Minors in Laboratories

As part of the University’s commitment to provide an open and safe campus environment for all, including minors, the University has developed a Minor on Campus Guidelines, and specific supplemental guidelines for hosting minors in laboratories.  These guidelines establish standardized safety practices and restrictions for minors in laboratories.  More detailed information can be found in the Safety of Minors Abuse and Reporting Policy or on the Office of Institutional Risk Management minors campus website. Contact Institutional Risk Management at 315.443.4011 or at riskadmin@syr.edu with questions.

If you wish to host a minor in a teaching or research laboratory the following requirements apply:

1. Registration and approval. All arrangements or activities (i.e., Programs) where minors will be present or engaged in activities in a University teaching or research laboratory must be registered with Office of Institutional Risk Management and approved for the program to occur.
2. Release Waivers. Obtain a signed Assumption of Risk, Waiver and Release Form from each minor participating in the Program. The Registration and Release Form must be signed by the minor and their parent. must be signed by the minor and their parent.
3. Supervision Required. Minors may not, under any circumstances, be alone in a University laboratory, even if they are only conducting computational work.
4. Training. All individuals, including minors, engaged in activities in a laboratory must complete the classroom Initial Laboratory Safety Training
5. Restricted Activities. Minors are restricted from working with or having access to the following materials, equipment, or research:

• Ionizing Radiation
   Radioisotopes and radiation producing equipment.
• Lasers (Class 3B or 4)
   Minors may not work in areas in which Class 3B or 4 laser are operating.
• Biological Hazards
  Infectious material, Primary human and non-human primate materials, Biological Select Agents or Toxins, Risk Group 2 recombinant materials and viral vectors.
• Controlled Substances
   Narcotic and non-narcotic substances that are regulated under the federal Controlled Substance Act.
• Particularly hazardous chemicals
   Acutely toxic – LD50 oral ≤50 mg/kg, carcinogens, reproductive hazards (mutagen or teratogen), pyrophorics, hydrofluoric acid, explosives, etc.
• Animals
   Minors may not access, handle or work with or in close proximity to vertebrate laboratory animals without the approval of an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC).
• Major Physical Hazards
   Minors may not engage in work involving equipment presenting a major physical hazards (i.e. lathes, electric saws, high powered tools, etc.) or electrical hazard (i.e. electrophoresis, high voltage equipment, etc.). Minor may not work in areas with potentially hazardous noise levels.
• Respirators
  Minors may not work in an area requiring the use of respirators.
• Exceptions
   In view of the open and diverse research environment at Syracuse University, this policy provides for limited exceptions to these requirements based on consultation with the principal, department chairperson, EHSS, and Risk Management.

Tours/Visits: Minors may enter a University laboratory as part of an authorized and supervised tour/visit that has been approved to occur by the Office of Institutional Risk Management. Laboratory tours may only be conducted at times when all hazardous materials are properly stored and are not being used for experiments. Minors participating in a tour/visit must be supervised at all times while on the premises, and may not participate in any laboratory activities.

Please visit the Office of Institutional Risk Management website for more information, or contact Risk Management at 315.443.4011.