Institutional Laboratory Safety Committee

List of Committee Members

 

Institutional Laboratory Safety Committee (ILSC)

Terms of Reference

 

The University of Toronto Institutional Laboratory Safety Committee (ILSC) is charged with ensuring that all activities conducted at the University of Toronto with respect to research and teaching involving hazardous chemicals and products are conducted in a safe manner and in conformity with the national, provincial, local and University standards. Within the terms of the Committee hazardous products exclude radioactive material and biological agents, which are governed by specific committees. The ILSC reports at least annually and as needed to the Associate Vice-President, Research Oversight and Compliance. 

All research carried out under the auspices of the University and/or in University-controlled facilities must comply with, though are not limited to, the following: the Hazardous Products Act, the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act, the WHMIS legislation, the Transport of Dangerous Goods Regulation, and federal and provincial Environmental Protection Acts. These requirements apply regardless of the research funding source. The ILSC further serves as an educational resource to members of the University community.  

The University affirms that the primary responsibility for the regulatory compliance, safety and security of staff, students and the public lie with the Principal Investigator using or authorizing the use of such hazardous products. In addition, the University (through the members of the Governing Council and senior administrators) acknowledges a responsibility to provide a policy and procedural framework designed to ensure that work is being conducted safely and in conformity with the relevant Acts and regulations. 

Functions 

The Associate Vice-President, Research Oversight and Compliance (AVP-ROC) has delegated to the ILSC the following functions, powers, and duties: 

  1. Consulting, reviewing and recommending safety standards for the conduct of research and teaching involving hazardous materials; 
  2. Consulting, reviewing and recommending policies, standards and general direction for the safe storage, use, handling and disposal of hazardous materials in laboratories within the context of the Occupational Health and Safety Act or regulations pursuant to that Act; 
  3. Consulting and assessing the impact of new and existing safety standards and policies;  
  4. Specifying training requirements of all personnel working with hazardous materials; 
  5. Taking all reasonable steps to ensure that research and teaching activities of members of the University involving hazardous materials are following procedures that are in compliance with the requirements of the University and any relevant guidelines, standards, or legislation; 
  6. Advising the Associate Vice-President, Research Oversight and Compliance on the needs of the University community for hazardous material safety policies and programs; 
  7. Reporting annually to the Associate Vice-President, Research Oversight and Compliance on the activities of the Chair and the Committee;  
  8. Overseeing strategies to ensure ongoing and adequate surveillance, hazard identification, and risk evaluation of laboratory related activities; 
  9. Reviewing reports related to recurring and/or related incidents for prevention and assessment of common factors, as well as review of significant laboratory safety issues, incidents, and interventions in laboratory areas. Recommending corrective actions, when indicated. 

Membership 

The membership of the ILSC shall consist of: 

  1. the Chair of the ILSC; 
  2. a minimum of six (6) academic faculty members with expertise in the use of chemicals and hazardous materials, one of whom is the Vice-Chair; 
  3. the Executive Director, Research Safety and Compliance, EHS (ex officio); 
  4. the Director, Operations, Research Safety and Compliance, EHS (ex officio); 
  5. the Manager, Chemical Safety and Compliance, EHS (ex officio);  
  6. the Manager, Environmental Protection Services, F&S (ex officio) 
  7. a laboratory staff member, who actively works in a laboratory setting; and, 
  8. a graduate student user of hazardous materials 

Academic members are appointed to the ILSC for terms not less than two years and not more than four years (renewable) by the AVP-ROC on the recommendation by the Chair of the ILSC. Academic members from both research and teaching streams are selected on the basis of their experience and expertise in working with hazardous chemicals and products and their physical location to ensure a good representation of members from across faculties and campuses. The duties of the membership are to attend two meetings per year, engage in the materials, and be available for any ad hoc meeting that needs to be called for any reason or regulatory challenge that occurs in the interim.  

The ILSC Chair is appointed by the AVP-ROC for a two-year term (renewable) and the Chair is normally chosen from the existing academic members of the ILSC, preferably the Vice-Chair. The Chair shall have extensive experience in working with chemicals and related hazardous materials in research. The duties of the Chair shall include, but are not limited to: setting meeting agendas, presiding over meetings, reviewing Committee minutes before distribution and ensuring that the Committee carries out its functions as set out in all applicable Regulations and these Terms of Reference, ensuring that new members understand their duties, powers, and responsibilities as prescribed in the Regulations and in these Terms of Reference, and maintaining accurate records of the activities of the Committee.  

The ILSC Chair shall be an ex officio member of the Senior Management Committee on Health and Safety. The Chair acts on behalf of the ILSC for the purpose of conducting routine business between scheduled meetings. 

The ILSC Vice-Chair is chosen from within the academic members of the ILSC and appointed by the AVP-ROC on the recommendation presented by EHS on behalf of the Chair. The Vice-Chair performs the duties of the Chair when necessary. 

Resource People and Experts 

The ILSC relies on expertise from Environmental Health and Safety and may also call upon external or other University experts when necessary. These individuals may be called upon to attend meetings but do not have voting privileges. 

Meetings 

The Committee shall meet at least twice per year and Minutes of the meetings shall be taken and kept on file. The Office of Environmental Health and Safety provides administrative support to the ILSC Chair and the Committee. The Associate Vice-President, Research Oversight and Compliance shall be furnished with copies of agendas and final meeting Minutes.   

Committee decisions that affect researchers handling hazardous materials at the University are normally made by consensus, but a vote may be taken if consensus cannot be reached after discussion of the outstanding issue(s). In the event of a vote, a simple majority of votes of those present will normally be conducted by a show of hands. If the objection is a new safety concern, it shall be taken back to Environmental Health and Safety for review and re-discussion at the Committee and voted on via email. Decisions shall be recorded in the Minutes.  

Quorum shall be 50% +1 of the total Committee membership and must include the Executive Director, Research Safety and Compliance, EHS (or a designated alternative ex officio member from EHS management), the ILSC Chair, and one academic member representative. 

Updates of the Terms of Reference 

The Committee shall review these Terms of Reference (at least) every 3 years, to meet any new regulatory guidelines or policies or other relevant changed circumstances.  

The Committee may recommend changes to these Terms of Reference at any time. All changes to these Terms of Reference must be approved by the Associate Vice-President, Research Oversight and Compliance. 

Version – October 2024