Overview
An integral component of work safety is the ability to identify hazards present in your work area and the knowledge to take the appropriate precautions. EHS training is designed to help researchers, staff, and students with this process. Prior to working with a hazard (whether biological, chemical, biological, radiological, physical, etc.), researchers, staff, and students must complete the appropriate safety training.
Some training courses are offered as web-based classes, whereas others must be completed in the classroom. For researchers, the work activities you select in your profile in the Atlas Learning Center will determine what training classes you must complete. For non-researchers, the training group you are placed in based on your job description will determine your training requirements. In addition, researchers working in the animal facilities will require specific training based on the requirements of the facility.
Some training classes only need to be completed once, while others need to be refreshed on an annual or biannual basis depending on federal, state, or institutional regulations and policies. Each time you finish a class, your training records will be updated the Atlas Learning Center. This serves as documentation that you have completed the necessary safety training.
Training requirements are based on what hazards you could be exposed to during the course of your research or job duties. For researchers, this is based on the materials you use and the procedures you perform. For staff, this is determined by the nature of your job. Training must be completed prior to starting your research or performing job duties that could put you at risk of an exposure.
In addition, while working in a biological lab, most researchers will work with hazardous chemicals such as disinfectants (bleach is a corrosive oxidizer and ethanol is flammable). This will require completion of EHS chemical safety training (general chemical hygiene and managing hazardous waste) and lab-specific chemical safety training.
Consult the Training Matrix below to see what biosafety specific training may be required:
| Activity | Training |
|---|---|
| Use biological material | General Biosafety Training |
| Use human blood, tissues, or cells | General Biosafety Training
Bloodborne Pathogens for Researchers |
| Supervise a lab that uses biological material | General Biosafety Training |
| Supervise a lab that uses human blood, tissues, or cells | General Biosafety Training
Bloodborne Pathogens for Researchers |
| Ship or prepare to ship biological material | General Biosafety Training
Shipping Biohazardous Materials *Bloodborne Pathogens (for shipping human material) |
| Conduct research requiring BL2+ containment | General Biosafety Training
BL2+ Training Biosafety Cabinet Training (required) *Bloodborne {athogens (if also using human material) |
| Use a biosafety cabinet (a.k.a. “tissue culture hood”) | Biosafety Cabinet Training (recommended) |
| Use or supervise a lab that uses Controlled Substances (drugs) | Controlled Substances Use in Laboratories |
| Use or supervise a lab that uses select toxins | Use of Biological Toxins |
| Use an autoclave | Autoclave Safety Training (recommended) |
For non-researchers, your supervisor will place you in a training group which will determine your training requirements.
For researchers, you can select or update your PI and activities online through the Atlas learning center
- Go to MIT Atlas Learning Center.
- Select My Profile
- Select Update PI/Activities
- Select PI or Supervisor and Click Continue
- Select the appropriate activities and click Submit. This will trigger the appropriate training.
- Update your activities if you start to work with new material.
- Periodically review your activities to ensure your training needs are being fulfilled.
For researchers working with animals, The Division of Comparative Medicine (DCM) will provide the necessary training. To access DCM training, you need to join the training group for the facility you will be working in. This will trigger the appropriate animal training. For full details, please visit the DCM Training Website.
Note: you can join multiple DCM training groups.
You can register for EHS classes online through the Atlas learning center.
- Go to MIT Atlas Learning Center.
- Select Course Catalog and scroll down to Environment Health and Safety
- Select Biosafety (or the appropriate department)
- Select the appropriate Course
- Web based sessions: Select Begin Course to launch your session.
- Classroom sessions: Review the available Training Sessions, book the session that works for your schedule, and attend the training session.
- Training credit will be updated immediately once you complete web-based sessions or within 72 hours for classroom sessions. Make sure you sign the attendance rosters for classroom sessions or you may not receive credit for attending the course.
- Note: You may not be able to register for some courses unless your training profile and activities list those courses as a requirement.
To register for DCM-related training, please visit the DCM training website.
