EHS FY 2024 ANNUAL REPORT Fast Facts
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH & SAFETY OVERVIEW
Under the Office of Research Compliance, Environmental Health & Safety provides trainings, resources, and expertise to ensure that work, study, life, treatment, and school at Boston University and Boston Medical Center are safe for all.
EHS comprises:
• 4 departments:
– Occupational Health & Safety
– Environmental Management
– Medical Physics & Radiation Safety
– Research Safety
• 5 directors
• 5 associate directors
• 1 Chief Medical Physicist
• 25 technical staff
• 3 administrative staff
INSPECTIONS
Research Safety
EHS re-tiered labs in FY24, accounting for the considerable changes in inspections performed per tier.
EHS ensures safety throughout BU/BMC by:
• Inspecting facilities and equipment
• Training students, faculty, staff, and contractors on proper safety procedures
• Testing and calibrating safety equipment
• Tracking incident data
• Liaising with local, state, and federal safety, regulatory, and compliance divisions to ensure BU's safety protocols are current
• Investigating and resolving any workplace incidents, inspection findings, and safety issues
Regulatory Agency Inspections
• MADPH Radiation Control Program inspection: no items of non-compliance
• 8 MWRA inspections: passed
• Wastewater sampling: 3 violations, 2 notices of non-compliance, all corrected
EHS conducted more than 32,000 trainings in FY 2024
FY 23 FY 24
SciShield (formerly BioRAFT) allows EHS to effectively track training completion and compliance across the University.
TRACKING & CALIBRATIONS
Health-related testing
• Tested: 297 asbestos evaluation requests completed
• Calibrated: 79 portable radiationmonitoring instruments
• Tracked: 833 dosimetry badges issued – 16 individuals needed further investigation
• Certified: 438 Biological safety cabinets (BSC) calibrations
Incident Tracking
Contact Information
• Charles River: 617-353-4094
• Med Campus: 617-358-7840
Boston University Environmental Health & Safety
For more information...
• EHS website: bu.edu/ehs
• EHS email: oehs@bu.edu
• Reports & more: issuu.com/buehs
Robert Whitfield Executive Director, EHS
704 Commonwealth Ave
2nd Floor
Boston, MA 02215