The site provides department-specific information on Environment, Health, and Safety (EHS) issues for members of the MIT Department of Biological Engineering and its associated centers, including the Center for Environmental Health Sciences (CEHS), the Biological Process Engineering Center (BPEC) and the Synthetic Biology Center (SBC).
For more information relating to EHS, please email be-ehs@mit.edu.
Training
Personnel working in laboratory spaces are required to complete both general and lab specific safety training courses. Details on required and recommended training can be found on the BE Training page.
Forms and Documents
Important documents can be found on the Forms and Documents page. The most commonly needed documents are:
- Chemical Hygiene Plan - The BE Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP) details the administrative measures and standard operating procedures for safely and responsibly conducting work with hazardous materials in the department. All new personnel, including students, employees, and visiting researchers, must read the CHP prior to initiating any labotory work in BE.
- Clearance Form - Everyone under the BE Chemical Hygiene Plan is required to sign a Laboratory Clearance Form. This form must be signed by the researcher, their supervisor, then sent to be-ehs@mit.edu. The form must be signed and submitted prior to beginning work in the laboratory.
- Departure Form - The Departure Form should be completed prior to leaving a laboratory. It is signed by the researcher, their supervisor, and lab EHS Representative prior to sending to be-ehs@mit.edu.
The EHS Management System (EHS-MS)
MIT's Environment, Health, and Safety Office (EHS Office) is responsible for overseeing operational EHS management at MIT; providing EHS services to departments, laboratories and centers (DLCs); supporting MIT's commitment to EHS performance beyond compliance; and delivering services that demonstrate MIT's commitment to EHS stewardship. These services relate to a wide range of areas - from environmental sustainability and occupational safety to chemical, radiation, and biological controls - that support the Institute's accountability for excellent EHS performance, as well as for legal compliance.
The work of the office includes the deployment of resources that reduce the environmental impact of MIT's work, operations, and facilities, and ensure the health and safety of our community members and neighbors. All of these activities are informed by a commitment to provide the responsive service and critical support needed to make MIT a safe, healthy, and environmentally responsible place to live, work, and study.
For more information on the programs and services offered through the EHS-MS, please visit the EHS website.