Laboratory Ramp Down FAQs

Support during Lab Ramp:

Will EHS continue to be operational during the scale back?

EHS staff will continue to provide support. 

  • Chemical Waste Pick-up and SAA monitoring: Twice weekly on Tuesdays and Thursdays. 
  • Biowaste Pick-up: Daily from all BL1 and BL2 labs. The investigators are responsible for all BL2+ waste and liquid biological waste/aspirator flask maintenance.
  • Radiation Waste Pick-up and Services will be available on Mondays. 

Please email safety@wi.mit.edu with any questions. 

 

Can lab personnel work alone in a lab?

WIBR follows the criteria set by MIT for this policy. Refer MIT’s Working Alone Policy for details. 

Working alone with hazardous materials or equipment or otherwise working under conditions that may create the risk of serious injury should be avoided. However, working alone may be allowed with permission from the Principal Investigator (PI), if a determination is made that the risk is controllable under established specific conditions.

 

Can people who are just checking on maintenance go alone to the lab?

The same criteria in the answer to the previous question apply.
Working alone with materials or equipment, or otherwise working under conditions that may create the risk of serious injury, should be avoided.
However, working alone may be allowed with permission from the Principal Investigator, if a determination is made that the risk is controllable under established specific conditions.

 

What can I take out of my lab?

Under no circumstances should researchers take any equipment, supplies, or any other research-related material offsite (e.g., to their homes or other labs), other than laptops and data-storage devices. This applies even in cases intended to ensure research continuity. All approved essential research conducted during this time must continue within the confines of appropriate laboratory space. 

If you have questions about this, please email researchrequest@wi.mit.edu.

 

What are the injury/illness reporting requirements during this time?

As employees transition to working remotely, please remember that EH&S still requires work-related injuries be recorded for the Institute’s OSHA Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses. 

Any injuries related to work must be reported to your supervisor immediately after you receive any necessary medical attention. Your supervisor will need to submit an injury report within 24 hours. Remember, injuries should be reported immediately, with or without medical treatment.

 

What is considered a work-related injury while working remotely?

For OSHA record-keeping purposes, injuries that occur while an employee is working remotely (including in a home office) are considered work-related if a) the injury or illness occurs while the employee is performing work for pay or compensation in the home, and b) the injury or illness is directly related to the performance of work rather than to the general home environment or setting.

For example, if an employee drops a box of work documents and injures his or her foot, the case would meet the OSHA definition of “work-related.” If an employee is injured because he or she trips on a rug while rushing to answer a work phone call, the case is not considered work-related.
Questions on HR Worker’s Compensation benefits while working remotely should be directed to the humanresources@wi.mit.edu

 

What if I am still working onsite during this time and need medical attention?

All visits to MIT Medical now require the “call first” model, including work-related injuries that may require a visit to Urgent Care. Please refer to the MIT Medical Pandemic Response Guidance for more information.  
For more serious injuries that need immediate attention, call the 911.

 

Who can submit the injury report if my supervisor is not available?

Your PI/supervisor or Safety Representative is the best person to submit a report of injury. You (the injured person) cannot submit your own report. If you find that none of these people are available, please contact the safety@wi.mit.edu , and EH&S staff will help.

 

What if there is an emergency in the lab?

Please contact the EH&S 24/7 line 617-888-5198.  

 

What if I have additional EHS questions?

Please email safety@wi.mit.edu