Certain classes require the information to be periodically refreshed. In most cases, these are required by federal or state regulations. Bloodborne pathogen and BL2+ training need to be refreshed annually. Shipping biohazardous material needs to be refreshed every 2 years. Controlled substances training must be refreshed every 3 years. Please consult the following table for details.
| Course Name | Frequency of Refresher | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Bloodborne Pathogens | Annual | Web-based |
| BL2+ Training | Annual | Classroom only |
| Shipping Biohazardous Materials | Every 2 years | Classroom only |
| Controlled Substances Use in Laboratories | Every 3 years | Web-based only |
The following section describes the biological safety training courses offered at MIT.
- Required for personnel conducting BL1, BL2, or rDNA research work.
- Includes information on:
- Risks of working with biological agents
- Routes of exposure and biosafety containment levels
- Standard microbiology techniques
- Personal protective equipment and signs/labels
- Disinfection methods and biological waste management
- Biosafety cabinets
- Emergency response
- Risk assessment
- NIH guidelines and regulatory compliance
- Registration of biological research
- This course is offered as an online web course available through the Atlas Learning Center
- Classroom training may be available on a case-by-case basis; please contact your biosafety officer for information
- Required for personnel who work in a laboratory with human cell lines, human blood, body tissues, or other potentially infectious human materials.
- Includes information on:
- The OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen standard
- Signs/symptoms and background information on several bloodborne pathogens of concern
- Hepatitis B vaccination
- Safe work practice and engineering controls
- Emergency response information and follow-up for potential exposure incidents
- Exposure Control Plans
- Participants will be given an opportunity to start the process for obtaining HEP B vaccination at no cost
- General Biosafety for Researchers (260c) is a prerequisite for this course.
- This course is offered as an online web course available through the Atlas Learning Center
- Classroom training may be available on a case-by-case basis; please contact your biosafety officer for information
More about the Bloodborne Pathogen program
- Annual OSHA required refresher training for personnel who work in a laboratory with human cell lines, human blood, body tissues, or other potentially infectious human materials.
- The course is a review of the basic information about the hazards and controls for research with bloodborne pathogens to meet requirements of the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen (BBP) standard.
- Individual classroom training is may be given at lab meetings on an annual basis. Please check with your EHS representative for details.
- Web-based refresher training is also available through the Atlas Learning Center. Please check with your EHS representative.
- Required for personnel who prepare hazardous or non-hazardous biological materials and diagnostic specimens for shipment.
- The course provides mandatory training regarding the US Department of Transportation/International Air Transportation Association regulations that govern the transport of:
- Infectious substances classified as Biological Substance Category B
- Genetically modified microorganisms
- Exempt animal specimens
- Dry Ice
- Topics include:
- Regulation overview
- Shipper’s responsibilities
- Quantity limitations
- Hazard determination to determine if the material is regulated
- Selection and use of proper packaging
- Proper marking and labeling
- Required paperwork
- Shipping with dry ice
- At the end of this training, students will be able to classify and package biological materials including human samples, microbes, genetically modified materials, and animal specimens.
- Training must be refreshed every 2 years.
- Classroom training is given on a quarterly basis at the EHS Office (N52-496). Individual lab training is available on request. Please contact your biosafety officer for details.
More information about shipping biological material
- Required for personnel who prepare only non-hazardous samples for shipment with dry ice
- Superseded by Shipping Biohazardous Materials
- The course provides mandatory training regarding the US Department of Transportation/International Air Transportation Association regulations that govern the transport of dry ice.
- Topics include:
- Regulation overview
- Shipper’s responsibilities
- Quantity limitations
- Hazard determination to determine if the material is regulated
- Selection and use of proper packaging, proper marking and labeling, required paperwork, and shipping with dry ice.
- Online training is available through the Atlas Learning Center.
- Required for laboratory researchers performing research with DEA controlled substances and for supervisors of researchers who perform research using controlled substances
- This course provides an overview of Drug Enforcement Agency regulations as well as the Commonwealth of Massachusetts requirements for controlled substance use in research
- This course will summarize the following as it pertains to DEA controlled substances:
- Definition of DEA and Mass DPH controlled substances
- Registration and approval
- Procurement
- Security and record-keeping requirements
- Disposal and termination of registration
- Online training is available through the Atlas Learning Center
More about DEA Controlled Substances
- Lab specific training is given to labs working with biological material requiring BL2+ material.
- Topics include:
- Discussion of the specific agents of concern for the research
- Hazards and routes of exposure
- An overview of biosafety levels
- Engineering and work practice controls for BL2+
- Waste management
- Emergency response
- Classroom-based initial training is given on a case-by-case basis.
