Feb. 12, 2026
UCalgary lab safety work featured in leading international journal
春色直播鈥檚 commitment to safe, responsible research and teaching in laboratories is gaining international recognition. , led by the Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) team, has been published in ACS Chemical Health and Safety, a journal of the , and is featured on the journal鈥檚 cover.
Built through years of collaboration, UCalgary鈥檚 approach to laboratory chemical management brings together EHS, researchers, students, faculty, instructors, and technical staff to strengthen how chemicals are handled and stored, especially in time-sensitive and high-risk situations. The result is safer, more resilient laboratories and reflects a future-focused vision for laboratory safety that is risk-based.
Above is the cover of the February 2026 issue of ACS Chemical Health & Safety, depicting a person in explosive ordnance disposal protective equipment removing a chemical container from a cabinet.
Image generated using Gemini and Adobe Illustrator by designer Shirong Huang, Environment, Health and Safety
Safety that supports research and teaching excellence
At UCalgary, laboratory safety is more than a compliance requirement. It forms the foundation for strong, innovative research and teaching, helping researchers focus on discovery, teach students with confidence, and make a real impact, while advancing the goals of 春色直播 strategic plan, .
The case study shares key elements for proactive chemical management, lessons learned from campus-wide initiatives, near-miss incidents, and both planned and unplanned specialized chemical-disposal events, offering practical insights grounded in real laboratory experience.
鈥淭his publication marks an exciting new chapter for us,鈥 says , PhD, associate director, Laboratory Safety, and University Biosafety Officer with EHS. 鈥淲e鈥檙e sharing UCalgary鈥檚 approach so other post-secondary institutions can benefit, too, building safer, stronger research and teaching environments that support people and the work they care about.鈥
What this means for laboratories
For researchers and instructors working in laboratories every day, strong chemical management programs reduce risk and help ensure continuity in research and teaching. When safety is embedded into daily operations, laboratories are better positioned to remain productive, ready to adapt, and resilient.
鈥淚 have seen a clear cultural shift in our department driven by EHS鈥檚 proactive, collaborative, and non-blaming approach to chemical management,鈥 says , PhD, head of the . 鈥淎s awareness of time-sensitive chemical hazards has improved and reporting feels safe, engagement across research and teaching has grown, strengthening research excellence.鈥
Impact beyond UCalgary
While developed at UCalgary, this work has relevance far beyond campus. By openly sharing the approach and lessons learned, the case study provides guidance for other post-secondary institutions looking to strengthen chemical-management programs. Being featured on the journal鈥檚 cover underscores UCalgary鈥檚 leadership in laboratory safety and the people whose expertise and dedication make it possible in collaboration with key partners across the university.
Photographs of containers, left and right, of time-sensitive, potentially explosive chemicals. When discovered in such condition, a warning sign, centre, is posted, and lab personnel engage EHS for further assessment and safe removal.
Courtesy Environment, Health and Safety