5.2 EHS Office Programs, Services, and Service Teams

The services provided by the EHS Office promote day-to-day good practices, compliance-related activities, and initiatives that advance MIT's commitment to environmental sustainability and health and safety excellence. These services are designed to fully support all aspects of the Institute's EHS-MS.

EHS Office services are delivered to DLCs through teams of specially chosen professionals from each technical program area to create a customized service team for each DLC. The EHS Office is organized around five technical programs: Biosafety, Environmental Management, Industrial Hygiene, Radiation Protection, and Safety. The DLC can request services by contacting their EHS Lead Contact, contacting a member of the DLC EHS Team, or by calling the EHS Office (617-452-3477) during office hours. Off hours, EHS services are available for emergencies and can be obtained by calling the campus emergency numbers: 100 or 617-253-1500. For details regarding the EHS programs and EHS services see: EHS brochure.

The EHS Office has also established cross-functional service teams to better leverage the diverse technical expertise of the EHS Office and address the requirements of the EHS-MS. The service teams include:

• Organization Service Team

This Team provides oversight to ensure EHS-MS organizational structure is implemented and maintained and facilitates DLC EHS Coordinator and EHS Lead Contact relationship through establishing periodic meetings and communications. This team also oversees the PI/Space Registration process. This team also provides advice and direction regarding professional development needs of the EHS Office Staff and EHS Coordinators.

• Inspection/Audit Team

This Team provides oversight to implementation and maintenance of the inspection and audit program.

• Training and Development Service Team

This Team provides oversight for all EHS training needs, assists in the development of new EHS training courses, assists in the development and update of the Training Needs Assessment, and tracks the maintenance of the database used for managing official training records.

• Emergency Preparedness andResponse Service Team

This Team provides oversight for the 24-hour emergency response services provided by the EHS Office; the coordination of the EHS responses with MIT's Emergency Response Group; and oversight of the emergency response follow-up process.

• Laboratory and Facility Design and Construction Review Services Team

This Team formally collaborates with the Department of Facilities and DLCs to ensure that EHS requirements and concerns are addressed systematically in new construction and renovation projects at MIT.

• Technology Service Team

This Team has oversight for the development and maintenance of the technology needed to support EHS activities, including EHS web resources, the EHS Office intranet, and all databases associated with the EHS-MS. This team may continue in the EHS Office or its service may be provided by a central Information Services and Technology group or a contractor over time.

• Communications Service Team

  This Team works to promote effective and timely communication among all the EHS stakeholders across the Institute and MIT community to improve EHS performance. Central to this objective is the development and oversight of the EHS Communication Plan and EHS Office Newsletter.

• Regulated Waste Service Team
  
  This Team coordinates activities related to chemical, biological, radiological and universal waste at the institute. It provides oversight of compliance issues and identifies and recommends opportunities for continuous improvement and waste reduction.