Environmental Health and Safety Training

All graduate students, UROP students, postdocs, visiting scientists, and other researchers working with chemicals and other hazardous materials must complete the Training Needs Assessment accessible through the EH&S Office’s training web site at http://ehs.mit.edu/site/training. Virtually all researchers (with the exception of some theoretical chemists) will be required, at a minimum, to complete the following steps prior to beginning work in areas where hazardous chemicals are in use. Even if you do not work in areas where hazardous chemical are in use you still need to complete step 5, listed below.

(1) New personnel must attend the Chemical Hygiene and Safety Lecture presented in January or view a video recording of the lecture. The video recording can be viewed through the EH&S Office’s training website listed above.

(2) Read and understand the Chemistry Department Chemical Hygiene Plan and Safety Manual. Copies of the plan can be obtained from Scott Ide in Room 4-469, or e-mail scottide@mit.edu your location and it will be dropped off to you.

(3) Receive Initial Lab Specific Chemical Hygiene and Safety Training from your Laboratory Supervisor or your EH&S Representative. This is an orientation outlining the location of safety equipment in your laboratory and any special hazards specific to your research group.

(4) Complete the training course, Managing Hazardous Waste. This is offered as a web based course and is accessible through the EH&S Office’s training website listed above. This is an annual requirement.

(5) Submit the EH&S Clearance Form to Scott Ide in 4-469 (if no one is around, there is a mail slot on the 4th floor of Building 4 stairwell at the south end of the building). New members of the Department must sign the EHS Clearance Form and obtain their supervisor’s signature. You must still submit the form if you will not be working in an area where hazardous materials are in use.

No individual is permitted to work in areas in which chemicals are in use until all of the above steps have been completed and a signed EHS Clearance Form is submitted.

Note: Additional training is required for individuals working with other hazardous materials including (but not limited to) lasers, radioactive materials, and certain biohazardous materials.  Completing the Training Needs Assessment Form will dictate your training needs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to ensure that all of these training requirements are met.

Please contact Scott Ide, EH&S Coordinator (617) 324-6132, Scott Ide with any questions.