Go to the staff directory for individual contacts within Environmental Health and Safety. You may also use the Weill Medical College online directory to search for faculty and staff.
Environmental Health and Safety
Weill Cornell Medical College
402 East 67th Street
Room LA-0020
New York, NY 10065
Phone: (646) 962-7233
Fax: (646) 962-0288 ehs@med.cornell.edu
Burke Researchers
Environmental Health and Safety provides a variety of services for researchers at the Burke-Cornell Medical Research Institute. Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) is responsible for developing, maintaining, and promoting policies, procedures and programs necessary to maintain a safe and healthy environment for students, faculty, staff and the visiting public; and to ensure the Research Institute’s operations are in compliance with Federal, New York State and Westchester County environmental health and safety codes and regulations.
FOR ACCIDENTS OR ANY EMERGENCY THAT REQUIRES MEDICAL ATTENTION – IMMEDIATELY CALL 911 AND REQUEST AN AMBULANCE.
FOR SPILLS OR TO REPORT AN ACCIDENT THAT DOES NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION – CALL WCMC-EHS 24 HOURS SERVICE LINE @ 646-962-7233
FOR HELP WITH ALL OTHER EHS RELATED ISSUES PLEASE CONTACT THE RESPECTIVE EHS STAFF MEMBER: LANDAU (BIOLOGICAL SAFETY), ANAND (CHEMICAL & GENERAL SAFETY), JONATHAN (RADIATION SAFETY)
In addition, EHS takes appropriate steps to ensure that problems that are identified are resolved in a timely manner. EHS coordinates reviews by and responses to external agencies many of which have the authority to cite, impose civil penalties, restrict or rescind operations, or remove or disapprove accreditation.
STAFF SCHEDULE AND EXPERTISE
Our EHS office is located in Billings (Building 4) basement, room B12 and is staffed from Tuesday to Friday, 9am - 5pm of the work week. Our staff information, schedules on BMRI campus, and area of expertise are as follows:
Laboratory Outreach and Inspections
(Research Safety Checklist)
Chemical hood inspections
Chemical & General Safety Equipment
Accident Investigation
Hazardous waste collection & disposal
Health and Safety Door Signs
Industrial Hygiene & Exposure Monitoring
Respiratory Protection
Chemtracker
Jonathan Ruiz, Safety Technician On Campus: Tuesday & Thursday Phone: 914-368-3145 E-Mail:: jwr2001@med.cornell.edu
Radiation Safety
Contamination checks
Waste management
Sealed source inventory and wipe testing
Laboratory audits
Personnel monitoring
Inventory control
Signage
SAFETY AT BURKE
Environmental Health and Safety develops and maintains a comprehensive safety program that encompasses all areas of the Research Institute’s activities. These safety programs are vital to our mission of maintaining a safe environment for the faculty, staff, students and visitors. EHS provides guidance documents and has Safety Specialist/ Technicians available to provide personalized assistance in many areas of safety including:
The fundamental objective of the Weill Cornell Medical College Biological Safety Program is the containment of potentially harmful biological agents; this same primary objective is implemented at Burke Medical Research Institute. Containment can be achieved by following good microbiological practices, having appropriately designed facilities and available safety equipment for managing infectious materials. Abiding by biological safety principles and containment practices will provide a safe working environment for all personnel, by reducing or eliminating potential exposures, and ensuring that the work being done does not impact the environment.
EHS provides a full range of biological safety services, including:
The goal of the chemical safety program is to provide a safe environment and to protect employees from potential exposure to the chemicals used in the Research Institute. This program provides information and guidelines to addresses proper use, handling and storage of chemicals which is mandated by the federal, state and local regulations. This program encompasses the Chemical Hygiene Program for laboratories, the Hazard Communication program for non-laboratory.
For additional information, training, and standard operating procedures for the safe handling and storage of chemicals; see hyperlinks below:
Environmental Health and Safety is committed to the well-being of the Research Institute’s faculty, staff and visitors throughout the workplace. This means actively identifying and preventing many different types of workplace hazards from the equipment we work with- to the air we breathe. Whether you work at a desk, laboratory bench top or operate machinery, an unsafe working condition could cause injury or illness from acute or chronic exposures. In order to protect our community, EHS maintains ongoing programs that monitor numerous hazards such as:
Physical hazards including: noise, equipment and machinery hazards, electrical hazards, fall hazards, and confined spaces.
Chemical hazards: The Chemical Hazard Communication Program has been established to promote a safe work atmosphere for all employees that handle, or come in contact with, hazardous materials in the course of their daily work activity.
Ergonomics is the science of fitting workplace conditions and job demands to the capabilities of the working population. Proper ergonomic conditions can both increase work productivity and satisfaction as well as prevent musculoskeletal injuries to workers. Poor ergonomic conditions can be a problem in many types of work including clerical, clinical and laboratory jobs. EHS is available to provide guidance on proper ergonomic design and work conditions.
