Office of Environmental Health and Safety
HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA | CANADA B3H 4R2 | +1 (902) 494-2211

Chemical Safety Committee

Purpose

The Chemical Safety Committee is established by the Vice President of Finance and Administration to establish a Chemical Safety Program for the safe transportation, storage, use, handling, cataloguing and disposal of hazardous chemicals (and related materials) in accordance with all applicable regulations, policies, and standard practices. The Office of Environmental Health and Safety is responsible for the operations of the Chemical Safety Program to ensure university activities are done in a safe and environmentally appropriate manner.

Membership

The Chemical Safety Committee members are appointed by the Vice President of Finance and Administration. The Committee shall consist of five faculty members, one staff member, and one student member drawn from those with expertise of hazardous chemicals. Effort should be made to ensure that appropriate faculties are represented.

Committee members, when necessary, may invite any expert (or authority) to participate in committee meetings to provide advice on specific issues.

Committee members will normally be appointed for a three year term. Staff and student members will be appointed for a one year term. Members may be reappointed to serve subsequent terms.

The Chairperson will be elected by the voting members and shall serve a one year term.

The following shall be non-voting permanent members of the Committee:

  • Director, Environmental Health and Safety
  • Chemical Safety Officer, Environmental Health and Safety (Secretary)

Operations

  1. Promote and advocate health, safety, and environmental protection regarding to the use of hazardous chemicals (and related materials).
  2. Establish and regularly review policies and procedures for the safe transportation, storage, use, handling, cataloguing, and disposal of hazardous chemicals (and related materials).
  3. Review University chemical safety training programs on an annual basis.
  4. Advise senior management of the need for additional resources to improve the Chemical Safety Program.
  5. Assist the Office of Environmental Health and Safety, when necessary, with the preparation and submission of reports to regulatory agencies.
  6. Receive reports and findings of investigations of any incidents or accidents involving hazardous chemicals (and related materials).
  7. Review significant or unresolved instances of unusual occurrences and non-compliances with regulatory requirements.

Meetings

The Chemical Safety Committee shall meet three times yearly and will be conducted by the Chairperson. In the absence of the Chairperson, voting members in attendance will select a member as acting Chairperson. Special meetings may be called at any time by the Chairperson.

Any member may place items on the agenda for discussion. Items for inclusion on the agenda should be received by the Office of Environmental Health and Safety at least one week prior to the scheduled meeting to allow time for distribution of relevant documents to committee members.

At all meetings, a quorum will be one half of the Committee voting membership. The Committee will normally seek to operate by consensus without the need for formal votes. When a member requests a formal vote, a motion will be carried when supported by a majority of the voting members.

Reporting

The Chemical Safety Committee reports to the Vice President of Finance and Administration by way of the University's Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee.