EHS is always available to provide assistance. If you need to contact us for any reason, please refer to our staff directory. In addition, we can be reached by using the information below.
Environmental Health and Safety Weill Cornell Medicine
1300 York Ave
Room LC006
New York, NY 10065
Phone: (646) 962-7233
Fax: (646) 962-0288
ehs@med.cornell.edu
Create an EHS Incident to track your request. (more info)
Anonymously report health and safety concerns.
Check out our newsletters for EHS updates, reports, news and tips.
The EHS Laboratory Safety Town Hall was held on Thrusday, February 12, 2026. The presentation included updates on new and ongoing laboratory safety programs and is available to view here.
Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) is responsible for developing, maintaining and promoting policies, procedures, training and educational programs necessary to maintain a safe and healthy environment for our students, faculty, staff and visiting public. We are committed to developing a culture where safety and health are core values, and provide high-quality services that facilitate Weill Cornell Medicine's education, research and clinical missions.
EHS serves as the WCM biological, chemical and radiation safety office, coordinating comprehensive hazardous material and workplace safety programs. EHS takes appropriate steps to ensure that problems are identified and resolved in a timely manner. We coordinate reviews and responses to external agencies, many of which have the authority to cite, impose civil penalties, restrict or rescind operations, and remove or disapprove accreditation. EHS provides an emergency response for college situations that may include exposure to or the release of hazardous materials, and fire scenarios. We implement programs and services to minimize injuries or illnesses, and reduce safety, health and environmental risks in a manner consistent with fiscal and environmental stewardship. Read More
Join Matthew Brinton and panelists Diane Colabello, Matthew Domser, and Scott Finkernagel on February 12, from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM, to learn about upcoming lab safety updates. All Laboratory Safety Coordinators should plan to attend this meeting. A Zoom link will follow for those who cannot attend in person.
EHS is closely monitoring the proposed rescheduling of marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule III controlled substance. If enacted, this rescheduling would substantially ease restrictions imposed by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) on marijuana usage in research.
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The CDC issued updated biosafety guidance for the handling of SARS-CoV-2 in a research setting. The changes were implemented following comprehensive evaluations of the virus's properties and its implications for laboratory and research operations.
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EHS has been working with a new FDNY inspector since the summer of 2025 to complete our annual laboratory permit inspections. Some common findings have emerged during the EHS Pre-FDNY Inspections.
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EHS provides training and resources to help students, researchers, and animal care staff work safely with animals. Risks are addressed, including physical injuries (bites and scratches), health hazards (allergies or zoonotic diseases), and chemical exposures.
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Moving to the Lasdon Biomedical Research Center, LC-006, 1300 York Avenue Floor B, Library Commons, marks a significant step in enhancing our services, accessibility, and commitment to the well-being of our community.
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EHS Safety Advisors play a vital role in fostering a safe and compliant environment, particularly in laboratory settings. These dedicated professionals ensure that research, clinical, and educational activities are conducted to prioritize safety and adhere to regulatory standards.
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Lithium-ion batteries power modern gadgets, and electric mobility devices, including e-bikes and e-scooters, have emerged as a leading cause of fires in New York City. Learn about the dangers and how to keep yourself safe.
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This new federal policy intends to provide a framework for research oversight, increasing the awareness of researchers, institutions, and federal funding agencies about the biosafety and biosecurity concerns associated with certain types of research while still allowing for beneficial scientific advancements.
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If you need assistance with FDNY C-14 Certificate of Fitness for Supervision of Chemical Laboratories application submissions or renewals, the EHS team is available to help you through the process.
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We are excited to inform you that the Environmental Health & Safety office has relocated. Our new address is 1300 York Avenue, Room LC006, New York, NY 10065. If you need to pick up your C-14 or have other EHS-related needs, please visit us at our new location. We look forward to welcoming you there!