The Radiation Safety Office enforces and maintains safety standards within the institution. Services provided to Burke Medical Research Institute include radionuclide ordering, annual radiation safety training, laboratory safety audits, contamination checks, sealed source leak testing, inventory control, waste management, personnel monitoring and licensing. A comprehensive Radiation Safety Manual is available to all personnel online and provides guidance and technical references for the proper handling, storage and disposal of radioactive materials as well as emergency contact information and procedures.
LABORATORY COATS are a critical component to worker protection in both laboratory and clinical/patient-care areas. All researchers and visitors who conduct the following work activities must be provided a laboratory coat:
work in laboratories
handle biological, chemical, or radiological materials and waste
handle human blood, tissue, cell lines, or other potentially infectious materials
direct contact with patients
handle clinical specimens
RESPIRATORY PROTECTION
There are some workplaces where chemical, particulate, or biological air contaminants, or areas that may have oxygen deficient atmospheres, where the need for respiratory protection may be required. While a respirator can be an effective method of protection if selected properly and fitted to the user, it can also cause undue physical stress on a person’s body or create a false sense that one is working safely if utilized incorrectly. For these reasons, the Occupational Safety and Health Department (OSHA) requires employer to develop and maintain a Respiratory Protection Program to manage how respirators are selected and how employees are evaluated for and trained on using a respirator. For additional information, see EHS Respiratory Protection Program Manual.
If you believe that you need a respirator, or you have been told to get fit tested for a respirator, you will need to be medically cleared and given a respirator fit test. Researchers can arrange for a fit test by contacting Environmental Health and Safety.
Training is an important component of an overall effective environmental health and safety program. Environmental Health and Safety has streamlined the safety training programs to provide both core safety training programs and specialized safety training programs to specifically meet the needs of Burke researchers.
The core safety training programs are designed to provide the Research Institute community safety training tailored to everyone working in that environment. These customized training sessions will meet all their safety training requirements unless they conduct specialized work activities outlined in the specialized safety training programs. Core safety training programs include:
This training is conducted once a year where all researchers’ of the Institution participates and fulfills their annual laboratory safety training requirement. Training information will be emailed in advance to all researchers; who are urged to attend to stay in compliance with the requirements of the Research Institute.
New researchers must contact Burke General Safety Specialist to set up additional Laboratory Safety Training sessions to fulfill the requirements of the Research Institute.
ON-LINE LABORATORY SAFETY REFRESHER TRAINING: In order to complete on-line Laboratory Safety refresher training, the researcher must have attended an initial Laboratory Safety training session and have a valid CWID (WCMC Username) to login to the online training module.
Note: Contact EHS if you have a valid CWID and believe you have completed an initial Laboratory Safety training session but the online refresher training is not available to you in myCertificates. EHS may not have your CWID listed in our training records and as such myCertificates is restricting access to the online refresher training.
The specialized safety training programs must also be completed for those who conduct the following specialized work activities:
This training is conducted once a year where all researchers’ of the Institution participates and fulfills their annual radiation safety training requirement. Training information will be emailed in advance to all
researchers; who are urged to attend to stay in compliance with the requirements of the Research Institute.
New researchers must contact Burke Radiation Safety Specialist to set up additional Radiation Safety Training sessions to fulfill the requirements of the Research Institute.
Vector Biosafety
Specialized biosafety presentation for laboratorians working with viral vectors, such as LENTIVIRUS and ADENOVIRUS. (Contact Burke EHS Biosafety Specialist for more information)
Specialized training for safe packaging and shipping of biological materials and dry ice in compliance with regulatory agencies including the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Department of Transport (DOT), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The training includes general awareness and familiarization (video), function-specific training, and security awareness. Prerequisite for this training is "Bloodborne Pathogen" training for all shippers who handle human blood, body fluids, tissues, or human cell lines. Participation is required once every two years for all employees, graduate students, principal investigators, technicians and post-doctoral fellows packaging, preparing shipping documents, shipping or transporting biological materials, patient specimens, and/or dry ice.
Training records are available to confirm who has completed the EHS Biological Material and Dry Ice Shipments training with the past 24 months. To schedule Biological Material and Dry Ice Shipments training contact the Burke EHS Biosafety Specialist.
In general, Training records and training certificates (click here for example) are available for training sessions provided by EHS. Contact Environmental Health and Safety to request information about other EHS-related courses or request a Training Certificate.
EXPOSURE AND ACCIDENT REPORTING
Immediately call 911 and request an ambulance or report to The White Plains Hospital Emergency Room (ER), located on 41 E Post Road, for life threatening or incapacitating injuries. As soon as possible, notify EHS (646-962-7233) and the victim’s supervisor of the incident. All significant accidents or injuries, even those not requiring medical attention, must be reported using the Burke Rehabilitation Hospital Employee Accident/Incident Form. It must be completed by the victim and supervisor and submitted to Human Resources.
EHS has developed an 'Exposure and Spill Response Guide" tailored for researchers at Burke. Please review and become familiar with our protocols in the event of an exposure or spill. Consider placing a copy of this guide in the laboratory to serve as a quick reference in cases of emergencies.
