Minors In University Laboratories

There are numerous safety and legal concerns with the presence of minors in biology, chemistry, physics, and medical research laboratories. Please communicate plans to have minors in the lab to the Office of Environmental Health and Safety (OEHS) as soon as possible so that safety reviews can be completed and the necessary training arranged before the arrival of the minor student.

Please be aware that no persons under the age of 16 may enter a Yale biology, chemistry, physics, or medical research laboratory unless they are participating in an organized education program sponsored by their school or municipality and approved by the dean of the Yale school where the program will take place, OEHS, and the Office of New Haven Affairs.

No persons between the ages of 16 and 18 may enter a Yale biology, chemistry, physics, or medical research lab except as part of an educational program approved by the dean, as above, OR as part of a relationship in which a Yale faculty member or researcher is acting as mentor to a young person. In the case of mentoring a person 16-18 years of age, the person must not be present in the lab for more than 5 hours per week, and the activities must have received prior approval of OEHS.

All persons under 18 years of age must complete all required safety training and adhere to all restrictions imposed by OEHS. Faculty members should call OEHS well in advance of the arrival of the minor to insure timely review and approval. Please contact OEHS (785-3550) for more information. Yale's policy on minors in laboratories can be viewed here: http://www.yale.edu/provost/html/minors_lab.html