Environmental Management

Environmental Management Program  
The Environmental Management Program is responsible for a diverse portfolio of environmental and safety related programs. Program areas include hazardous waste management, hazardous materials emergency response, asbestos management, mould management, transportation of dangerous goods, confined space entry, respiratory protection and water quality.  

Hazardous Waste Management
The primary role of the Hazardous Waste Management Program is to facilitate the safe and responsible management of hazardous waste. It also provides Hazardous Materials Emergency Response coverage in the event of chemical, biological or radiological emergencies.

The Hazardous Waste Program provides guidelines for the disposal of all chemical, radiological, biological, explosive, and potentially unstable waste produced at the university.

All hazardous waste must be disposed in accordance with federal and local regulations. Drain disposal of hazardous waste as well as disposal in the regular trash is unacceptable. Aside from obvious infractions to environmental regulations, drain disposal may lead to dangerous reactions, damage to plumbing systems or create a hazard for trades personnel. Disposal in the regular trash may put caretaking staff at risk.

Removal of most hazardous wastes is available to University departments at no charge. Individual departments may however be charged for the cost of identification and disposal of “unknowns". Pick up of hazardous waste is initiated by filling out a Hazardous Waste Removal Form and sending it to EHSO. Pick up is normally within two weeks for smaller quantities, whereas larger laboratory clean outs require more notice.

Asbestos Management
As with most similar institutions, the University has a number of buildings that were constructed with asbestos containing materials (ACM’s) in mechanical insulation, plaster, flooring, and other building materials. These materials are perfectly safe, unless the material is disturbed during construction or repair.

The University of Manitoba has developed a comprehensive and documented Asbestos Management Program (AMP), to ensure a safe workplace is maintained for all employees, students, and the visiting public. The AMP document takes into consideration all existing regulations and guidelines pursuant to the removal or management of asbestos.