arise in the handling and management of biohazardous and/or radioactive materials.

This policy has been developed to comply with eligibility requirements of federal funding agencies (i.e. Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)) concerning research involving biohazardous and radioactive materials.

Scope:

The policy applies to any College research and teaching activities involving biohazardous and/or radioactive materials.

Definitions:

Biohazards: infectious agents or biological materials that present a direct or indirect risk or potential risk to the health of humans, animals or the environment.

Radioactive materials: materials that emit ionizing radiation in the form of alpha or beta particle or gamma rays and may present a risk to humans, animals or the environment.

Policy:

  1. As of the writing of this policy, Humber College employees have not engaged in college-sanctioned research involving biohazardous and/or radioactive materials. However, the College subscribes in principle to responsible handling and management of these materials to ensure the protection of humans, animals and the environment.
  2. Should at a future date Humber engage in research involving biohazardous or radioactive materials, employees and students will implement care and management practices consistent with all legislative and regulatory requirements. This includes but is not limited to: Health Canada's Laboratory Biosafety Guidelines and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission's regulations, the Hazardous Products Act, the Hazardous Materials Information Review Act, and Workplace Hazardous Materials Information Standards. In addition, individuals responsible for supervising or working in areas where such research is conducted will be expected to adhere to appropriate Occupational Health and Safety Act requirements, policies and procedures.

References:

Laboratory Biosafety Guidelines Edition 2004

Hazardous Products Act, 1985 Hazardous Materials Information Review Act, 1985

WorkQ.lace Hazardous Materials Information Standards

Occupational Health and Safety Act of Ontario, 1990Occupational Health and Safety Act of Ontario, 1990

Acknowledgements: This policy has been gratefully adopted from Mohawk College with their permission, and adapted for Humber College.