Heat Related Illnesses Newsletter

Please be sure to review the EHS Heat Stress Newsletter.  This newsletter will provide information on heat related illnesses and tips on how to deal with the heat.  If you have any questions regarding any of this content please reach out to EHS.

Important Safety Message Regarding Hand Sanitizer

Boston University has become aware through recent press coverage that benzene, a contaminant, had been found in specific lots of certain brands of hand sanitizer. Benzene is linked to an increased risk for certain types of cancer. Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) reviewed the types of hand sanitizers purchased and none of the identified brands have been […]

Please review updated Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP)

Boston University (BU) is committed to the safe and compliant use of chemicals in the laboratory. The Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP) sets forth the policies, procedures and guidelines in place to protect laboratory workers (and those supporting laboratories at BU), from the health hazards associated with hazardous chemical use in the laboratory. Please review the […]

Take safety precautions when using RNA extraction kits

Many labs use RNA extraction kits to isolate total RNA from a wide variety of samples, including animal and plant cells and tissue, bacteria, and yeast. While the kits are low hazard on their own, it’s important to remember that mixing incompatible chemicals can produce high hazard by-products and gases. There were incidents that researchers […]

Making compliance easier with improved systems

BU is working to increase ease of compliance without additional burden to our researchers and other EHS partners. BioRAFT, a secure research management system that was developed by a researcher, is being rolled out for several areas of EHS management. This is an integrated portal that increases reliability and streamlines data maintenance and accessibility for […]

BU Animal Assurance number updated

Effective immediately, BU’s Animal Welfare Assurance number has changed from A3316‐01 to D16-00204. This impacts both campuses and should be used on proposals going forward.

RIMS Unavailable evening of 5/29

Due to planned system upgrades, RIMS will be unavailable the evening of 5/29. RIMS will return online the morning of 5/30. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Please contact us with any questions you might have. -The RIMS Team