AFNS Safety

Our Commitment to Safety

The Department of AFNS strives to maintain a safe environment and to encourage safe practices through a Safety Program. It is also the responsibility of the supervisors, individuals and 'work groups' to be familiar with different aspects of safety and to employ that knowledge every day. The AFNS Safety Handbook outlines regulations, training requirements, general safety procedures, laboratory chemical safety and biosafety that must be followed by all staff conducting laboratory research in the Department (Ag/Forestry Bldg, North Campus). However, these infor­mation sources can only supplement the necessary job-related training arranged by supervisors, i.e. task- and site-specific safety information, and any other required training. For additional safety information, researchers can refer to http://www.ehs.ualberta.ca/Training.aspx.  If you have questions or concerns, you are encouraged to consult with your supervisor or other staff, and to check safety literature.

Emergency Numbers, Contacts and Location of Resources

Medical Emergency / Ambulance: 911

Smoke or Fire: 911

Police: 911

Protective Services (for suspicious person / unusual activity): 780-492-5050

Building Emergency (water, flood, power outage or heat emergency): 780-492-4833

Important Contacts in AFNS

  • Dr. Urmila Basu, Labs and Genomics Unit Manager, 780-492-8712, For inquiries related to all core labs and the equipment, genomics technologies, and safety
  • Dr. Kelvin Lien, Occupational Health and Safety Advisor, 780-289-1552, For Chemical and lab safety information
  • Heather Vandertol-Vanier, Biosafety Technologist, 780-492-7659, For Biosafety informatio

Contact Us

Please e-mail comments on safety matters or the safety web pages to

Dr. Urmila Basu 
Faculty Service Officer
AFNS Labs & Genomics Unit Manager
Phone: 780-492-8712;
Fax: 780-492-4265
Email: ubasu@ualberta.ca

First Aiders

Agriculture/Forestry Centre

Nikolai, Lisa
AF 1-11A
780-492-6966

Gibson, Susan
AF 2-39
780-492-3833

Vandertol-Vanier, Heather 
AF 2-50
780-492-3634

Dunfield, Kelley
AF 4-60
780-492-5450

Rodriguez, Eduardo
AF 3-51
780-492-7663