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EHS Rep Notebook

The EHS Management System (EHS-MS) is a system of roles, responsibilities, and processes designed to ensure long-term success and sustainability in meeting and surpassing MIT’s environment, health, and safety obligations. The EHS Representative (EHS Rep) is a key role in the EHS-MS.

The EHS Rep reports to and assists the PI/Supervisor with meeting their EHS obligations. The EHS Rep initiates actions where appropriate and brings questions/issues to the Department, Lab, Center, or Institute (DLCI) EHS Coordinator and PI/Supervisor when their authority is required to address an EHS matter.

Training is available for EHS Reps and is required to fulfill their role. Contact the local DLCI EHS Coordinator to be added to the appropriate training group to obtain access to the training requirements. Note: DLCI EHS Coordinators may schedule 1-on-1 training with an EHS Rep to fulfill the requirements.

  • EHS Rep Orientation Overview Training Group – EHS00762: EHS Rep Orientation Overview
  • EHS Rep Orientation Overview & Practicum Training Group – EHS00762: EHS Rep Orientation Overview  & EHS00763: EHS Rep Orientation Practicum

The information and training provided is a general overview of the role and responsibilities an EHS Rep may have. Each DLCI implements the EHS-MS framework to fit the needs of the DLCI; therefore, meeting with your DLCI EHS Coordinator and/or EHS Lead Contact is critical to understanding what your DLCI processes/procedures are and to successfully fulfilling the EHS Rep role.

For questions or feedback, please email environment@mit.edu.

EHS-MS Roles & Responsibilities

  • EHS Policy: MIT’s comprehensive EHS Policy describes and communicates the Institute’s commitment to excellence in environment, health and safety stewardship.
  • Working Alone Policy: Any schedule (whether alternative or not) that involves employees working alone at an MIT facility under potentially hazardous conditions must comply with MIT’s policy on Working Alone. [MIT Policies – Section 3.1 Flexible Work Arrangements]
  • EHS-MS ManualThe manual is designed to serve as a comprehensive guide to the EHS Management System and all its related components. It provides a detailed overview of the Management System’s design and approach and a summary of all the organizational components of the Management System.
  • EHS-MS Governance Chart: The chart provides a framework that fosters communication and effective working relations among DLCIs, the EHS Office and MIT’s senior officers (including the President, Provost, Chancellor, Executive Vice President and Treasurer, Vice Presidents, and Deans).
  • Roles and Responsibilities
  • DLCI EHS Team Directory

EHS-MS Applications

MIT’s online Atlas portal (certificate login required) provides access to the EHS applications that support the EHS-MS mission. As an EHS Rep, you may customize your MIT Atlas menu to feature the various EHS applications covered in this section.

Incident & Injury Reporting and Occupational Medicine & Employee Health Department at MIT Health

Promoting a Culture of Safety at MIT

“Safety culture is defined as the way in which safety is managed in a workplace. It is the combination of beliefs, perceptions and attitudes of employees toward the safety of workers and the overall safety of the work environment. Cultivating a safety culture is a key aspect in maintaining workplace safety.” (definition from Safeopedia)

The EHS Rep plays an important role in promoting a positive culture of safety in the lab/shop/work area. Successful interactions with group members are essential to accomplish EHS goals, including:

  • Improving safety culture
  • Furthering relationships between EHS and labs/shops
  • Increasing safety knowledge by discussing the “why” and not just the “what”
  • Addressing safety matters
  • Protecting group members from hazardous risks

Other EHS Issues/Topics

The EHS Office website provides information for all programs that full under the EHS purview. In addition to content on this site there are fact sheets, standard operating procedures/guidelines (SOPs / SOGs) and other related documents/forms/templates to help with various EHS responsibilities. Peruse the EHS website by using the search function or menu.

Additional Resources

  • Lab Coats at MIT: This website provides members of the MIT community information about purchasing, renting, and laundering lab coats as well as links to lab coat videos produced by MIT researchers/students.
  • Minors at MIT: This website provides information on what MIT expects of its staff, faculty, and students when interacting with minors. Visit the Hire/Host a Minor for detail on EHS specific procedures for hiring/hosting a minor.
  • Resources at MIT: This website is central site for students about various MIT offices, services, and tools.
  • International SOS: This website provides information about ISOS, a travel assistance company, to provide emergency medical, security, and natural disaster evacuation and other support services to faculty, staff, and students who are traveling abroad on MIT business.

