Safety Office, Commissary Building
University of Waterloo
200 University Avenue West
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1
Phone 519 888 4567 Ext. 33587
Fax 519 886 8082
Email: safety@uwaterloo.ca
Laboratory work can vary widely including the types of materials, processes, and equipment involved. This page helps faculty members, laboratory managers, supervisors, and laboratory directors understand how to manage and ensure the facilities, equipment, and apparatus required are used and maintained in a manner that minimizes risks to those who use them. Select a topic below for more information.
Machinery or devices that require infrastructure change to accommodate its use. Examples of infrastructure change include:
Items with the following characteristics also require infrastructure change and are considered equipment:
Specialized devices or instruments that do not require infrastructure change to accommodate its use. Examples include (but are not limited to):
Building infrastructure and items that are fixed in place. Examples include:
Eyewash and emergency showers
Fume hoods
In general, infrastructure and equipment are maintained by Plant Operations, while laboratory apparatus is the responsibility of the owner.
Plant operations is responsible for maintaining these types of systems. Examples of this include:
Installation of equipment is pursuant to Policy 22. Equipment should not be purchased or installed unless consultation and permission has been granted by Plant Operations. This policy is to ensure that the facilities required for the equipment being purchased are appropriate.
In order to request maintenance for equipment or facilities, you can contact Plant Operations by calling their 24 hour contact number at ext. 33793 or 518-888-4813.
Any equipment or laboratory apparatus in use must be accompanied with a Safe Operating Procedure (SOP) or a user guide outlining how the equipment should be used. Each person using the equipment or apparatus must be trained on the function and use of that equipment or apparatus. This responsibility falls onto the Supervisor or Faculty Member in charge of the lab.
Safety Office, Commissary Building
University of Waterloo
200 University Avenue West
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1
Phone 519 888 4567 Ext. 33587
Fax 519 886 8082
Email: safety@uwaterloo.ca
The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is centralized within our Office of Indigenous Relations.