The Biosafety Service, organized under the Environmental Health and Safety Department, (Safety Department), centralizes all biosafety services within MSKCC, providing and enforcing a safe and healthful working environment for the staff.
The Biosafety Service provides technical information and recommendations regarding occupational safety and health. This is accomplished by inspecting equipment and facilities and providing education in the use of biological safety cabinets, chemical fume hoods, and other safety equipment. Consultation is also provided on safety aspects to be considered in the design of laboratories or other potentially hazardous areas.
The Biosafety Service provides a program of surveys, consultations, and seminars for all Center staff working with any hazardous agent or condition.
The Biosafety Service, with the Safety Department, has Center-wide responsibility for the collection and proper disposal for all hazardous chemical waste, as well as for responding to chemical spills. The Biosafety Officer is responsible for maintaining and collecting chemical inventories from all clinical research laboratories and core facilities that use or store hazardous chemicals. He or she is also responsible for completing all chemical waste reports made to the NY State Department of Environmental Conservation.
The Biosafety Service maintains a database and library pertaining to chemical and biological safety. The Safety Department subscribes to many periodicals and databases pertaining to Occupational Health and Safety. Paper copies of the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) libraries, containing chemical safety information for thousands of products, are kept in the Safety Department office.
