11.10 Research Involving Biohazardous and Radioactive Materials

Purpose

1.00 Researchers and members of their research teams who are conducting, or propose to conduct, research involving biohazardous and radioactive materials must adhere to legislated and administrative procedures, and rules for acquisition, use, storage, transportation and disposal of those materials.

This policy is in place to ensure that any funding acquired by a Laurier researcher will not be released until approval is obtained from the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) or Radiation Safety Committee (RSC).

Policy

Process

The applicant’s signature on the funding application signifies that the applicant agrees to abide by this policy. The Office of Research Services will work with Safety, Health, Environment and Risk Management (SHERM) to determine which research proposals involve biohazardous and radioactive materials and therefore fall within the scope of this policy.

Once funding for a project is approved, the Office of Research Services will contact SHERM to determine whether the experimental procedures, the physical space used by the researcher and training required to carry out the funded project have been reviewed and approved by the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) or Radiation Safety Committee (RSC).

If portions of the project do not require safety approvals, funds related to those portions of the project can be released via the limited release of funding form prior to safety approvals obtained for the remainder of the project.

If the scope or procedures of a funded research project changes and requires additional certification within the duration of an award, the Principal Investigator must inform SHERM and the Office of Research Services immediately and the appropriate approvals must be obtained before further research is conducted.

Specific Requirements

Detailed information regarding the processes for acquiring funding for research involving biohazardous materials and radioactive materials are outlined below.

A. Biohazardous Materials

When research involves biohazardous materials, i.e., risk group 1 or 2 agents as defined by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), all work must be completed in accordance with Laurier’s Biosafety Program, the Canadian Biosafety Standards and Guidelines published by PHAC, and all relevant legislation.

Projects involving the use of biohazardous materials will be reviewed by the IBC. An internal permit application along with risk assessment will be submitted by the researcher to the IBC for review. Work with risk group 1 agents must be performed in a containment level 1 laboratory with level 1 appropriate work procedures. Risk group 2 agents require a containment level 2 laboratory with level 2 appropriate work procedures. Upon approval by the IBC, an internal permit will be issued.

If a researcher indicates on a grant application that a project will involve biohazardous materials, the Office of Research Services will contact the BSO to determine whether the project has been reviewed and approved by the IBC.

B. Radioactive Materials

Research involving radioactive materials must adhere to Laurier’s Radiation Safety Program, the conditions of the Nuclear Substances and Radiation Devices license issued to Laurier by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) and all relevant legislation.

Projects involving the use of radioactive materials will be reviewed by the RSC. The work area, experimental procedures and worker training are reviewed by the RSC and upon approval, an internal permit is issued. When a researcher indicates the use of radioactive materials in a grant application, the Office of Research Services will contact the Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) to determine whether an internal permit has been issued by the RSC.

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