Safety for Workstudy Students

Safety for Workstudy Students Learning Objectives:

– Demonstrate appropriate action in case of alarm– Demonstrate appropriate action for chemical spill

(minor, major)– Demonstrate appropriate action for biohazardous spill– Report injuries/ accidents as prescribed– Locate TRU’s MSDSs– Recognize WHIMS classifications and safety symbols– Locate nearest fire alarm to your work area– Recognize and report unsafe work situations as

required

Safety for Workstudy Students

Are you prepared?

As workstudy students you are employees of TRU and as such covered by Worksafe BC regulations– http://www.worksafebc.com

Emergencies, accidents, or injuries can happen at any time

Being physically and psychologically prepared to handle emergencies is everyone’s responsibility!

Campus Emergency Procedures

All TRU common areas have a campus emergency procedures handbook containing– Emergency phone numbers– Procedures for a number of emergency situations– Locate this handbook in your work area and familiarize

yourself with its contents – Locate the nearest fire alarm to your workarea.– Personal security tips

Reporting Injuries or Accidents

It is important to report all injuries to your supervisor and fill in the required documentation. If time is lost due to the injury Worksafe will compensate lost wages but only if the required documentation has been completed.

Forms may be accessed at: http://www.tru.ca/hsafety/forms/otherforms.html

Familiarize Yourself With Your Work Area

Ensure your supervisor has shown you where and proper use of all emergency equipment is found in your area:– Emergency gas and electrical shutoff– Safety showers and fire blankets– Fire extinguishers– Waste disposal for biohazards, broken glass etc– Eye wash stations– Spill kits (acid, base, solvent, mercury, biohazard)

Personal Safety Checklist

Personal Safety Checklist Phone Numbers:

Emergency 1111

Security 5033

Facilities 5388/5368

Jon VanHamme 6064

Joanna Urban 5542

Carolynne Fardy 5444

Location of:

Fire Alarm to left in hallway

Personal Safety Checklist Fire Extinguisher outside the door into media prep

Evacuation Assembly Point 7 (between science and gym)

Eyewash sink, media prep

Emergency Shower Main prep area S365D

MSDS Computer S365B

Spill cleanup kits Mercury S367 front counter Acid S365D beside fumehood Base S367 big fumehood

Solvent S365A above flammable cabinetBiohazard S367 front counterFormaldehyde Shelves inside door

Cleanliness

Whether working with chemicals, biohazards, cleaning animal or fish tanks etc ensure you wash your hands thoroughly before leaving the area to avoid cross contamination to other areas or yourself or your home.

Leave lab coats in the work area

Recognize and Report Unsafe Work Situations

Be aware of your working surroundings. Report anything that may result in injury to yourself and others– Examples: frayed cords, tripping hazards,

suspicious behavior

Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS)

Federal legislation that is administered provincially A system designed to protect the worker from

injury and disease Hazardous materials are “controlled products” Workers have right to know about the hazards of

the controlled products they work with, receive information to help them work with these products safely

WHMIS Classifications

There are 6 hazard classes identified by 8 hazard symbols.

Communication of these hazards is done through– WHMIS labels– Material safety data sheets (MSDSs)– WHMIS education and training programs

WHMIS Classifications

Class A: Compressed Gas

Class B: Flammable & Combustible Class C: Oxidizing Material

WHMIS Classifications Class D: Poisonous & Infectious Material A. Immediate and toxic effects B. More long term problems C. Biohazardous

InfectiousMaterial

WHMIS Classifications

– Class E: Corrosive Material

Class F: Dangerously Reactive Material

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs)

Technical bulletins that provide specific information re controlled products

The information is divided into nine sections If unsure of safety precautions when using a

controlled product look up the information in the MSDS

TRU MSDSs are online at: http://www.tru.ca/hsafety/whmis/database.html Login Thompsonmsds password msds

WHMIS Supplier Labels

Suppliers must attach WHMIS labels to all sold controlled products.

Easily recognized by hatched border

WHMIS Workplace Labels

Workplace labels must be attached to secondary vessels, reagents not used within 24 hours or where supplier label is missing

Requirements:– Product identification– Specific safe handling information and required

PPE– Reference to an MSDS

Working With WHMIS

Ensure you know the required PPE to use when making up solutions etc with controlled products

If unsure look up the MSDS Check if unsure re storage of such solutions

and proper disposal Ensure you know what to do in case of a

spill

Spills

All work areas should have cleanup kits for specific controlled products in their areas (solvents, acids, bases, formaldehyde, mercury)

Ensure your supervisor has familiarized you with these kits

These kits can be used for small spills

Spills For larger spills (broken bottle etc) or more toxic

substances immediately leave the room and lock the door ensuring no one else will enter the room.

Immediately call 1111 and facilities and let them know what has happened – Location of spill– Physical description and what the product is if known– Estimated amount spilled – **Remember to be prepared by reading the MSDS

before working with the product.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Ensure you know where appropriate PPE is for different tasks and how to use such equipment correctly– Fumehood– Biological safety hoods– Labcoats– Gloves– Goggles– Dust masks

Unsafe Work

As an employee you have the right to refuse unsafe work– If you feel what you have been asked to do is

unsafe discuss the task with your supervisor– If agreement can’t be reached, call for

assistance from TRU OH&S department– If a resolution still cannot be found Worksafe is

asked to intervene