- Annual refresher training is required and given on a case-by-case basis.
- Biosafety cabinet training is required.
- Required for personnel who handle select agent toxins
- For list of select agents and toxins see EHS web page
- Topics include:
- Overview of the regulations
- information on the specific toxins that individual researchers use
- Hazards of the toxins
- The work area procedures and controls established for safe use of those materials, generation of stock solutions, toxin inactivation and destruction, ordering procedures, shipping information, and incident and spill procedures.
- Classroom training is given upon request; please contact your biosafety officer for details.
More about Select Agent toxins
- Required for researchers working at BL2+ containment
- Recommended to individuals that anticipate the need to use a biological safety cabinet during the course of their work at MIT
- Concepts covered include:
- Definition of ventilation equipment
- Classification and types of ventilation equipment
- Discussion of the working parts of biosafety cabinets
- Appropriate use, techniques, and maintenance of biosafety cabinets in the laboratory
- Video demonstration of work practices
- Hands-on practical demonstration of the use of a BSC
- Classroom training is available upon request. Please contact your biosafety officer for details.
- Recommended for anyone who anticipates operating an autoclave while working at MIT
- The concepts that are covered include:
- Sgeneral overview of how autoclaves function and why they are used (e.g. for sterilization)
- Safe work practices to follow while operating an autoclave
- General overview on how to operate an autoclave
- Emergency response information
- Basic regulatory requirements (e.g. autoclave validation and requirements for autoclaving biological waste)
- Online training is available through the Atlas Learning Center.
- Since autoclaves procedures can vary depending on the instrument, additional lab specific training with your EHS representative or an experienced lab member is required prior to using an Autoclave.
More about the Autoclave Program
- Provides overview of basic biosafety for personnel who may enter labs where biosafety research is being conducted.
- Topics include information on:
- The type of research conducted at MIT.
- Different biosafety levels
- Access requirements or restrictions for entering biological labs
- Equipment used in biosafety labs
- The signs and labels used at MIT and their interpretation
- Work practice controls including appropriate personal protective equipment
- The decontamination process
- Classroom training is given on a case by case basis; please contact your biosafety officer for details
Overview
An integral component of work safety is the ability to identify hazards present in your work area and the knowledge to take the appropriate precautions. EHS training is designed to help researchers, staff, and students with this process. Prior to working with a hazard (whether biological, chemical, biological, radiological, physical, etc.), researchers, staff, and students must complete the appropriate safety training.
Some training courses are offered as web-based classes, whereas others must be completed in the classroom. For researchers, the work activities you select in your profile in the Atlas Learning Center will determine what training classes you must complete. For non-researchers, the training group you are placed in based on your job description will determine your training requirements. In addition, researchers working in the animal facilities will require specific training based on the requirements of the facility.
Some training classes only need to be completed once, while others need to be refreshed on an annual or biannual basis depending on federal, state, or institutional regulations and policies. Each time you finish a class, your training records will be updated the Atlas Learning Center. This serves as documentation that you have completed the necessary safety training.
Training requirements are based on what hazards you could be exposed to during the course of your research or job duties. For researchers, this is based on the materials you use and the procedures you perform. For staff, this is determined by the nature of your job. Training must be completed prior to starting your research or performing job duties that could put you at risk of an exposure.
In addition, while working in a biological lab, most researchers will work with hazardous chemicals such as disinfectants (bleach is a corrosive oxidizer and ethanol is flammable). This will require completion of EHS chemical safety training (general chemical hygiene and managing hazardous waste) and lab-specific chemical safety training.
Consult the Training Matrix below to see what biosafety specific training may be required:
| Activity | Training |
|---|---|
| Use biological material | General Biosafety Training |
| Use human blood, tissues, or cells | General Biosafety Training
Bloodborne Pathogens for Researchers |
| Supervise a lab that uses biological material | General Biosafety Training |
| Supervise a lab that uses human blood, tissues, or cells | General Biosafety Training
Bloodborne Pathogens for Researchers |
| Ship or prepare to ship biological material | General Biosafety Training
Shipping Biohazardous Materials *Bloodborne Pathogens (for shipping human material) |
| Conduct research requiring BL2+ containment | General Biosafety Training
BL2+ Training Biosafety Cabinet Training (required) *Bloodborne {athogens (if also using human material) |
| Use a biosafety cabinet (a.k.a. “tissue culture hood”) | Biosafety Cabinet Training (recommended) |
| Use or supervise a lab that uses Controlled Substances (drugs) | Controlled Substances Use in Laboratories |
| Use or supervise a lab that uses select toxins | Use of Biological Toxins |
| Use an autoclave | Autoclave Safety Training (recommended) |
For non-researchers, your supervisor will place you in a training group which will determine your training requirements.
