Harvard Medical School is committed to ensuring the safety of its personnel and the health of its environment in all the school’s diverse activities. This is accomplished primarily through a strong partnership with Faculty, Researchers, Facilities, Campus Services, and the Environmental Health and Safety Office (EH&S). HMS follows the Harvard University Environmental, Health and Safety Policy which provides a framework for safety management through University Safety Committees, established roles & responsibilities, and programs such as training, inspections and incident management.
EH&S assists HMS laboratories directly through a team of dedicated Lab Safety Advisors (LSAs). LSAs provide routine services such as inspections & risk assessments, coordinate biosafety and radiation support, and facilitate local safety committee meetings. EH&S also has Designated Safety Officers which provide Occupational Safety support and guidance to all of HMS through activities such as project support, inspections, and risk assessments. See the EHS website for more information or contact the designated Lab Safety Advisor for your area.
Individuals working on the Harvard Longwood Campus who have questions regarding safety and their work environment should contact the Harvard University EH&S Office at 617-432-1720 during business hours (Monday–Friday, 8:00 am until 5:00 pm). For emergencies, contact the HMS Operations Center at 617-432-1901 to reach an EH&S responder. If individuals are experiencing or have experienced any adverse health effects that may be associated with the work environment, they should immediately seek medical attention and then contact EH&S.
For more information, please go to: http://www.ehs.harvard.edu/programs/emergency-guidance.
For labs, EH&S has developed the Lab Emergency Response Guide (aka the “ERG”) for details regarding lab emergencies (i.e. medical treatment, spills, fires).