The EHS Management System (EHS-MS) is a system of roles, responsibilities, and processes designed to ensure long-term success and sustainability in meeting and surpassing MIT’s environment, health, and safety obligations. The EHS Representative (EHS Rep) is a key role in the EHS-MS.

The EHS Rep reports to and assists the PI/Supervisor with meeting their EHS obligations. The EHS Rep initiates actions where appropriate and brings questions/issues to the Department, Lab, Center, or Institute (DLCI) EHS Coordinator and PI/Supervisor when their authority is required to address an EHS matter.

Training is available for EHS Reps and is required to fulfill their role. Contact the local DLCI EHS Coordinator to be added to the appropriate training group to obtain access to the training requirements. Note: DLCI EHS Coordinators may schedule 1-on-1 training with an EHS Rep to fulfill the requirements.

  • EHS Rep Orientation Overview Training Group – EHS00762: EHS Rep Orientation Overview
  • EHS Rep Orientation Overview & Practicum Training Group – EHS00762: EHS Rep Orientation Overview  & EHS00763: EHS Rep Orientation Practicum

The information and training provided is a general overview of the role and responsibilities an EHS Rep may have. Each DLCI implements the EHS-MS framework to fit the needs of the DLCI; therefore, meeting with your DLCI EHS Coordinator and/or EHS Lead Contact is critical to understanding what your DLCI processes/procedures are and to successfully fulfilling the EHS Rep role.

For questions or feedback, please email environment@mit.edu.

EHS-MS Roles & Responsibilities

  • EHS Policy: MIT’s comprehensive EHS Policy describes and communicates the Institute’s commitment to excellence in environment, health and safety stewardship.
  • Working Alone Policy: Any schedule (whether alternative or not) that involves employees working alone at an MIT facility under potentially hazardous conditions must comply with MIT’s policy on Working Alone. [MIT Policies – Section 3.1 Flexible Work Arrangements]
  • EHS-MS ManualThe manual is designed to serve as a comprehensive guide to the EHS Management System and all its related components. It provides a detailed overview of the Management System’s design and approach and a summary of all the organizational components of the Management System.
  • EHS-MS Governance Chart: The chart provides a framework that fosters communication and effective working relations among DLCIs, the EHS Office and MIT’s senior officers (including the President, Provost, Chancellor, Executive Vice President and Treasurer, Vice Presidents, and Deans).
  • Roles and Responsibilities
  • DLCI EHS Team Directory

EHS-MS Applications

MIT’s online Atlas portal (certificate login required) provides access to the EHS applications that support the EHS-MS mission. As an EHS Rep, you may customize your MIT Atlas menu to feature the various EHS applications covered in this section.

Incident & Injury Reporting and Occupational Medicine & Employee Health Department at MIT Health

Promoting a Culture of Safety at MIT

“Safety culture is defined as the way in which safety is managed in a workplace. It is the combination of beliefs, perceptions and attitudes of employees toward the safety of workers and the overall safety of the work environment. Cultivating a safety culture is a key aspect in maintaining workplace safety.” (definition from Safeopedia)

The EHS Rep plays an important role in promoting a positive culture of safety in the lab/shop/work area. Successful interactions with group members are essential to accomplish EHS goals, including:

  • Improving safety culture
  • Furthering relationships between EHS and labs/shops
  • Increasing safety knowledge by discussing the “why” and not just the “what”
  • Addressing safety matters
  • Protecting group members from hazardous risks

Other EHS Issues/Topics

The EHS Office website provides information for all programs that full under the EHS purview. In addition to content on this site there are fact sheets, standard operating procedures/guidelines (SOPs / SOGs) and other related documents/forms/templates to help with various EHS responsibilities. Peruse the EHS website by using the search function or menu.

Additional Resources

  • Lab Coats at MIT: This website provides members of the MIT community information about purchasing, renting, and laundering lab coats as well as links to lab coat videos produced by MIT researchers/students.
  • Minors at MIT: This website provides information on what MIT expects of its staff, faculty, and students when interacting with minors. Visit the Hire/Host a Minor for detail on EHS specific procedures for hiring/hosting a minor.
  • Resources at MIT: This website is central site for students about various MIT offices, services, and tools.
  • International SOS: This website provides information about ISOS, a travel assistance company, to provide emergency medical, security, and natural disaster evacuation and other support services to faculty, staff, and students who are traveling abroad on MIT business.