1.2.1 Environment, Health and Safety
Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) provides institutional oversight, technical authority, and programmatic assurance for environmental health and safety requirements at Cornell University. EHS establishes and maintains University-level policies, guidance, and standards (including this Laboratory Safety Manual), develops training programs that meet regulatory and institutional requirements, and provides technical consultation to laboratories to support safe and effective research operations.
EHS maintains the University Chemical Hygiene Plan and fulfills the institutional Chemical Hygiene Officer responsibilities. EHS also carries out institutionally designated safety officer functions, including the Biological Safety Officer (BSO) and Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) roles, as required by applicable federal, state, and funding-agency regulations.
EHS administers the University Radiation Safety Committee in support of the institutional radiation protection program, providing technical review, regulatory interface support, and administrative coordination on behalf of the University. EHS also administers the University Select Agent Program through the institutionally designated Responsible Official, as required under federal Select Agent regulations.
Other institutional research oversight committees (such as the Institutional Biosafety Committee, Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, and Institutional Review Board) are administered outside of EHS. EHS provides technical expertise and regulatory support to these committees as appropriate but does not administer or oversee their operations.
EHS does not perform laboratory operations or directly supervise laboratory personnel. Responsibility for day-to-day laboratory activities and implementation of safety controls resides with colleges, departments, Principal Investigators, and laboratory supervisors. EHS works in partnership with these groups and institutional leadership to provide oversight, assurance, and continuous improvement of the University’s environmental health and safety programs.