Hazard Management

Biological hazards, or biohazards, are any biological specimen or equivalent derivative that have the potential to cause harm to human or environmental health.

Biohazards can take form as any one of these entities:

• Pathogenic bacteria or viruses
• Human blood or other body fluids
• Mould
• Yeast
• Fungi
• Toxins derived from plants or microorganisms
• Prions
• Venoms
• Tissue collect from wild animals
• Recombinant vector systems
• Insect that are not indigenous

Biological entities are regulated by the Public Health Agency of Canada and any person(s) working with biological entities at MRU must be understand what is regulated and how to work safely with biological hazards.

Have questions about biological hazards? Ask our University Biosafety Specialist, Stuart Elle.

Physical hazards are activities or objects that may impact your physical safety in a negative way.

Common examples of physical hazards include:

• Temperature
• Indoor air quality
• Noise
• Vibration
• Lighting quality
• Obstructions
• Sharp edges
• Ionizing radiation (cosmic rays and X-ray machines)
  
• Non-ionizing radiation (microwaves, sunlight and lasers)

The Government of Alberta regulates physical hazards through prescribed legislation under the Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Act, Regulation, and Code.

More information on physical hazards can be found at the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health & Safety. 

Have more questions about physical hazards? Ask EH&S.

A hazard assessment, as defined by Alberta Occupational Health & Safety, is a written process to identify existing and potential hazards in the workplace, before they cause harm to you or others. Here is a document produced by the Alberta government that can clarify compliance requirements as they pertain to workplace hazard assessments.

Informal Hazard Assessments - This is simply a process of looking ahead for hazards and addressing them before you complete a task. Informal hazard assessments are done by all employees at any time.

• Examples include scanning ahead for hazards as you walk across campus, or looking around a room for hazards before you enter. 
• Any identified hazards should be addressed immediately. You can address simple ones yourself (e.g. wiping up a coffee spill). More complex ones (or any you don't feel comfortable addressing) should be reported as outlined in the Reporting section below.

Position Hazard Assessment (PHA) - This is a formal, written hazard assessment, based on job positions within the University.

• All positions in the University require a PHA.
• They are developed by the department Managers / Deans / Supervisors / Chairs, with assistance from EH&S.
• PHAs include a list of tasks performed by someone in the position; the hazards associated with each task; and expected or suggested controls to reduce the risk of each hazard.
• PHAs should be reviewed on an annual basis to ensure that job tasks, hazards and controls are still current.

Field Level Hazard Assessment (FLHA) - Some positions on campus also require a written FLHA. These are assessments performed by the worker before work starts at a site where conditions change or when non-routine work is added.

• If your position requires you to complete FLHAs, your supervisor will provide training. 
• FLHAs shall be handed into your supervisor at the end of the day.
• This video provides additional information on completing an FLHA.

Workplace Inspections - Workplace inspections are another way of identifying hazards found in the workplace.

• Informal workplace inspections occur daily by the staff in your area. They are not written down and identified hazards are immediately fixed or reported to someone who is qualified to do so.
• Formal workplace inspections are written inspections performed on an annual basis in your area and led by the EH&S team.

When dealing with hazards, best practice is to eliminate the hazard or substitute the hazard for a less hazardous process, substance, or method.

If elimination or substitution of the hazard is not feasible, continue down the path of the hierarchy of controls until you find a solution that makes sense for your workplace.

Engineering Controls - Better than administrative or personal protective equipment (PPE) for controlling hazards in the workplace, engineering controls are designed to remove the hazard at the source, before it comes in contact with the worker. Engineering controls work automatically and don't rely on human effort or motivation to work. Examples include the isolation of noisy equipment in a separate room, equipment guards, or exhaust ventilation to remove contaminants from the environment.

Administrative Controls - Administration controls are behaviour based controls that rely on the worker to be effective. They include training, procedures, policies, schedules and signage. 

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) - PPE is equipment worn by workers to reduce the risk of exposure to a hazard. PPE is a last resort, as it doesn't control the hazard; it only reduces the risk of injury and potential consequence of exposure. Your supervisor should provide you with PPE appropriate for the hazards you may be exposed to. For more information, consult the EHS Safety Program: Personal Protective Equipment

Have questions about hazard control in your workplace? Ask EH&S

Hazards can be reported by anyone at MRU. 

Emergency safety concerns should be reported immediately to Security Services, 403.440.5900.

Non-emergency safety concerns or unsafe conditions can be reported quickly and easily using the MRU Now app. 

Alternatively, you can contact one of the departments below. Examples of the types of concerns each department addresses are also  listed.