Hazardous Material Laboratory Signage and Entry
Hazardous material laboratories are restricted areas that contain hazardous materials, often including dangerous goods, for the purpose of using, testing, or analyzing those materials. Laboratory signage communicates necessary information to personnel, the public, and first responders.
Lab Sign Components
AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY
This notifies personnel and the public that this area is restricted. Permission, and possibly orientation to applicable hazards, are required before entry.
Contacts for Entry and Information
The laboratory requires contact persons that are responsible for the area, knowledgeable of the hazards within, capable of authorizing entry, and advising those entering of any relevant hazard to their occupancy/work, as well as how to appropriately protect themselves. The contact information may contain the office contact information and/or a 24-hour contact. In case of non-life-threatening emergencies, contact Protective Services, as they have emergency contacts for laboratory contact persons.
Laboratory Specific Hazards
In the left panel of the laboratory specific hazards, hazards with specified notification requirements will be shown via a pictogram. These pictograms include:
In the right panel is information necessary for first responders in the event of a fire. This includes the number of compressed gas cylinders, delineating the number of flammable/oxidizing gases, as they fuel or help spread a fire, and the number of non-flammable/non-oxidizing gases. Also included is the number of flammable cabinets present, as that broadly indicates a greater load of flammable and combustible liquids. Finally, if there are dangerous goods, other than compressed gas cylinders and flammable cabinets, a danger pictogram will be used to indicate other hazardous chemicals are in use.
At the bottom of the specific hazards section is the response colour code for fire protective services. GREEN indicates a fire response no different than other locations that may include chemicals and hazardous equipment, like a garage. YELLOW indicates there are hazards present that require additional caution in responding to a fire, or debrief, due to contamination. This includes laboratories with 2 or more flammable cabinets, or flammable/oxidizing gases present, as well as biosecurity level 2 and open-source radiation laboratories. A RED response code indicates there is a specific emergency plan for that location.
Responsibilities
Unauthorized personnel (visitors, Facilities Management staff, utilities, contractors)
Do not enter (even if you have key access) unless you have spoken to a person with knowledge of the area, its hazards, and is capable to authorize entry.
Laboratory staff and contacts
Personnel who must enter the laboratory, must be notified of the hazards present that are relevant to their occupancy/work, as well as how to protect themselves. Clear hazards away from their work, provide necessary PPE, instruct where tools/materials are safe to place in the lab, and assist in decontamination as necessary.
Two Methods of Updating Laboratory Signs
- University of Regina Lab Signage Update Form - Fill out form webform may be filled in on desktop or mobile web browser.
- Complete the Lab Sign Update Table excel document and send to health.safety@uregina.ca to update individual or multiiplate signs at once.