Safety Training

Mandatory Safety Training

If you have received a Workday notification about mandatory safety training, or you are a supervisor who would like to review your team's training compliance, click here.

The New Worker Safety Orientation covers general safety information that all workers must be aware of before beginning to work at UBC. Once the general safety course is complete, workers must also receive a site specific safety orientation as each area will have their own safety procedures (i.e. meeting area during a building evacuation, etc.).

PART 1

The first part is online and covers the following general safety topics:

  • Who is considered to be a new worker;
  • When training is required;
  • Health & safety policy and responsibilities;
  • Report hazards or unsafe conditions
  • Workers’ rights
  • Health & safety programs/procedures to support workers
  • Emergency preparedness
  • Emergency and safety contacts

Access New Worker Safety Orientation

PART 2

After the completion of the New Worker Safety Orientation, a site specific safety orientation is required to be completed with your supervisor or a person designated by your supervisor who is familiar with the hazards in your area.

Access Site Specific Safety Orientation

Workplace bullying and harassment has serious outcomes for employers and workers and as a result the training is mandatory. The Preventing and Addressing Workplace Bullying and Harassment Training is comprised of the following topics:

  • Defining workplace bullying and harassment
  • Recognizing workplace bullying and harassment
  • Identifying bullying and harassment
  • Describing the duties of employers, supervisors, and workers, with respect to workplace bullying and harassment
  • Responding to situations involving workplace bullying and harassment

Access Preventing and Addressing Workplace Bullying and Harassment Training.

All workers must know how to respond in a potentially threatening or violent situation. The Workplace Violence Prevention Training covers general personal security information. Departments may also have site specific procedures.

Access Workplace Violence Prevention Training.

Nearly every UBC faculty and staff member has access to Confidential Information, including personal and payment card data. As the loss or disclosure of this information could be very harmful, it’s important for you to know how to protect it. The Privacy & Information Security Fundamentals Training is comprised of the following topics:

  • Privacy & Personal Information
  • Transmission & Sharing of Information
  • Phishing
  • Storage & Encryption of Information
  • Working Remotely
  • General Privacy & Information Security Tips

Access Privacy & Information Security Fundamentals Training.

Supervisors are key players in the workplace and it is important that they are trained in their roles and responsibilities so that they can effectively carry them out. The Safety Supervision at UBC course covers the following topics with a specific focus on the responsibility of the supervisor:

  • Legal Responsibilities and Due Diligence
  • Orientation and Training
  • Incident Investigation

Please access the Supervisor Handbook for more information.

Access Safety Supervision at UBC.

This training focuses on building mental health literacy, clarifying managers and supervisors’ responsibilities when it comes to building workplace psychological health and safety, and sharing important resources.

Access Supporting Mental Health in the Workplace for Managers and Supervisors.

Job Specific Training Requirements

Depending on the nature of the lab, you may need to take any of the following training courses:

Course Name Description
Hazardous Waste Management This course helps the UBC Okanagan Community properly handle, package and dispose of their hazardous wastes. The course focuses on laboratory environments, but is applicable to any area on campus where there is the need to dispose of hazardous materials.
Chemical Safety Course (includes WHMIS 2015) This course is intended for those who handle or have access to hazardous products.

This course discusses legislative guidelines such as the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System and Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations, as well as UBC best-practices for general safety, storage, handling, controls, and emergency procedures. This training has three components.  The first is an online component through WPL.  The second component is a synchronous online component through zoom and the third is a very short in-person spill clean up practical training session (you will register for the second and third section when completing the first section).

Hazardous Waste Management This course helps the UBC Okanagan Community properly handle, package and dispose of their hazardous wastes. The course focuses on laboratory environments, but is applicable to any area on campus where there is the need to dispose of hazardous materials.
Biological Safety for Permit Holders This course provides a condensed overview of the regulatory and operational requirements for working with biological substances. This course meets the mandatory requirement for Biosafety Permit Holders to obtain training, but will not satisfy the training requirement for study team members.
Laser Safety and Program Development Training This course covers the basics of laser safety including hazards, risks and controls.
Radiation Safety Course for authorized users This course explains the basic safety considerations and regulatory requirements for working with open and sealed source radiation at UBC. This meets the training requirements for Authorized Users and Permit Holders who are new to working with Radiation at UBC.
Radiation Safety Refresher for Authorized Users This course reviews the basic safety considerations and regulatory requirements for working with open and sealed source radiation at UBC. This meets the training requirements for Authorized Users and Permit Holders who work with Radiation at UBC and have completed this course before.
Radiation Safety for Sealed Source Authorized Users This course explains the basics of radiation safety when working with sealed radiation sources radiation and/or devices only. This meets the training requirements for Authorized Users and Permit Holders with Sealed Source Permits.
TDG Receiving Class 7 Radioactive Materials Training Any UBC faculty, staff or student who is ordering, shipping or receiving materials classified as ‘Dangerous Goods’ under the Transport of Dangerous Goods.
TDG 7 If you order, handle, ship or receive radioactive materials or devices.
TDG 6.2 If you order, handle, ship or receive dangerous goods including biological materials, including clinical samples, animal tissues, cell lines, viruses, prions or bacterial strains.
Transportation of Dangerous Goods by Ground and Air This course provides a general outline of how to transport dangerous goods (excluding biohazardous, infectious, radioactive, or explosive) by both ground and air. Participants will learn to properly label, document, and package dangerous goods for road or air transport.

Workers can be at a risk of serious injury due to the nature of hazards involved in an industrial environment. Ask your supervisor or manager for the specific training required for your job duties.

Depending on the nature of the industrial setting and whether you ship or receive hazardous materials, you may need to take any of the following training courses:

If your work solely involves working in an office, you must complete the mandatory training. Job-specific training must be provided by your supervisor. It is important to recognize the importance of having a proper workstation and how that can aid in reducing the risk of musculoskeletal injuries. Use the Ergonomics Information page to find out more.

Each role in the workplace has assigned tasks that require training specific to that worksite. Supervisors are responsible for task assignment and assessment of the training needed to complete those tasks safely and effectively.

While this job-specific training may be delivered by the supervisor or a trainer with demonstrated subject matter expertise, the supervisor retains responsibility for oversight of training and confirmation that an adequate level of proficiency has been attained. Signing off on an employee’s training completion testifies to demonstration of trainee competency and is a legally necessary demonstration of supervisory due diligence.

If a supervisor finds that an employee has not reached an adequate level of competency, further training must be done prior to sign off of the training record for that assessed requirement. A Task-Specific training documentation template is available to guide you in the documentation of staff training assessments and completion.

Course Practical Sessions

Practical sessions are divided into two parts:

  1. An on-line live virtual session
  2. An brief in-person assessment of spill clean-up skills

Schedules for virtual and in-person sessions are available inside the respective courses

**Please note the Okanagan Campus does not offer the biological or radioisotope TDG course. Please contact hse.ok@ubc.ca for more information.