All persons using DMSE research and teaching laboratories are required (by both Institute and government regulations) to receive appropriate training in chemical hygiene and safety, and to adhere to specified practices in the laboratory. (Laboratories in Building 13 used by DMSE fall under the auspices of the Center for Materials Science and Engineering, which manages the safety program there.) DMSE collaborates with the MIT Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Office in managing the Departmental safety program.
All persons at MIT who work in laboratories MUST complete the on-line EHS Training Needs Assessment, which will determine the training needed by the worker. DMSE requires at a minimum that all workers in Departmental laboratories must receive Chemical Hygiene (CHP) and also Managing Hazardous Waste (MHW) training. The CHP training is required only once, but if the person received the training several years ago they probably should update their training. The MHW training is required yearly. This training will be provided by EHS to Sophomores and new graduate students in live classroom form early in Fall Term; others wishing to take those classes may do so on a space-available basis. Persons who do not take classroom versions of the training will have to complete the on-line version.
The responsibility for implementing and documenting safety procedures and training in DMSE laboratories lies with the faculty principal investigators (PI's) to whom the laboratory is assigned. The PI will typically assign an "EHS representative" for each laboratory to act as the day-to-day coordinator and reporter for that facility. A list of DMSE (not Bldg. 13 ) PI's and EHS reps is available on line.
The PI or EHS representative is required to perform a "Level I" inspection of their laboratory weekly. DMSE recommends but does not require that the results of this weekly inspection be documented, for instance on a form available from EHS. (Guidance on inspections and documentation available online.)
Twice each year, DMSE will perform a "Level II" inspection of each laboratory, and written records of these inspections will be retained by DMSE and EHS. The first of these will be conducted during Spring term 2004 and will be scheduled with the laboratory PI. Subsequent inspections will be unannounced. It is worthwhile for all laboratory workers to review the EHS guidance for these inspections, and keep their workspace and procedures up to standard continuously.
In order to keep workers up to date with changes in EHS policy, once a year each PI or EHS representative is required to give a CHP lecture covering procedures in their laboratories.
Additional information on the specific aspects of laboratory safety and the management of this program within DMSE can be found in the DMSE Chemical Hygiene and Safety Manual. In addition, the Department has an Emergency Action Plan describing procedures to be carried out in emergencies.
http://web.mit.edu/roylance/www/EHS/
Prof. David Roylance, email roylance@mit.edu
DMSE EHS Officer