student working in lab

Safety Information

Mandatory employee training

The following trainings are required for anyone working or volunteering in the Department of Biology, including co-op students, undergraduate researchers, graduate students, postdocs, visiting scientists, staff, and faculty.

All new employees and students working in labs must complete all mandatory training prior to receiving keys to their lab. Send proof of completion to Lucy Satora at lucy.satora@uwaterloo.ca.

Supervisors

All supervisors of postdocs/graduate students/undergraduate students, including undergraduate laboratory instructors are required to complete the Supervisor Online Orientation.

Additional training: biohazards, gas cylinders, lab safety, etc.

Additional training may be required depending on the nature of hazards specific to your role/duties. Your supervisor can tell you which additional training may be required. Examples include: Laboratory Safety (SO1010), Biosafety (SO1069), Chemical Waste Segregation (SO2070), Cryogenic and Compressed Gas Safety (SO1030), etc. Supervisors must keep a record of this training by their employees.

Safety office and laboratory safety

The Safety Office has a very important webpage with information on laboratory safety and maintains an alphabetical listing of all their extensive resources related to safety including required laboratory posters.

Laboratory inspections

Laboratory supervisors are required to undertake a safety evaluation of their space every month. Inspections are completed online at the University of Waterloo Safely website. 

Emergencies and First Aid information

Emergency contact information

Post on the inside of all laboratory doors an emergency contact sheet so others in the building know who to contact should people need to enter the laboratory. 

Get the Emergency Contact Form from the Safety Office.

Emergency Wardens

Emergency Wardens are managed through the Safety Office in coordination with Building and Faculty Emergency Warden Coordinators. Information about the training and program can be found on the Fire Safety website.

First aiders in the biology office

Our Current Biology Department First Aiders (as of December 2025)

First aid kits

First Aid Kit Contents

First aid kits must be regularly inspected, and must contain all items listed below.

If you need any provisions for your first aid kits, contact Lucy Satora at lsatora@uwaterloo.ca.

  • 1 - First Aid Flip Booklet (ECIS)
  • 6 - Hand cleansing towelettes
  • 1 - Card of safety pins
  • 24 - Adhesive dressings individually packaged
  • 6 - Non adherent absorb-'nt pads 7.6 x 10.2 cm (3 x 4")
  • 4 - Gauze bandages 10 cm (4")
  • 2 - Compress Bandage Surgical pads (pressure dressings)
  • 4 - Triangular bandages
  • 1 - Roll self-adherent wrap 5 cm (2")
  • 1 - First aid scissors
  • 2 - Instant cold packs
  • 6 - Pairs non latex gloves 
  • 2 - Single use CPR protective devices

Incident and Hazard Reports

Reporting an incident

An Incident is an unwanted and unplanned event that may or does result in injury, illness, equipment or property damage. Examples include personal injury, occupational illness, fire, hazardous materials spill, or motor vehicle accident. A Near Miss is a work related condition, incident, or unplanned event that did not result in injury, illness, equipment or property damage, but had the potential to do so. All incident reports must be submitted in Safety Spectrum within 24 hours of the incident. The Incident Management Program contains details on the responsibilities and procedures for workers and supervisors.

Reporting a health and safety hazard

A Hazard is any source of potential damage, harm, or adverse health effects on something or someone. Hazards may be reported in Safety Spectrum. See the Hazard Reporting Standard for more information.

Working alone guideline

Working alone under certain circumstances can increase an individual’s risk to health and safety.  Measures to assess, communicate and mitigate such risks must be implemented to effectively manage risk related to this type of activity.