Environmental Health and Safety

Environmental Health and Safety (EHS)

Brown EHS helps ensure a safe campus community and promotes environmental responsibility through partnerships with students, faculty, staff and visitors. EHS provides regulatory compliance assistance, training programs, program development and implementation, technical support, inspections and emergency response services.

EHS offers and coordinates a wide variety of safety training courses for faculty, staff, and students. Within TrainCaster—the EHS online learning management system—users have the ability to sign up for classroom safety training and complete online safety training when applicable.
EHS consultation is required before shipping chemical, biological, other hazardous or research-related materials. Faculty, staff, and students must submit a request before arranging transport to collaborators, analytical labs, or other destinations.
EHS coordinates the safe collection and disposal of various waste types, including Chemical or Hazardous Waste, Biological Waste, Medical Waste (RBLB), Sharps, and Radioactive Waste.
Chemical Environmental Management System (CEMS) is a software tool used by the University to track and maintain chemical containers found in research buildings on campus.

Current Safety Topics and Programs

The purpose of the Brown University Construction Safety & Environmental Management Program is to inform Brown University Project Managers of, and ensure that all Contractors are responsible for, performing work in conformance with all environmental, health and safety laws, regulations and University standards. Brown login required.
The purpose of the Laboratory Closeout Standard Operating Procedure is to provide procedures to assist Laboratory Supervisors and Departments with tasks related to the proper Decommissioning of laboratories, Research Support Spaces, workshops, teaching laboratories, and other similar spaces.
The Minor Policy establishes University wide requirements related to the presence of minors and applies to all Brown University research laboratories, laboratory support spaces, and teaching laboratories where pre-college programs or other summer programs involving minors are held.
The Brown University Drone / Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Policy and Drone/Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) SOP was developed to identify and support authorized UAS use for University related activities.
Brown University student groups using machinery, building performance sets and/or using hazardous substances should be in regular contact with EHS and SAO to discuss training requirements and project plans. These student groups are required to adhere to requirements within the Performing & Visual Art Safety Program and develop a safety manual. Brown login required.
MSDSonline is used to manage and access hazardous substance inventories and safety data sheets (SDSs) for departments (non-laboratory) and student groups working with or around hazardous substances.