Health & Safety

The Ragon Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) group works closely with all Ragon staff to ensure workplace safety. They work with laboratory staff at the Ragon Institute to provide policies, procedures, advice and training to ensure compliance when working with biological materials and chemicals.

Laboratory staff can protect themselves and others from the hazards associated with these materials by implementing various control measures, from using a fume hood or biosafety cabinet to wearing the correct personal protective equipment

Check this page for updated safety tips in our newsletters.  Additionally, reference this page for any questions you may have.

In case of emergency, please contact one of the following emergency contacts:

Monday-Friday: ragonehs@eheinc.com

Tuesdays and Fridays: Justin Warrener: 781-400-4073, jwarrener@eheinc.com

Remote/By Appointment: Jessica Healey: 774-244-7018, jhealey@eheinc.com

Thursdays: Mayomi Omebeyinje: 617-201-5336, momebeyinje@eheinc.com

Alexndria Real Estate 24/7 Command Center: 617-577-9177

MGH Occupational Health: 617-726-2217

2016 Ragon Safety Refresher

Ragon Safety Presentation slides (pdf): Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

 

Spill Response Slides

Spill Response Slides

Annual Chemical Inventory 2021

Chemical Inventory

Annual Safety Refresher Slide Decks

2018 Safety Refresher Memo

May – Evacuation & Incidents

June – Dress Code, PPE & General Housekeeping

July – Hazard Communication & Flammable Storage

August – Waste Management 

September – Sample Transportation

October – Spill Response & BSL 2+ Reminders

2017 Ragon Safety Refresher

Manuals and Plans

Chemical Hygiene Plan 2019
Respiratory Protection Program 2018
Emergency Action Plan 2019
Biosafety Manual 2018
Exposure Control Plan 2018
Hazard Communication Plan 2019
Laboratory Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

Pathogen Survival Sheet (pdf)
Red Bag waste Diagram (pdf)

New Employee Safety Training Session Dates

New Employee Safety Orientation will take place every Tuesday at 1:30 PM.

Report Incidents and Injuries

MGH Injury and Illness Reporting   Please complete within 24 hours of event

Shortcuts:
Research Laboratory / Other Event
Research Animal Facility Event
Employee General Incident

Safety Data Sheets

Safety Data Sheets (SDS) are important to review before working with a specific chemical.  All laboratory workers should know how to access them and review them for the particular chemicals in use in the laboratory.  If you need assistance with obtaining an SDS or want to review the safety information, contact EH&S.

Ragon employees may utilize the safety data sheet website subscribed to by MGH. The address and login information are below:

https://www.msdssrc.net/binder.php                                                                                                                              Username: mgh                                                                                                                                                                      Password: mgh

Other easy ways to search for an SDS is to  use websites such as hazard.com or by going directly to the manufacturer’s website.  It is important to have a copy of the SDS in the event of an exposure to a chemical.

In addition to Safety Data Sheets for chemicals, there are Pathogen Safety Data Sheets for biohazardous agents.

Partners Application (pdf)

Ragon Safety Committee

The mission of the Ragon Safety Committee is to promote workplace safety throughout the Institute to facilitate safe science and to create a workplace free of injuries and illnesses. The committee is made up of representatives from  Environmental Health and Safety, from each Ragon lab, as well as from Administration.  The committee meets quarterly to assess the Ragon Institute’s compliance to health and safety protocols.

Partners Institutional Biosafety Committee

The Partners Institutional Biosafety Committee (PIBC) performs the NIH mandated function of reviewing and approving preclinical and clinical research involving recombinant DNA (rDNA), infectious agents, and human and nonhuman primate materials, and biological toxins. The PIBC’s mission is to promote safety and minimize the risks of performing Biological Research to Partners investigators, study participants, the community, and the environment by providing scientific review and oversight to human subjects and laboratory Biological Research at PIBC institutions.

Insight

DOT Biowaste Manifest Training

DOT Biowaste Training Slides

MGH Radiation Safety Office

The MGH Radiation Safety Office handles the radiation safety aspects as the Ragon is under the MGH radioactive materials license.