USask Biosafety Program

The USask Biosafety Program aims to ensure safe acquisition, use, storage, transfer, and disposal of biological and biohazardous materials. This program outlines the administrative and operational requirements for individuals working with biological and biohazardous materials to meet all legislative requirements as set forth in USask's Biosafety Code of Practice and supporting documentation found below.

Activities involving biohazardous materials are regulated by the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Refer to the Government of Canada’s Biosafety and Biosecurity website to find:

• Canadian Biosafety Standards and Guidelines - Requirements for safe handling of human and animal pathogens, toxins and plant pests in laboratories and other containment zones
• Pathogen Safety Data Sheets - Technical information on specific human pathogens, their hazardous properties and laboratory safety
• ePATHogen - Searchable database of pathogens and toxins, including nomenclature, risk group classifications, containment requirements, regulatory insights

Under the Biosafety Policy, all members of the USask community working with biological materials must meet all legislative requirements and must follow the administrative procedures and operational requirements for their acquisition, use, storage, transfer, and/or disposal as stated in the Biosafety Code of Practice and supporting documentation.  

Authorized Workers working in biosafety permitted labs must complete Safety Resources online training courses:

• Laboratory Safety
• Biosafety
• Biohazardous Waste Training
• Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS)

Register through Training and Development.

Additional training courses are also available through Public Health Agency of Canada's (PHAC) Training Portal.

USask staff, faculty, and students can access Biosafety Supporting Documentation, which includes deadlines and updates, regulatory and compliance materials, procedures and guidelines, forms, posters, and templates.

For more information, contact The Biosafety Group at biosafety@usask.ca or reach out to your area's Biosafety Officer: 

Zoe Sereggela, Biosafety Officer
Email: zoe.sereggela@usask.ca
Phone: 306-966-8496

Kim Hamonic, Biosafety Officer  
Email: kim.hamonic@usask.ca 
Phone: 306-966-8190

Tara Donovan, Biosafety & Environmental Officer
Email: tara.donovan@usask.ca
Phone: 306-966-7523