POL 01.90.01
Effective Date: June 11, 2020
Updated: August 21, 2023
1.0 Policy Purpose
The purpose of the MBL Workplace Health and Safety Policy is to ensure all activity including work, research, and training that is authorized to occur on campus is done so as safely as possible.
2.0 To Whom the Policy Applies
This policy applies to all full or part-time employees, students, visiting faculty and researchers, interns, and visitors, approved to be on campus. Where the policy refers to “staff,” “employees,” or “individuals” it encompasses all individuals who are approved to be on campus. “Campus” means all MBL-owned facilities and grounds, and other locations where MBL functions, programs, and activities are conducted.
3.0 Policy Statement
This policy is subject to modification as new regulations, information, and guidance becomes available from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and medical/public health experts at the University of Chicago.
4.0 Principles Governing Work, Research, and Educational Activities on MBL Campus
- Ensure the safety and well-being of all individuals at MBL.
- Minimize health risks by following all current MBL guidance.
- Provide clear and consistent guidance that employees, students, faculty, interns, and visitors on campus can easily
- Ensure accessible reporting mechanisms for individuals with health and safety concerns and enforce appropriate consequences for lack of
5.0 General Policy Requirements
All individuals must periodically review information provided by the MBL to keep abreast of current information on continued preparedness, action, and response to COVID-19 or other infectious diseases. Policies provided by the MBL are determined by weighing recommendations from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA), and the University of Chicago.
5.1 Vaccination Requirements
All individuals approved to be on campus must review the current vaccination requirements and information on the MBL GoForward website.
5.2 Face Coverings
All individuals must follow masking requirements should there be any in effect at the MBL. Please contact safety@mbl.edu with questions or concerns about face masks and coverings.
5.3 Self-Monitoring
All individuals must conduct a Daily Self-Assessment Health Screening for COVID-19 or other infectious disease symptoms every day before arriving on campus or accessing any MBL buildings, and they must monitor their health for new symptoms throughout the day. If any individual is feeling unwell or experiences any cold or flu-like symptoms associated with COVID-19 or other infectious diseases, they must not enter any MBL facilities until meeting the criteria on the Protocol for Addressing Confirmed or Suspected COVID-19 Exposures and they must inform their supervisor or MBL point of contact, and Human Resources.
5.4 Hygiene
All individuals are responsible for promoting safe hygiene practices, including regular hand washing.
6. 0 Visitors
MBL employees and other registered visitors must not give their MBL ID Card to access any MBL facilities and they must not let unregistered MBL visitors into an MBL facility.
Non-residential visitors to the MBL facilities must abide by this and other Health and Safety Policies, Protocols, and Guidances.
7.0 Communication Protocol
It is important to be mindful of protocols for communicating confidential health information to others. The identity of anyone testing positive for COVID-19 or other infectious diseases will be kept confidential. No personal identifying information can be shared. It is unlawful to disclose the names of individuals and their health conditions in any written documents including emails, texts, or chat messaging platforms.
Individuals should immediately inform their supervisor and Human Resources via a phone call, text, or email stating that there is urgent information to be discussed. The individual can contact Human Resources at covid@mbl.edu or Courtney Buckley, Director of Human Resources at cbuckley@mbl.edu. Informing a manager and Human Resources can be done during the evening or on a weekend.
8.0 Responsibilities
All individuals to whom this policy applies are responsible for becoming familiar with and following this policy. All individuals are responsible for promoting the understanding of this policy and for taking appropriate steps to ensure compliance.
8.1 Manager Responsibilities
- Remind individuals that they are required to abide by all policy requirements outlined above
- Remind individuals experiencing COVID-19 or other infectious disease symptoms that they must immediately leave the campus and follow the Protocol for Addressing Confirmed or Suspected COVID-19 Exposures.
- Remind individuals they must report confirmed COVID-19 or potential exposure to COVID-19 to their supervisor and Human Resources and no identifying information should be shared in writing.
8.2 All Personnel Responsibility
- The MBL expects every person who comes to an MBL facility, whether as an employee, faculty member, postdoctoral researcher, student, visitor, or volunteer, to follow the MBL’s health and safety policies, protocols, and guidance as outlined on goforward.mbl.edu.
9.0 Consequences for Violating this Policy
All individuals must follow and take this MBLWorkplace Health and Safety Policy seriously. Corrective action will be taken for any individual on campus who does not comply with this and other related policies up to and including dismissal from campus.
10.0 Related Information
This policy is subject to modification as new regulations, information and guidance becomes available from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, and the University of Chicago.
11.0 Policy Owner and Contact
11.1 Policy Owner: Chief Operating Officer
Paul Speer, Chief Operating Officer Email: pspeer@mbl.edu
11.2 Subject Matter Contacts:
Overall Policy Questions and Concerns
Human Resources Director, Courtney Buckley; Email: cbuckley@mbl.edu
Health and Safety Workplace Guidance
Environmental Health and Safety Manager, Eric Jensen; Email: ejensen@mbl.edu