Some RRU employees—like those in many workplaces—may occasionally use or come into contact with hazardous products as part of their work.
To ensure the health and safety of all workers, RRU is committed to the following practices:
- whenever possible, hazardous products are replaced with safer, non-hazardous alternatives
- minimize workers' exposure to hazardous products through safe handling procedures
- workers are provided with personal protective equipment (PPE) appropriate for the task and trained in its proper use
Royal Roads follows WHMIS 15 which is based on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals. d
Training for handling hazardous products
If you're an RRU employee who uses or comes into contact with a hazardous product as part of your work, your supervisor will provide training to ensure you know how to use these products safely.
This training includes:
- safe handling procedures specific to the hazardous product(s) you'll be using
- proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE)
- emergency spill response and clean-up procedures
If you have any questions or feel you need additional support or refresher training, please speak with your supervisor or contact the Health & Safety team.
Hazardous product labelling requirements
Proper labelling is essential for the safe use and handling of hazardous products at Royal Roads University and is a requirement under WorkSafeBC regulations.
All hazardous products arrive with a product identification label provided by the manufacturer or supplier. These labels include critical information about the product's contents, associated hazards and safe handling procedures.
If a hazardous product arrives without proper labelling, immediately notify your supervisor. Your supervisor will ensure that the appropriate label is obtained and applied.
If you transfer a hazardous product from its original container into a secondary or smaller container, you are required to apply a new workplace label to the new container.
In addition to portable containers, all tanks, piping systems and storage containers must be clearly labelled with:
- contents of the container/system
- associated hazards
- precautions for safe handling
If you are unsure whether a label is required or appropriate, always ask your supervisor or contact the Operations and Resilience team.
Safety data sheets at RRU
At Royal Roads University, Safety Data Sheets (SDS) are available for all hazardous products used on the University's campuses. These sheets provide essential information, including:
- product contents and hazards
- safe handling and storage procedures
- emergency and first-aid measures
SDSs are available in electronic or hard copy format at key locations, including:
- the Operations and Resilience work units across RRU campuses
- mechanical rooms, custodial rooms, and other relevant work areas across campus
- the Environmental Studies lab in the Sherman Jen building (Colwood campus)