As outlined in its Health and Safety Policy Statement, the University of Windsor is committed to providing a safe, respectful, and healthy workplace and learning environment for its employees, students, and visitors.
Faculty and staff who direct work are responsible for ensuring that safe work procedures are implemented and followed to maintain a safe and healthy workplace. As a supervisor, it is your responsibility to ensure that effective training is provided to your appointees, and that relevant regulations and safe work procedures are complied with by your appointees. You are also responsible to ensure that hazards, unsafe conditions, practices and behaviours that are reported to you are addressed in a timely manner.
It is the responsibility of your appointees to observe applicable legislation in their work area, follow safe work procedures, and to report any hazards, unsafe conditions, practices and behaviours to you.
The University of Windsor is committed to providing a safe learning and work environment, preventing workplace occupational illness and injury, and to maintaining a workplace that is free from violence and harassment. Under the Occupational Health and Safety Act of Ontario, all employees are required to complete the following:
- Health & Safety in the Workplace - Orientation Guide for Workers/Supervisors
- WHIMS (Workplace Hazardous Materials Information Systems)
- Violence & Harassment Prevention in the Workplace Awareness Training
The University of Windsor is also committed to providing an inclusive and accessible environment for all persons to study, work, and play. The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act requires that all employees and volunteers complete the following:
- Accessible Customer Service Training
- Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and Human Rights Training
By signing their letter of appointment, your appointee acknowledged that they have a statutory responsibility under the Occupational Health and Safety Act of Ontario and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act to adhere to the University's system of responsibility for occupational health and safety and provision of and inclusive and accessible environment.
All mandatory Health and Safety and Accessibility training must be completed within the first two weeks of an appointment.
Mandatory training can be accessed via the Human Resources websie under New Employee Orientation.
As a supervisor, you are responsible for ensuring that your appointee receives adequate laboratory safety orientation before performing any work in a laboratory.
Before your appointee starts work in your lab, they must complete a Laboratory Safety Orientation Checklist. The checklist outlines a variety of topics in laboratory safety which must be fully explained and reviewed with all new personnel within the first two weeks of their appointment. Once complete, the checklist must be signed by you and your appointee and a copy must be forwarded to the Chemical Control Centre (CCC). A copy of the checklist should also be retained in your lab.
If possible, it is also highly recommended that appointees working in a laboratory setting take the Laboratory Safety Training for Researchers. This 3.5 hour in-class course provides an overview of laboratory safety requirements, including recognition and mitigation of laboratory hazards, use of engineering controls, administrative controls and personal protective equipment, working safely with chemicals, biological and radioactive materials, use of Material Safety Data Sheets, procedures for disposing of hazardous waste, and safety resources available for laboratory personnel.
In addition to the Laboratory Safety Training for Researchers course, CCC also offers training and instruction related to biosafety, compressed gas, fume hood use, hydrogen fluoride, radiation, spill response procedures, hazardous substance labeling, and x-rays. For a complete list of training resources and to access training modules, visit the SAfety Programs page on the CCC website.
If you are unsure if your appointee will require laboratory safety training, contact CCC at extension 3523 or by e-mail at ccc@uwindsor.ca.
If your research involves animals and your appointee will have contact with animals, they must complete mandatory Animal Care training as outlined in Animal Care Committee (ACC) Standard Operating Procedures, TR03: Standardized Training in Animal Care and Use and TR02: Mandatory Training at the University of Windsor for Animal Surgeons.
As a supervisor, it is your responsibility to ensure that your appointee has read and understands the University of Windsor's Handbook on Animal Care, completed the Online Training Course for University of Windsor Faculty, Staff, and Students working with Vertebrate Animals in Research and/or Teaching and the University Veterinarian's Animal Laboratory Training Course with passing grades, and has received orientation from Animal Care facility staff prior to working with animals at the University of Windsor.
The University Veterinarian's Animal Laboratory Training Course is a 2.5-hour in-class course that is offered periodically and is followed by a test. For information on upcoming course dates and enrollment, contact the Animal Care Coordinator at extension 3741 or by email at acc@uwindsor.ca.
Before your appointee starts work in your lab, they must also complete and submit a signed copy of the Animal Facility New User/Staff Training Checklist to the ACC. A copy of the checklist should also be retained in your lab.
For further information on Animal Care policies, procedures, training, and resources, please visit the Animal Care Committee.
If your research involves human participants, your appointee must complete mandatory Tri-Council Policy Statement 2 Course on Research Ethics (TCPS2: CORE) research ethics training. As a supervisor, it is your responsibility to ensure that your appointee has completed this training and holds a current certificate. To access certification resources, click on the link below:
TCPS2: CORE Certification Resources
A copy of your appointee's TCPS2: CORE training certificate must be forwarded to the Research Ethics Board (REB) prior to his or her participation in research involving humans.
For further information on REB policies, procedures, training, and resources, please visit the Research Ethics Board.