Overview of the Biosafety Training
This in-person biosafety training course provides essential information on health and safety practices when working with biohazardous materials. Open to all staff, researchers, students, and professionals who handle bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, protozoa, biotoxins, or potentially biohazardous material such as blood and mammalian cell lines. The course is designed to equip attendees with practical knowledge to reduce risk, ensure safe handling, and comply with institutional policies.
Session Details
The training is a 3-hour in-person session held at:
- 3400, Canal Building, Carleton University
- 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6
During the session, participants will cover topics including:
- Fundamental biosafety principles and levels
- Proper handling, storage, and disposal of biohazardous materials
- Personal protective equipment (PPE) and engineering controls
- Decontamination, spill response, and incident reporting
- Ethical considerations and compliance with regulatory requirements
The course emphasizes practical, real-world scenarios to help attendees apply safety concepts in laboratory and field settings.
Mandatory Training and Compliance
Completion of this biosafety training is mandatory for all individuals working with biohazardous materials at the institution. The training ensures that staff and students understand the risks associated with handling infectious agents, toxins, and biological samples, and that they are prepared to act safely and responsibly.
Following the in-person session, participants will have access to a quiz hosted on Brightspace. This assessment is designed to reinforce key concepts and verify understanding of the material covered during the workshop.
Who Should Attend
Anyone who may come into contact with biohazardous materials as part of their research, teaching, or routine laboratory work should attend. This includes:
- Researchers and laboratory staff
- Graduate and undergraduate students involved in bioscience projects
- Faculty and instructors with biosafety responsibilities
- Facilities and compliance personnel who manage biohazardous materials
How to Register and Contact Information
For questions or to register for the biosafety training, please contact:
Contact: Sadaf Umer
Email: sadafumer@cunet.carleton.ca
Registration details, dates, and available slots will be provided by the coordinating office. Participants should bring any required documentation or prior attendance records as requested by the organizers.
Learning Outcomes and Assessment
By the end of the 3-hour in-person training, attendees will be able to:
- Identify biosafety levels and appropriate controls for different biological materials
- Demonstrate correct PPE usage and basic decontamination procedures
- Explain proper waste disposal and spill response steps
- Apply safety policies to everyday lab activities and project work
The Brightspace quiz serves as a post-training assessment to confirm knowledge retention and help ensure ongoing compliance with biosafety standards.
Why This Training Matters
Working with biohazardous materials carries inherent risks. Structured biosafety training helps protect individuals, colleagues, and the broader community by promoting a culture of safety, responsibility, and preparedness. Institutions that mandate such training demonstrate a commitment to safeguarding health and enabling safe scientific advancement.
