Forensic Services & Coroner’s Complex

conceptual drawing

Health and Safety Fact Sheet

Benefits to the community

• The new Forensic Services and Coroner’s Complex will significantly increase Ontario’s ability to meet the demands of modern forensic investigations and prosecutions.
• It will provide critical forensic offices—the Centre of Forensic Sciences, the Office of the Chief Coroner and the Provincial Forensic Pathology Unit—with the facilities, technology and capacity they need to enhance their ability to continue to fulfill their role in keeping Ontario communities safe.

The new facility will include:

• Modern autopsy and human remains storage facilities
• State-of-the-art imaging equipment (X-ray /CT);
• Areas for laboratory support and identification;
• Secure observation spaces;
• Private viewing areas for identification;
• Laboratories for biology, chemistry, toxicology, firearms, documents, photographic analysis and electronic information;
• Evidence receiving and shipping; secure evidence storage;
• Quality assurance facilities;
• Forensic test firing facilities;
• Automobile examination areas; and
• Modern court rooms for inquests.

The facility’s design includes state-of-the-art health and safety features such as:

• A design to minimize or eliminate the impact of noise, odour and safety issues on surrounding residents and businesses;
• A structure that is built in compliance with all regulations and bylaws;
• Enhanced laboratory standards and adherence to containment guidelines as outlined in the Health Canada Bio-Safety Laboratory Guidelines;
• Fire detection and suppression systems;
• Procedures and training to address safe handling and storage of materials;
• Building security systems to ensure unauthorized access and activity is prevented.

Hazardous materials

• As with most laboratories and hospitals, small quantities of hazardous materials on site include chemicals, gases and flammable solvents to help staff perform their jobs effectively.
• Chemicals used are those that are found in common chemistry labs and are not present in volume large enough to pose a risk to staff or the community.
• Gases on site are stored in small cylinders that are supplied to laboratory environments, including those in hospitals. Gases include bottled air, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, helium and hydrogen.
• Flammable solvents are stored in appropriate safety approved containment areas in the facility and are very common in laboratories and hospitals.

Environmental Assessment

• As part of the planning process, an environmental assessment of the proposed site in Downsview will proceed in January 2009.
• The environmental assessment is designed to ensure that the facility effectively meets all safety and health codes.
• For more information, read the Environmental Assessment on the ORC website.

About the Centre of Forensic Sciences and the Office of the Chief Coroner

• The current Centre of Forensic Sciences on 25 Grosvenor Street has an outstanding international reputation and is accredited by the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors/Laboratory Accreditation Board, the industry’s standard. The Centre of Forensic Sciences currently investigates more than 10,000 cases per year.
• The Office of the Chief Coroner conducts approximately 20,000 death investigations per year, 7,500 of which are in the Greater Toronto Area. In addition, approximately 7,000 forensic autopsies and 80 coroner’s inquests are performed annually throughout Ontario.