For researchers, you can select or update your PI and activities online through the Atlas learning center
- Go to MIT Atlas Learning Center.
- Select My Profile
- Select Update PI/Activities
- Select PI or Supervisor and Click Continue
- Select the appropriate activities and click Submit. This will trigger the appropriate training.
- Update your activities if you start to work with new material.
- Periodically review your activities to ensure your training needs are being fulfilled.
For researchers working with animals, The Division of Comparative Medicine (DCM) will provide the necessary training. To access DCM training, you need to join the training group for the facility you will be working in. This will trigger the appropriate animal training. For full details, please visit the DCM Training Website.
Note: you can join multiple DCM training groups.
You can register for EHS classes online through the Atlas learning center.
- Go to MIT Atlas Learning Center.
- Select Course Catalog and scroll down to Environment Health and Safety
- Select Biosafety (or the appropriate department)
- Select the appropriate Course
- Web based sessions: Select Begin Course to launch your session.
- Classroom sessions: Review the available Training Sessions, book the session that works for your schedule, and attend the training session.
- Training credit will be updated immediately once you complete web-based sessions or within 72 hours for classroom sessions. Make sure you sign the attendance rosters for classroom sessions or you may not receive credit for attending the course.
- Note: You may not be able to register for some courses unless your training profile and activities list those courses as a requirement.
To register for DCM-related training, please visit the DCM training website.
Certain classes require the information to be periodically refreshed. In most cases, these are required by federal or state regulations. Bloodborne pathogen and BL2+ training need to be refreshed annually. Shipping biohazardous material needs to be refreshed every 2 years. Controlled substances training must be refreshed every 3 years. Please consult the following table for details.
| Course Name | Frequency of Refresher | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Bloodborne Pathogens | Annual | Web-based |
| BL2+ Training | Annual | Classroom only |
| Shipping Biohazardous Materials | Every 2 years | Classroom only |
| Controlled Substances Use in Laboratories | Every 3 years | Web-based only |
The following section describes the biological safety training courses offered at MIT.
- Required for personnel conducting BL1, BL2, or rDNA research work.
- Includes information on:
- Risks of working with biological agents
- Routes of exposure and biosafety containment levels
- Standard microbiology techniques
- Personal protective equipment and signs/labels
- Disinfection methods and biological waste management
- Biosafety cabinets
- Emergency response
- Risk assessment
- NIH guidelines and regulatory compliance
- Registration of biological research
- This course is offered as an online web course available through the Atlas Learning Center
- Classroom training may be available on a case-by-case basis; please contact your biosafety officer for information
- Required for personnel who work in a laboratory with human cell lines, human blood, body tissues, or other potentially infectious human materials.
- Includes information on:
- The OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen standard
- Signs/symptoms and background information on several bloodborne pathogens of concern
- Hepatitis B vaccination
- Safe work practice and engineering controls
- Emergency response information and follow-up for potential exposure incidents
- Exposure Control Plans
- Participants will be given an opportunity to start the process for obtaining HEP B vaccination at no cost
- General Biosafety for Researchers (260c) is a prerequisite for this course.
- This course is offered as an online web course available through the Atlas Learning Center
- Classroom training may be available on a case-by-case basis; please contact your biosafety officer for information
More about the Bloodborne Pathogen program
- Annual OSHA required refresher training for personnel who work in a laboratory with human cell lines, human blood, body tissues, or other potentially infectious human materials.
- The course is a review of the basic information about the hazards and controls for research with bloodborne pathogens to meet requirements of the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen (BBP) standard.
- Individual classroom training is may be given at lab meetings on an annual basis. Please check with your EHS representative for details.
- Web-based refresher training is also available through the Atlas Learning Center. Please check with your EHS representative.
- Required for personnel who prepare hazardous or non-hazardous biological materials and diagnostic specimens for shipment.
