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Risky Business - Managing the Risks in your Research Program

Risky Business - Managing the Risks in your Research Program. Jennifer Wesley Manager, Research Risk University of Guelph. California Inspectors Fine UCLA Lab in Fatal Fire. Student's death confirmed as continent's first fatal wolf attack.

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Risky Business - Managing the Risks in your Research Program

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  1. Risky Business - Managing the Risks in your Research Program Jennifer Wesley Manager, Research Risk University of Guelph

  2. California Inspectors Fine UCLA Lab in Fatal Fire Student's death confirmed as continent's first fatal wolf attack Chemical leak at genetics lab kills one, injures four Woman in hospital after chemical-lab mishap Fumes from lab accident clear UQAM building Explosion blows professor through ceiling University of Chicago Microbiologist Infected From Possible Lab Accident USF grad student burns face in lab accident Prof dies in lab accident Researcher may have caught Ebola in lab accident Yale University Student Killed in Lab Machine Shop Accident University of Alberta researcher killed in ATV accident Students' Deaths in Colombia Cast a Pall Over Research A Drop of Virus From a Monkey Kills a Researcher in 6 Weeks Cleveland State sued for lab electrocution Students injured in WRA lab fire settle suit for $18.9 million University student hurt in Lakehead lab explosion Damage estimated at $1.2 million in fire at U of Manitoba

  3. 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 organization Risk = severity x frequency

  4. What’s on the line? • Personnel • Health and safety of you and your colleagues • Property • Liability • Net income

  5. 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 • ….

  6. Risk Management 101

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. 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

  10. 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

  11. 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?....

  12. Controlled Research and Technology • Controlled Goods regulations • Chemical Weapons • Export and Area Control lists • ITAR • EAR

  13. University Resources University 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

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

  15. Resources

  16. 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

  17. 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

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