3. SAFETY & HEALTH
The Chemistry Department's Safety webpage provides important safety information.
The Stony Brook University Department of Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) is concerned with safety over the entire University and runs many training programs.
Stony Brook Emergency Management provides alerts and advisories for natural and human-caused emergency situations on campus, and runs the SB Alert system, which can send alerts to your mobile phone and e-mail (set up in your SOLAR Account).
3.1. Safety in the Laboratory
Stony Brook Emergency Response (police/ambulance):
mobile phone: 631-632-3333
campus line: 911 or 333
For fire, medical, chemical spill/exposure, and radiation emergencies, contact EH&S (2-6410 on-campus, 631-632-6410 from a mobile phone) after contacting 911/333.
In the event of an emergency, contact the appropriate authority as soon as it is safe to do so. The contact number will be dialed differently from a campus telephone line (just the extension) and from a cellular phone (full number with area code).
- from campus line, dial the 5 digit extension: 2-xxxx
- from cell phones, dial 631-632-xxxx
For floods, water leaks, and other emergencies where human life is not endangered, but damage to the building and laboratories is possible, contact:
- Mike Teta (Building Manager): 631-922-0232
- Off-hours: 2-6400 and/or Mike Teta
- EH&S: 2-6410
Other immediate maintenance/safety needs: 2-6400
Non-emergency maintenance & repairs: FIXIT system
3.2.Training
You will receive safety, teaching, and research training throughout your time at Stony Brook. Training records are maintained within the department and on your SOLAR account (Main Menu/Solar System/For Employees/Learning and Development/Training Summary).
Stony Brook University Responsible Conduct of Research and Scholarship Policy (P211)
SBU College of Arts & Sciences Responsible Conduct of Research and Scholarship Policy
Chemistry Department Responsible Conduct of Research and Scholarship Policy
Collaborative Institutional Initiative (CITI) Training Program Overview with access instructions
3.3. Mental Health Resources
Graduate school can be a stressful time. If you find yourself in need of someone to talk to about issues with classes, research, co-workers, advisors, or anything else, please be aware that Stony Brook offers resources through the Student Support Team, coordinated by the Dean of Students Office, and counseling services through the CAPS program, including individual therapy as well as therapy, support, and meditation groups.
- Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS): https://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/studentaffairs/caps/, phone (24 hours): (631) 632-6720
- Student Support Team (Dean of Students Office): https://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/studentaffairs/studentsupport/index.php, phone: (631) 632-7320
3.4. Safe Pregnancy for Laboratory Workers
The Chemistry Department seeks to minimize the risks of working in its laboratories for all employees and students, especially for pregnant women because of the known sensitivity of the fetus to specific chemicals, in particular teratogens. All laboratory workers are expected to know the hazards of chemicals they are using, including the pregnant woman. Safety Data Sheets (SDS) are essential, but may not provide a complete set of recommendations. Additional protective equipment may be available, but alternatives to laboratory work such as spectroscopic or computational studies, library work, writing, or seminar preparation may be requested by the pregnant laboratory worker. The Department can be creative and flexible because each woman’s situation may be different. We encourage a pregnant woman to consider those accommodations that she might request for her well being, and for the well-being of her fetus.
While there are many ways the Department can assist a woman who is pregnant, we cannot activate those accommodations without her involvement. The federal Pregnancy Discrimination Act prevents the Department from compelling a woman to disclose that she is pregnant, and it prevents us from assigning her to different tasks simply because she is pregnant. The University complies with the Pregnancy Discrimination Act. If a woman willingly informs us that she is pregnant and asks for reasonable accommodations, then we can help.
We encourage a pregnant graduate student who has questions to consult with her Research Director and the GPD as soon as her pregnancy has been confirmed. Strictly confidential discussions will cover topics such as extensions to programmatic deadlines, changes in degree progress expectations, and assistantship assignments. A student on an RA, GA or TA may request alternative assignments. Generally, academic deadlines and eligibility for departmental assistantship support can be extended by up to one year for the new parent. To ensure fulfillment of the agreements reached, the GPD will draft a written summary of the accommodations. Upon approval by the student, the plan will be shared with the student’s Research Director, with a copy kept in the student’s record.
Related Accommodations. During the leave period, the Department will make a good-faith effort to provide reasonable accommodations so that the graduate student’s health insurance does not lapse, and so that they can maintain their visa status through pregnancy and maternity. Reasonable efforts will be made to provide access to a private, clean lactation room for new mothers returning to work. A private lactation room is available in Melville Library (for further information, contact the Office of the CAS Dean).