Institutional Policies
Environmental Health & Safety (EnvH&S) developed the Chemical Hygiene Plan & Clinical and Research Laboratory Safety Manual as part of its Laboratory Safety program. The Chemical Hygiene Plan applies to all Mount Sinai faculty, staff and students engaged in the laboratory use of hazardous materials, including those covered under the Occupational Health and Safety (OSHA) Standard 29 CFR 1910.1450, Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories (referred to as the Laboratory Standard). EnvH&S developed the Clinical and Research Laboratory Safety manual to assist principal investigators (PI’s) and Lab Supervisors with fulfilling the requirements of the OSHA Laboratory Standard.
OSHA Standard 29 CFR 1910.134, Respiratory Protection, requires Mount Sinai to develop and implement a written respiratory protection program that specifies required work-specific procedures and to identify work activities that require use of respirators. Environmental Health & Safety (EnvH&S) administers the Mount Sinai Respiratory Protection Program, including respirator fit testing, as part of its Occupational Safety and Health program.
Regulatory Guidance
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) jointly published the Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories, 6th Edition (BMBL, 6th Edition). Although the BMBL is an advisory document on the biosafety practices and policies for biomedical research in the United States, best practices issued by non-regulatory organizations can be enforceable under OSHA’s General Duty Clause.
World Health Organization Laboratory Safety Manual, 3rd Edition, provides guidance on fundamental biosafety techniques for use in research laboratories at all levels in all countries.
The April 2019 NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant or Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecules (NIH Guidelines) detail safety practices and containment procedures for basic and clinical research involving recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid molecules, including the creation and use of organisms and viruses containing recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid molecules. As a condition for NIH funding to the Institution (Mount Sinai) for recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid molecule research, compliance with NIH Guidelines is mandatory. This applies to both NIH-funded projects and non-NIH funded projects involving recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid molecules.
Arthropod Containment Guidelines, Version 3.2
Guidelines for Safe Work Practices in Human and Animal Medical Diagnostic Laboratories (CDC)
Guidelines for Biosafety in Teaching Laboratories (ASM)
Interim Clinical Laboratory Guideline for Biological Safety (ASM)
Federal Select Agent Program (CDC/APHIS)