Welcome to the Safety Office

Health, Safety and Environment at Waterloo

The Safety Office provides consultation and support services to the University community on matters relating to environmental and occupational health and safety.

Our purpose

  1. Support the University’s strategic goals through the delivery of effective, efficient, and comprehensive health, safety and environmental program services;

  1. Facilitate successful endeavours by all members of the University community by advising on establishing the healthiest and safest work and educational environment reasonably attainable; and

  1. Ensure that persons accountable for University operations are fully and properly informed of the legal and regulatory health, safety and environmental compliance risks and requirements, and providing advice to those persons on those risks and requirements.

Training Programs

Location

The Safety Office is located in the Commissary (COM) Building. Our entrance faces the Ring Road, next to Police & Parking Services.

News

  1. Dec. 13, 2018University of Waterloo's Fit For Work Guideline

    The legalization of recreational cannabis has brought forth the potential issue of workplace impairment and employees being fit for work. Workers who are unfit or unable to carry out their work safely due to impairment introduce a hazard to the workplace, themselves, and others.

  2. Sep. 7, 2018Updates: Transitioning to WHMIS 2015

    The Safety Office is in the process of developing a chemical labelling system that meets WHMIS 2015 requirements. This will allow us to update the labels on chemicals already on campus. Further updates will be provided as we work through the process to meet compliance specifications.   

    Health and safety coordinators can now request a list of labs in their department that have moved their chemical inventory to erPortal. Contact Dhananjai Borwankar for your list. 

    At this time, please ensure that:

  3. Feb. 8, 2018Transitioning to WHMIS 2015

    The Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) is changing to adopt new international standards for classifying hazardous materials and providing information on labels and safety data sheets (SDS). This transition will affect all employees at the University of Waterloo and especially those working with chemicals and in labs.

    The University must meet the following criteria by December 1, 2018, to comply with the new WHMIS standards:

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