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Biological

We provide comprehensive biological safety services and guidance for the MIT community to ensure the safe and responsible conduct of life sciences research.

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Biological

October 7, 2024

Autoclave Safety Resources

Autoclave Safety Training is an online training that is required for anyone that uses an autoclave. To help people recognize and fulfill this training need, EHS Office has added a new activity to the Training Needs Identification, which will trigger the Autoclave Safety Training requirement.

Lab personnel who use an autoclave should select the autoclave activity by accessing the “My Profile” tab in the Atlas Learning Center and navigating to the “Select Your Activities” page within this tab. Then, locate the Biosafety section on the page and select the following activity: “Use an autoclave (including loading and unloading materials, regardless of the type of material).”

A new guidance document about autoclave safety is also available Labs are encouraged to use this as a template and to supplement it with autoclave and material-specific details to train new autoclave users.

Additional information for autoclave users can be found on the EHS website. Questions about autoclaves and autoclave safety can be directed to bsp@mit.edu.

Email bsp@mit.edu

BSP@mit.eduThe EHS Biosafety Program (BSP) provides comprehensive biological safety services and guidance for the MIT community. We collaborate with MIT Principal Investigators (PIs), students, and research staff to ensure the safe and responsible conduct of life sciences research. We also provide expertise and advice regarding biological hazards that may be encountered in non-laboratory settings.

Within our research community, we work to protect researchers, the public, and the environment by providing direction, resources, and training regarding the safe handling of hazardous biological materials in the laboratory. We also support the MIT biological research community in maintaining compliance with applicable local, state, and federal regulations and in meeting the biological safety and security requirements of granting agencies.

Outside the laboratory, BSP provides training and guidance to MIT employees who may come into contact with potentially hazardous biological materials.

General Questions

As you plan and conduct your research, you may also have questions about:

Bloodborne Pathogens

Employees with occupational exposures to human materials must be part of the Bloodborne Pathogen program and have receive training on the prevention of on-the-job exposures.

Biosafety Cabinets

A biosafety cabinet (BSC) is a primary containment device used with biological material and provides protection for personnel, research samples, and the lab environment.

Autoclave Validation and Calibration Program

This program oversees state and federal compliance for biomedical research at MIT with a focus on waste management and disposal.

Decontamination and Disinfection

A number of factors are considered when selecting the appropriate decontamination and disinfection processes, ensuring the safety of our researchers and their work environments.

Select Agent Toxins

We help personnel work within federal regulations for obtaining Select Agent Toxins which can be used to endanger humans, agricultural animal and/or plant health.

Research Registration

Depending on the nature of your research and your role, you may be required to register your work multiple committees on campus to meet NIH guidelines.