Health & Safety Resources Site
Engineering Physics and CEDT

Supervisor Responsibility

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According to OHSA, Section 1(1) Supervisor means "a person who has charge of a workplace or authority over a worker."

In Eng Phys and the CEDT, Supervisors would include:

  • Faculty who supervise graduate students, research staff, or volunteers
  • Retired Faculty who supervise students, research staff, volunteers
  • Laboratory Supervisors/Technicians
  • Facility Directors/Managers
  • Technical Staff who provide training and/or research supervision/assistance
  • Office Managers

Note, supervisors are also considered workers within the University. Worker responsibilities also apply.

At McMaster, Supervisor Responsibilities are explicitly defined in the University's Risk Management Manual. In addition, EOHSS has defined certain other supervisor training and documenation obligations, which can be found on EOHSS's own website. Eng Phys has also taken the initiative to create its own Hazard Awareness course and Hazard Assessment Form. The Eng Phys program has been in place for well over a decade.

OHSA Section 27

Supervisors have certain legal obligations under the OHSA. According to Section 27, Supervisors need to:

  • advise workers of the existence of any workplace hazards;
  • provide the worker written instructions explaining protective measures associated with workplace hazards;
  • "take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances for the protection of a worker."

Supervisor Responsibilities

Applies To:

  • Faculty with Laboratory Research
  • Retired Faculty with Laboratory Research
  • Facility Directors/Managers
  • Laboratory Staff with Supervisory/Training Responsibilities

Supervisors Must be Familiar with:

Risk Management Manual
Laboratory Safety Handbook (should include reference in any laboratory manuals)

Mandatory Supervisor Training:

Accident Investigation
Asbestos Awareness Complete online
Due Diligence Complete online
Ergonomics Complete online
Fire Safety Complete online
Slips/Trips/Falls Complete online
WHMIS Office (Anti-requisite: WHMIS Core) Complete online
WHMIS Core Complete online

Plus additional Mandatory Training if applicable to research/work area. (e.g. Biosafety, Electrical Awareness, Gas Cylinder, HF Awareness, Laser Safety, Lock Out/Tag Out, Machine Guard, Radiation Safety, etc.)

Supervisors Must Complete the Following Documentation:

Job Hazard Analysis (link)

To be completed with supervisor (i.e. Departmental Chair).
Must be filed with department office and EOHSS.

Contact Information & Lab Assessment Form (for each lab facility)

To be completed and posted on door of all lab facilities. (template)

Standard Operating Procedures

SOPs must be completed for any procedure or process which:

  1. Could cause a critical injury.
  2. Could cause occupational illness.
  3. Could cause environmental impairment.
  4. Could cause damage to university property.

Template can be downloaded.
Suggest storing copies of the completed SOP in both lab and your office.

MSDS Inventory

Log all chemicals (name, volume, approximate date purchased, purchaser, etc.) present in lab. Keep a binder of MSDS forms for each chemical. Access to MSDS forms via computer is *apparently* also sufficient.

Inspections of Facilities/Work Areas (trial template)

This requirement was recently introduced into RMM 302: Safety Audits and Inspections.

Training Students, Employees, Visitors*, Volunteers:

Supervisors are responsible for ensuring anyone under their supervision completes the following documentation and mandatory training.

* Note: Short term visitors may not be able to complete certain mandatory training due to their time restrictions. In this circumstance, supervisors retain ALL responsibility for visitor safety. Site-specific training is required and work should be limited.


  1. Job Hazard Analysis (link)

    Stipulated by EOHSS.

  2. Eng Phys-Specific Hazard Assessment Form (download)

    To be completed when student starts there degree or summer project, and to be updated as-needed if there are any significant changes to project.


  3. General Mandatory Training

    Asbestos Awareness Complete online
    Ergonomics Complete online
    Fire Safety Complete online
    Lock out / Tag out
    Slips/Trips/Falls Complete online
    WHMIS Office (Anti-requisite: WHMIS Core) Complete online
    WHMIS Core Complete online

    Plus additional Mandatory Training if applicable to research/work area. (e.g. Biosafety, Electrical Awareness, Gas Cylinder, HF Awareness, Laser Safety, Machine Guard, Radiation Safety, etc.)

  4. Site-Specific Mandatory Training

    (i.e. Any specialized training for equipment or activities in a faculty research lab. An SOP should already exist for any such task. Supervisors should log this training and acquire signatures.)