LABORATORY BIOSAFETY FOCUS FORUM

(LBFF)

Delia Wolf

Office of Regulatory Affairs & Research Compliance

Dana Burns

Leslie Howe

s

Stanley

Estime

Jennifer Ford

Alice Bedug

nis

Marshall

Katler

Staci Landi

s

Simon Muchoh

i

David Ndegwa

Thomas Donagh

ey

Noman

Siddiqi

Hardeep Ranu

EHS-Biosafety

Genetics and complex diseases

Immunology & Infectious Diseases

Environmental Health

Epidemiology

Occupational Health, EH, Epi

Lab safety issues

Lab practices

Training requirements

Safety deficiency

Compliance issues

Knowledge gaps

Awareness drive

Sustainability

Lab operational issues

Program reviews

Typical issues considered and discussed

Our Partners are

Harvard University Environmental Health Safety and Emergency Management team(EHS in short)

HSPH Operations Department

Harvard has established the Committee on Microbiological Safety (COMS) to review DNA work and comply with the NIH rDNA Guidelines. COMS approval is required for grant application submittals.

The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) requires researchers to obtain Harvard COMS approval for the use of microbiological agents, human materials and viral vectors in animals before an animal protocol will be approved. Any use of human subjects in research must be registered with the Institutional Review Board (IRB).

Institutional Oversight Committees

IBC IRB

IACUC

Roles and Responsibility

ESCO

Principal Investiga

torLab

Manager

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Under the authority delegated by the Deans and Senior University Administration, the ESCO for each school is responsible for promoting and maintaining a safe, healthful and environmentally responsible workplace.

Summary of Roles and Responsibilitiesfrom Harvard University Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) Policy

ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY COMPLIANCE OFFICER (ESCO)

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PIs have the responsibility for the implementation, management and enforcement of a safe and compliant environment within their lab.

Harvard University EH&S Policy

“The PI has primary responsibility for chemical hygiene and EH&S compliance in his or her laboratory.”

Harvard University Chemical Hygiene Plan

“Faculty members and others with supervisory responsibilities are expected to promote safe and environmentally responsible practices… Individuals with overall responsibility for teaching and research laboratories must take additional special steps to implement safety and environmental programs in their laboratories.”

FAS Grey Book

“The PI is the person principally responsible for EH&S compliance in the laboratory.”Harvard Longwood Campus EH&S Compliance Management Plan

“Principal Investigators ultimately have the responsibility for safety in their laboratories”

SEAS Lab Safety Program

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS (PIS)

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Delegated by PI to: Serve as liaison between safety committees/EH&S and lab Communicate with lab members and PI Get support from EH&S, ESCO and safety committees

LAB SAFETY REPRESENTATIVE(COORDINATOR/OFFICER)

Attend safety meetingsAssist in EH&S lab inspections Inspect hazardous chemical waste Satellite Accumulation AreasCommunicate information to lab staffAssist in other tasks assigned by PI