- The course provides mandatory training regarding the US Department of Transportation/International Air Transportation Association regulations that govern the transport of:
- Infectious substances classified as Biological Substance Category B
- Genetically modified microorganisms
- Exempt animal specimens
- Dry Ice
- Topics include:
- Regulation overview
- Shipper’s responsibilities
- Quantity limitations
- Hazard determination to determine if the material is regulated
- Selection and use of proper packaging
- Proper marking and labeling
- Required paperwork
- Shipping with dry ice
- At the end of this training, students will be able to classify and package biological materials including human samples, microbes, genetically modified materials, and animal specimens.
- Training must be refreshed every 2 years.
- Classroom training is given on a quarterly basis at the EHS Office (N52-496). Individual lab training is available on request. Please contact your biosafety officer for details.
More information about shipping biological material
- Required for personnel who prepare only non-hazardous samples for shipment with dry ice
- Superseded by Shipping Biohazardous Materials
- The course provides mandatory training regarding the US Department of Transportation/International Air Transportation Association regulations that govern the transport of dry ice.
- Topics include:
- Regulation overview
- Shipper’s responsibilities
- Quantity limitations
- Hazard determination to determine if the material is regulated
- Selection and use of proper packaging, proper marking and labeling, required paperwork, and shipping with dry ice.
- Online training is available through the Atlas Learning Center.
- Required for laboratory researchers performing research with DEA controlled substances and for supervisors of researchers who perform research using controlled substances
- This course provides an overview of Drug Enforcement Agency regulations as well as the Commonwealth of Massachusetts requirements for controlled substance use in research
- This course will summarize the following as it pertains to DEA controlled substances:
- Definition of DEA and Mass DPH controlled substances
- Registration and approval
- Procurement
- Security and record-keeping requirements
- Disposal and termination of registration
- Online training is available through the Atlas Learning Center
More about DEA Controlled Substances
- Lab specific training is given to labs working with biological material requiring BL2+ material.
- Topics include:
- Discussion of the specific agents of concern for the research
- Hazards and routes of exposure
- An overview of biosafety levels
- Engineering and work practice controls for BL2+
- Waste management
- Emergency response
- Classroom-based initial training is given on a case-by-case basis.
- Annual refresher training is required and given on a case-by-case basis.
- Biosafety cabinet training is required.
- Required for personnel who handle select agent toxins
- For list of select agents and toxins see EHS web page
- Topics include:
- Overview of the regulations
- information on the specific toxins that individual researchers use
- Hazards of the toxins
- The work area procedures and controls established for safe use of those materials, generation of stock solutions, toxin inactivation and destruction, ordering procedures, shipping information, and incident and spill procedures.
- Classroom training is given upon request; please contact your biosafety officer for details.
More about Select Agent toxins
- Required for researchers working at BL2+ containment
- Recommended to individuals that anticipate the need to use a biological safety cabinet during the course of their work at MIT
- Concepts covered include:
- Definition of ventilation equipment
- Classification and types of ventilation equipment
- Discussion of the working parts of biosafety cabinets
- Appropriate use, techniques, and maintenance of biosafety cabinets in the laboratory
- Video demonstration of work practices
- Hands-on practical demonstration of the use of a BSC
- Classroom training is available upon request. Please contact your biosafety officer for details.
- Recommended for anyone who anticipates operating an autoclave while working at MIT
- The concepts that are covered include:
- Sgeneral overview of how autoclaves function and why they are used (e.g. for sterilization)
- Safe work practices to follow while operating an autoclave
- General overview on how to operate an autoclave
- Emergency response information
- Basic regulatory requirements (e.g. autoclave validation and requirements for autoclaving biological waste)
- Online training is available through the Atlas Learning Center.
- Since autoclaves procedures can vary depending on the instrument, additional lab specific training with your EHS representative or an experienced lab member is required prior to using an Autoclave.
More about the Autoclave Program
- Provides overview of basic biosafety for personnel who may enter labs where biosafety research is being conducted.
- Topics include information on:
- The type of research conducted at MIT.
- Different biosafety levels
- Access requirements or restrictions for entering biological labs
- Equipment used in biosafety labs
- The signs and labels used at MIT and their interpretation
- Work practice controls including appropriate personal protective equipment
- The decontamination process
- Classroom training is given on a case by case basis; please contact your biosafety officer for details
