Policies

Non-compliance will result in loss of user privileges.

Innovation Arena laboratories safety inspection follows University of Waterloo’s Workplace Inspection Programs. 

Workplace inspections help prevent injuries and illnesses. Through critical examination of the campus, inspections identify and record hazards for corrective action. 

Innovation Arena’s Health and Safety Coordinators perform regular workplace inspection of all common laboratory and facilities and inform users with deficiencies and corrective actions. 

Other inspections include but not limited to: Ministry of Labour, Fire Department, University of Waterloo Safety Office, Public Health Agency of Canada. 

All users are obligated to provide safety related information on their processes, inspect their own workplace, make corrective actions if directed within the timeline. 

Non-compliance will result in loss of user privileges.

Every Innovation Arena Core Facility user should understands what to do and whom to contact in the event of an emergency. Due to unique situation of start-ups working at the Innovation Arena Core Facility, founders are responsible for understanding these procedure and informing their employees on how to respond to and to whom to report incidents.

Information on all University-wide procedures are presented on the Safety Office website.

Start-up employees who sustain injury while in the course of employment or experience an illness caused by a condition of the workplace are entitled to Workplace Safety Insurance Board (WSIB) benefits. Injuries that require medical attention or result in lost time from work are to be reported to the WSIB by the founder. All employees, including co-op students are covered by the WSIB while in the course of their employment with the start-up. Specific reporting procedures are required for claims adjudication by the WSIB. Claims are managed by the founder.

It is the founder's responsibility to ensure that prompt first aid and health care treatment is obtained, if necessary, and that University reports are completed.

Incident Reporting

All health & safety incidents (including near-misses) to the Innovation Arena Core Facility operations team immediately.

An incident is an unwanted and unplanned event that may or does result in injury, illness, equipment or property damage. Examples include:

• Personal injury (contusion, cut, burn, strain)
• Occupational illness (rash, hearing loss)
• Fire/explosion
• Hazardous materials spill
• Motor vehicle accident (with or without injury)

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.

Hazard Reporting

A hazard is any source of potential damage, harm or adverse health effects on something or someone.

General hazards:

All members of the University community have the right and obligation to bring, without prejudice, health and safety concerns to their supervisor.

You can submit Hazard Reports to the Innovation Arena Core Facility operations team.

Non-compliance will result in loss of user privileges.

ALL Workflows and Operations REQUIRE a Risk Assessment before starting work with soft copies to be submitted to and approved by the Innovation Arena Core Facility staff and hardcopies to be kept in a binder in each lab.

Any changes to existing procedures or new procedures (including starting to use a new piece of instrumentation) will require NEW Risk Assessments before starting work. This is always required when the change introduces new risks that are not controlled by previous measures.

Non-compliance will result in loss of user privileges.

Innovation Arena Core Facility follows UW Working Alone Standard. Please review the standard and fill in the working alone plan. Review the plan with your workers and have them sign to understand the hazards and requirements to work alone. Send the signed working alone plan to the Laboratory Operations Specialist.

Rules for Working Alone:

All workshop and laboratory-based work is highly recommended to be done during normal operating hours (Monday thru Friday, 9AM - 4:30PM). If any after-hours work needs to be conducted, the below guidelines MUST be followed:

Students (Including Co-ops and Student Founders):

• No working alone after hours or on weekends
• Workshop and Laboratory-based work must be completed during normal operating hours.
• If after hours laboratory based work is required, it can only be completed when the student is accompanied by a supervisor who is also trained in the laboratory.

Other Lab Users

• Must follow University of Waterloo Working Alone Guidelines
• Must fill in Working Alone Plan based on the University of Waterloo Working Alone Guidelines. If low risk, no check-in plan is needed but supervisors are still responsible for the safety their employees.
• The working alone plan must be signed by both the Workers and supervisors and submitted to the Velocity team.

Founders/Lab Managers are responsible for enforcing the above guidelines.

Approval for working alone or after normal hours must consider:

• Tasks and hazards involved in the work
• Consequences resulting from a worst-case scenario
• The possibility of an incident or injury that would prevent an individual from calling for help
• The individual’s training and experience level
• The time the work is to be conducted
• Access to emergency assistance

Emergencies can occur anywhere at any time. As users of the Innovation Arena Core Facility you are expected to:

• Join University of Waterloo’s Regroup App for Emergency Communications
  • For users without a Watiam ID, a link will be made available soon for you to register
• Stay informed - familiarize yourself with the emergency procedures and keep up to date with communications on Slack.
• Take appropriate protective measures - stay home when you can during inclement whether, wear your PPE, etc.
• Report hazardous or unsafe conditions to a member of the Innovation Arena Core Facility Staff, the Velocity Staff, or the JHSC (posted on the Safety Board at the facility)

Hazards can range from natural hazards (severe weather) to manmade incidents and unexpected events (chemical leaks or structure collapse).

Review details on the plans in place and resources for various emergencies.

Additional Information can be found in Policy 60 – University of Waterloo Emergency Response.

Non-compliance will result in loss of user privileges.

All members will properly dispose of laboratory waste and work to keep the lab clean and organized.

All chemical and biological waste is deposited in University of Waterloo approved waste containers (in accordance with University of Waterloo health and safety policies). Regular waste should be disposed of in garbage cans provided.

All members are responsible for cleaning up their spills and notifying Innovation Arena Core Facility staff of the spill.

Non-compliance will result in loss of user privileges.

The use of any restricted item must be approved by the Safety Officer and Innovation Arena Core Facility Laboratory Staff.

You are required to comply with the Regional and Federal law as well as University of Waterloo policy, here is a list of designated (prohibited) substances to be purchased, brought or synthesized in the Innovation Arena Core Facility.

Innovation Arena Core Facility is NOT licensed for:

• Radioactive Materials
• Cannabis

Approval must be obtained before purchasing any of the following:

• Nitro compounds
• Cyanide acids, salts and organic compounds
• Radioactive metals, salts or any type of compound in any concentration

A full list of controlled items that require approval before purchasing can be found online.

This list might be expanded at any time. If you are in doubt about your activities and the byproducts it might generate, please contact Innovation Arena Core Facility staff.

Non-compliance will result in loss of user privileges.

The Innovation Arena Core Facility follows University of Waterloo Biosafety Program.

The Biosafety Program provides a guideline for working with biological materials to ensure compliance and minimize risk to workers, students, the public, and the environment. The Innovation Arena Core Facility is licensed for Biosafety through Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC).

Requires Training includes:

• Biosafety Training - Biosafety (SO1069)
• hands-on training by the Biosafety Officer
• Review Velocity Biosafety Manual

Working with any Risk Group 2 materials requires Local Risk Assessment reviewed and approved by the Biosafety Officer.

The Innovation Arena Core Facility Biosafety Officer is the Associate Director, Productization and Spaces (Parisa Sadatmousavi).