CHEMTRACKER – Chemical Inventory Database
To access database – click on link below: (consider bookmarking link for continuous access and usage)
All laboratories at Burke Research Institute are required to maintain a complete inventory of all chemicals and report annually on the types, quantities and locations where these chemicals are being stored and used at the Institute. On an annual basis, the Chemical Inventory must be submitted to EHS.
To facilitate this process, EHS has implemented the ChemTracker Chemical Inventory System. ChemTracker is a web-based chemical inventory system for inventory management within research laboratories and facilities. Authorized ChemTracker users may update chemical inventory information,prepare inventory reports, and obtain chemical safety information. ChemTracker also allows users to:
Track all chemicals by location, owner, container, and other criteria.
Link directly to Material Safety Data Sheets and additional safety information.
Look up hazard, toxicological, and physical references.
Save money and space by reducing or eliminating unnecessary purchases.
List chemicals in surplus and search for other surplus chemicals.
Increase efficiency by making chemicals easy to locate.
Identify chemicals with specific shelf life and storage requirements.
Assists the chemical users to properly segregate and store their chemicals.
NEW CHEMICAL OWNERS AND USERS
All new chemical owner and user accounts must be created by EHS before accessing ChemTracker. Please complete and submit the ChemTracker New User Request Form to EHS.
EHS is available to provide training on ChemTracker upon request by contacting us at chemtracker@med.cornell.edu.
For additional information-please see EHS Chemtracker Chemical Inventory System Update.
HAZARD COMMUNICATION: Health & Safety Door Signs
EHS creates Health and Safety Door Signs for posting outside all entrances to Burke laboratories from common areas (i.e. general hallways). These provide staff, visitors, and emergency responders with pertinent information including hazard warnings, laboratory access restrictions and emergency contact information specific to Burke. Signs are updated every three years, as necessary, or per request. Go to the Health and Safety Door Sign Request Form for more information
Several types of wastes, including chemical, biological, recyclable, and radioactive, are generated in the clinical and research operations throughout Burke Medical Research Institute. As such, these waste materials must be properly managed by personnel ("generators") within their work areas prior to collection and/or disposal.
Quick Reference:
Sharps waste collection primarily occurs on Tuesday & Thursday of the week. To request sharps waste collection, please complete the Sharps Collection Request Form.
Chemical waste collection primarily occurs on Wednesday & Friday of the week. To request chemical/hazardous waste collection, please complete the Chemical Collection Request Form.
Radiological waste collection primarily occurs on Tuesday & Thursday of the week. To request radiological waste collection, please contact Jonathan Ruiz at jwr2001@med.cornell.edu or call 914-368-3145.
Waste Disposal Procedures have been established to provide generators guidance on the proper management of chemical, biological, recyclable, and radioactive wastes. Special consideration must be taken when wastes consist of a mixture of chemical, biological, and/or radiological materials (e.g., mixed wastes). Generators must ensure that these mixed wastes are properly assessed, managed and disposed in accordance with the chemical, biological, and radiological waste management procedures.
For additional information and guidance on waste disposal requirements for Burke Researchers. See links below:
RECYCLING AT BURKE RESEARCH LABORATORIES:
All empty glass and plastic bottles previously containing non-acutely toxic chemicals that are triple rinsed, and have their labels defaced, can be placed into blue recycle bins; conveniently located in all laboratory spaces.
NOTE:
Empty broken glass bottles previously containing non-hazardous chemicals must be disposed of in sharps container.
All empty Pyrex labware must be disposed in sharps containers.
If broken glass bottle has or is contaminated with hazardous chemicals, then it must be disposed of as hazardous waste. CONTACT EHS IMMEDIATELY IF IT IS A SPILL. Otherwise, using appropriate PPE, place the broken glass in a plastic bucket or bin, label as hazardous waste, and contact EHS to pick up and process.
All empty plastic or glass bottles previously containing acutely toxic chemicals must be given to EHS to be processed as hazardous waste.
EHS has developed a variety of manuals and guides that help guide laboratorians, clinicians and other personnel to safely handle and dispose of materials that they may encounter while at work.
The import, export, and shipment of chemicals, biological materials, and radioactive materials are highly regulated by federal and international agencies including:
International Air Transport Association (IATA)
U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
United States Postal Service (USPS)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA)
U.S. Department of Human and Health Services (HHS)
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
U.S. Department of Commerce
U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife
Only trained shipping personnel are authorized to prepare packages and related shipping documents. EHS provides specialized shipper training for biological materials and dry ice which enables laboratory and clinical personnel to initiate shipments of these materials. All other shipments of chemical and radiological materials must be completed by Environmental Health and Safety unless otherwise directed by EHS.
We seek continuous improvement and always strive for superior performance.
We strive to advance the reputation of WCMC/WCMC-Q as the leader in the field, and are committed to upholding standards of excellence that support our reputation.
Anand Seemangal, Safety Technician
Jonathan Ruiz, Safety Technician