Daniels Health will replace our current medical waste vendor, Stericycle, beginning Monday, September 30, 2024. This change will impact all laboratories and clinical practices that produce sharps, chemo, pathological, and red bag waste on the main campus. Offsite clinics will not be immediately affected and will continue to be serviced by Stericycle.
A Daniels Health team member will be onsite in the lobbies of the buildings below on Monday, September 23, and Tuesday, September 24, to answer any questions you may have about the transition and to ensure all lab and clinic members from all buildings become familiar with the new containers.
Date: Monday, September 23
Location: 1300 York Avenue
Time: 9:00 AM - 11:45 AM
Date: Monday, September 23
Location: 1305 York Avenue
Time: Noon - 4:00 PM
Date: Tuesday, September 24
Location: Belfer Research Building
Time: 9:00 AM - 11:45 AM
Date: Tuesday, September 24
Location: S Building
Time: Noon - 4:00 PM
Welcome to the Summer edition of the EHS Newsletter! This season, we're diving deep into a range of critical topics to keep you informed and empowered. Inside, you'll find insightful articles covering:
Next month, WCM will replace our current regulated medical waste (RMW) vendor, Stericycle, with Daniels Health. EHS will work with labs and practices that generate regulated medical waste ("red bag" and sharps waste) to prepare for the upcoming change.
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WCM employees are always looking for more time, more space, and more electronic capability as we continue to expand. However, safety must be a top priority in a research-based institution where sensitive equipment and a high volume of electronic devices are used.
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Review the role of the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC), receive answers to your most frequently asked questions, and learn about changes to lab and clinical safety protocols.
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Annual laboratory inspections are vital for ensuring compliance with safety regulations and maintaining a safe working environment. Principal investigators and lab managers must be well-versed in lab safety standards required to maintain compliance. Please review the annual lab inspection guide to help your team prepare effectively.
Methylene chloride, also called Dichloromethane (DCM), is a volatile halogenated solvent utilized in various industries and applications such as adhesives, paint, metal cleaning products, and chemical processing. Exposures have been associated with various health risks, and the EPA has banned most uses of methylene chloride. Laboratory research is approved, but strict guidelines must be followed to ensure protection.
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Veena Sahajwalla, an esteemed inventor and Professor of Materials Science in the Faculty of Science at UNSW Australia, has redefined the recycling landscape through her inventive approaches that transform waste materials into valuable resources.
Read more...
Contact WCM and NYP departments providing safety, security, waste and health services.
Chemwatch: a database of > 20,000,000 SDSs, obtained directly from manufacturers, suppliers and other chemical safety databases
More Information
| Date Reported | Nature of Fire | Date of Fire | Time of Fire | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12/06/2023 | Oven malfunctioned and charred adjacent kitchen cabinet | 12/06/2023 | 10:00 AM | Lasdon House: 420 E .70th Street |
| 10/17/2023 | Stove burner too hot and heat deflected and charred adjacent wall | 10/17/2023 | 10:30 AM | 444 E. 77th Street |
| 06/12/2023 | Coffee maker malfunctioned and caught on fire on desk | 06/12/2023 | 2:10 PM | 445 E. 69th Street |
| 03/23/2024 | No Incident, Log Updated | - | - | |
| 05/22/2024 | No Incident, Log Updated | - | - | - |
| 7/19/2024 | No Incident, Log Updated | - | - | - |
| 9/19/2024 | No Incident, Log Updated | - | - | - |
| 11/18/2024 | No Incident, Log Updated | |||
| 1/17/2025 | No Incident, Log Updated | |||
| 3/18/2025 | No Incident, Log Updated | |||
| 5/19/2025 | No Incident, Log Updated | |||
| 7/16/2025 | No Incident, Log Updated | |||
| 9/15/2025 | No Incident, Log Updated | |||
| 10/8/25 | Grease fire caught plastic exhaust fan on fire | 10/8/25 | 8:00 PM | Lasdon House, 420 E 70th Street |
