Environmental Health & Safety

The department of Environmental Health and Safety  serves the St. Jude community by identifying, evaluating, and mitigating health and safety risks through assessments, training, hazard management, and expert guidance.

Environmental Health and Safety is comprised of six divisions:

Biological Safety

The Biological Safety division provides a safe work environment that minimizes the risk of biological exposures for researchers, staff and patients. It provides the following services:

• Laboratory surveillance for biosafety
• Assistance in preparation and review of IBC projects
• Assistance in obtaining permits for import of transfer of infectious agents
• Biological Research Regulatory Compliance
• Biological safety training
• Biohazard risk assessments

Biocontainment

The Biocontainment division provides a safe work environment that minimizes the risk of working with Biosafety Level 3 microorganisms for researchers and staff. It provides the following services:

• Laboratory surveillance for biosafety level 3 laboratories
• Biological level 3 safety training
• Biohazard risk assessments for biosafety level 3 laboratories
• Select agent registration, compliance and guidance
• Shipment of dangerous biohazardous goods

General Safety

The General Safety division strives to provide a safe environment for all St. Jude employees, patients and visitors by developing safety policies/procedures, conducting compliance audits and drills. Its services include:

• Fire/life Safety
• Accident Investigations
• Disaster/emergency preparedness and response
•  Ensuring compliance with hospital accreditation requirements for the Physical Environment 

Hazardous Materials

The mission of the Hazardous Materials division is to ensure that risks from hazardous chemicals in the research and clinical environments are minimized by monitoring inventory, responding to spills, providing training, collecting waste and ensuring compliance with local, state and federal regulations. The Hazardous Materials division is responsible for the following services:

• Chemical safety
• Dangerous goods shipping
• Hazardous chemical spill response
• Hazardous chemical Waste services

Industrial Hygiene

The mission of the Industrial Hygiene division is to provide a safe and healthy research and clinical environment by maintaining excellent air quality and minimizing exposures to hazardous substances and their impact on the environment. The Industrial Hygiene division is responsible for the following services:

• Air quality studies
• Containment equipment (fume hoods and BSCs)
• Respiratory protection

Radiation Safety

The mission of Radiation Safety Division is to develop and implement safety programs to protect the health and safety of employees, patients and the general public from unwarranted exposure to radioactive materials, ionizing radiation-producing equipment and non-ionizing radiation sources..

The Radiation Safety division is responsible for the following services:

• Approval of procedures, facilities, and protective devices for radiation sources
• Routine personnel monitoring and environmental surveillance
• Documentation of the receipt and use of radiation sources
• Collection, processing and disposal of radioactive waste
• Evaluation and/or calibration of radiation producing units and survey equipment
• A 24-hour emergency response team
• A comprehensive training and continuing education program