​PURPOSE

To establish divisional expectations and standards regarding science laboratory safety program at River East Transcona School Division (RETSD) that meets or exceeds all municipal, federal and provincial legislated workplace safety and health program requirements.

A science laboratory safety program must be defined and documented for compliance as part of Element 6, develop a plan to control chemical and biological hazards, for the effective development and implementation of a workplace safety and health program under Manitoba legislation.

SCOPE

This safe operating procedure and associated documents establish a procedure for a science laboratory safety program for all workers at RETSD.

The best practices apply to all RETSD worksites with science laboratories.

RESPONSIBILITY

Students as Workers

Students are expected to follow all science laboratory safety program regulations.

School Staff

School staff is expected to follow all science laboratory safety program regulations.

LABORATORY CHEMICAL MANAGMENT PROGRAM

River East Transcona School Division shall comply with all provincial legislation regarding the control of laboratory chemicals in the workplace.

The Manitoba Department of Education, in conjunction with a large group of stakeholders with extensive expertise in science laboratory safety program management, developed an extensive guide for science safety in schools.

Therefore, River East Transcona School Division recognizes the following on line manual as the lab safety standard and guidelines for the division.

Science Safety: A Kindergarten to Senior 4 Resource Manual for Teachers, Schools, and School Divisions

Science Safety

LABORATORY SPILL CONTAINMENT AND RESPONSE PROCEDURE

Only trained and authorized personnel are allowed to clean up spills of chemicals

1. Report all spills to the supervisor, teacher other person in charge immediately.

2. Risk Assessment: Teacher or Person in charge to assess risk and determine what chemical or material has spilled and identify source.

2A) if a spill is not containable or if the spilled substance situation causes life and health safety risks, evacuate and leave spill containment and cleanup to emergency services.

2B) if a spill is containable or if the spilled substance situation does not cause life and health safety risks, obtain appropriate spill kits to proceed to next step.

3. Personal Protective Equipment: Put on any required personal protective equipment for the task.

4. Containment: Use absorbent materials provided in kits to contain and soak up substance and to prevent escape to drains.

5. Stop the Source: Close valves, rotate drums and containers and plug leaks where it is possible and safe to do so.

6. Begin Clean Up: Use appropriate spill kit materials to dam up and absorb spilled materials.

7. Dispose of Used Materials: Place used absorbents in plastic bags or other required waste containment bags and seal. Dispose of bags in manner listed in MSDS for product and according to applicable environmental legislation. Use proper PPE removal procedures to avoid contact with chemicals. Dispose of disposable PPE with used materials.

8. Decontaminate: Clean all tools, reusable materials, and reusable PPE properly before reuse.

9. Restock Spill Kit Materials: Ensure that spill kit materials are restocked and any incident report forms are filed accordingly.

COMMUNICATION

A combination of hard-copy postings, distributions and electronic posting will be used to communicate safety and health program information within RETSD.

TRAINING

All stakeholders shall be trained to their required level of involvement in the WSHMS to become familiar with its structure, organization, and how to look up and access information both electronically and in hard copy form through:

• New employee orientation, employee manuals or employment information packages

• Return to work or remedial programs, as required on an individual basis

• Planned ongoing training through team meetings, individual coaching or other methods as developed or adopted

ENFORCEMENT

Ultimately, the superintendent shall be responsible for the sustainability of the WSHMS, and shall enforce compliance to standards at a divisional level.

Workplace safety and health management system compliance shall be managed through the application of performance management and progressive discipline policies and procedures.

Worker failure to comply with provisions of the RETSD safety program may lead to discipline, up to and including discharge from employment and / or other remedies available at law.