Environmental Health & Safety

Biosafety: Will the project involve biological agents, recombinant DNA, and chemicals that elicit a biological response? 

• Contact EH&S for next steps https://www.ehs.harvard.edu/services/biosafety

Lab Safety: Will the research involve chemicals in a laboratory? 

• Consult EH&S and Lab safety officers, http://vpr.harvard.edu/lab-safety

Radiation Safety: Will the research involve work with radioactive materials? (e.g., lasers, x-rays, machine produced radiation, etc.)

• Contact EH&S to determine what requirements must be met before beginning research, https://www.ehs.harvard.edu/services/radiation-protection

​​​​​​​Will  you be shipping any chemicals, radioactive materials, biological materials? 

• The shipment of chemicals, radioactive materials, and biological materials by air, ground or sea must comply with Department of Transportation (“DOT”) regulations, International Air Transport Association (“IATA”) guidelines and/or maritime law.  Transporting certain materials may require import/export permits or other documentation from federal agencies including, US Border Protection and Customs, FDA, USDA/APHIS, Fish and Wildlife, and CDC. 
• ​​​​​​​EH&S assists laboratory researchers with managing shipments and transportation of these dangerous goods. More resources can be found at https://www.ehs.harvard.edu/programs/shipping-transporting-research-materials or contact lab_safety@harvard.edu for more information. See also:​​​​​​​
  • Harvard EH&S:  https://www.ehs.harvard.edu/programs/shipping-transporting-research-materials
  • CDC Import Permit Program:  https://www.cdc.gov/phpr/ipp/index.htm
  • FDA Import Program:  http://www.fda.gov/ForIndustry/ImportProgram/default.htm
  • Fish and Wildlife Imports/Exports: https://www.fws.gov/permits/ImportExport/ImportExport.html ​​​​​​​
• ​​​​​​​For shipments that include animal, plant, insect, or cell specimens or other general inquiries, contact GSS (https://www.globalsupport.harvard.edu/about/contact-us).
• For importing and exporting goods, Harvard Strategic Procurement also has an agreement with E. Sidney Stockwell, Co., Inc., a customs broker who can expedite deliveries into and out of the U.S. and most countries. The broker can also assist in obtaining a carnet (https://www.globalsupport.harvard.edu/manage-projects/exports-imports).
• Training courses on shipping materials are offered on the Harvard Training Portal at https://trainingportal.harvard.edu/Saba/Web_spf/NA1PRD0068/common/searchresults/shipping/ALL (email trainingportalhelp@harvard.edu with any questions)
  • ​​​​​​​Shipping Non-regulated Materials and Dry Ice
  • Shipping Excepted Quantities: Flammables, Corrosives, and Common Fixatives
  • Shipping Biological Materials and Dry Ice