Overview
Carleton University offers a mandatory in-person biosafety training course designed to equip participants with essential Health and Safety practices when handling biohazardous materials. The session lasts three hours and covers a broad range of topics related to the safe work with bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, protozoa, biotoxins, as well as potentially biohazardous materials such as blood and mammalian cell lines. This training is a foundational requirement for anyone who will be working with such materials on campus.
Who Should Attend
The course is mandatory for all individuals who will be handling or potentially encountering biohazardous materials in research, teaching, clinical, or support roles at Carleton University. This includes students, researchers, lab technicians, and staff involved in activities that involve biological agents and related safety risks. Completing this training helps ensure a consistent standard of biosafety across campus operations.
What You Will Learn
The training provides a comprehensive overview of biosafety principles and practices, focusing on risk assessment, containment levels, and the selection and use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). Participants will learn about safe handling, storage, labeling, and disposal of biohazardous materials, as well as emergency procedures in case of spills, exposures, or other incidents. The course emphasizes prevention of contamination, proper waste management, and adherence to institutional biosafety policies.
Key Topics Include
- Identifying biological hazards and understanding associated risks
- Containment practices and engineering controls
- Safe handling and transport of biological materials
- Waste disposal, decontamination, and sterilization basics
- Emergency response, incident reporting, and medical follow-up
- Regulatory and institutional biosafety requirements
Course Logistics
The training is conducted in-person at Carleton University, located at 3400 Canal Building, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6. The course runs for three hours and is facilitated by qualified biosafety professionals who will answer questions and guide participants through practical scenarios. A Brightspace quiz will be available for participants to complete after or as part of the course, reinforcing learning and serving as an assessment of understanding.
Assessment and Certification
Attendance at the session is required for certification, and a brief quiz on Brightspace will assess comprehension of the material covered. Participants who pass the quiz will receive recognition of completion, which fulfills the mandatory biosafety training requirement for work with biohazardous materials at Carleton University.
Next Steps
If you are unsure whether you need this training, check with your supervisor or the lab safety coordinator. If you need to register, contact the program administrator or the listed liaison. Remember to complete the Brightspace quiz to finalize your certification and ensure you meet the university’s biosafety standards.
Contact and Registration
For more information, or to arrange enrollment, contact Sadaf Umer at sadafumer@cunet.carleton.ca. They can provide scheduling details, confirmation of attendance, and any accessibility accommodations you may require during the in-person session.
