Youth in Labs Guidelines

Programs involving Children and Youth in Labs must abide by University Policy 8.8, Children and Youth Safety. These Rules and Procedures apply to faculty, staff, students, and volunteers who work with children and youth under the age of 18 years old, within laboratories and laboratory support spaces.

Cornell University is committed to creating a safe environment for children and youth visiting or working in laboratories or laboratory support spaces where hazardous materials and equipment are present.

The following requirements regarding the presence of children and youth in University laboratories and laboratory support spaces apply to:

• All laboratories and laboratory support spaces at Cornell University, with the exception of Weill Cornell Medical College

• All members of the University community, including faculty, staff, volunteers, interns, academic appointees, teaching assistants, registered University students, and contractors; and

• Non-University organizations that operate programs for children and youth in University facilities. 

• These requirements do not apply to:

  • Undergraduate students enrolled in courses listed in a campus course catalog having a laboratory component; and

  • Computational laboratories, or laboratories where no hazardous materials or equipment are present. In addition, all units and members of the University community are expected to comply with University Policy 8.8, Children and Youth Safety.

Appropriate Laboratory Attire:

Appropriate laboratory attire covers the torso, legs, and feet, and accommodates a lab coat and other required PPE. Long hair is tied back.

Hazardous equipment:

Hazardous equipment includes, but is not limited to radiation-producing equipment, lasers, and other laboratory equipment, machinery, and tools that present electrical, pressure, temperature, ultraviolet, and/or other physical hazards.

Hazardous materials:

Hazardous materials include, but are not limited to chemicals, biological agents, radioactive materials, compressed gases, and cryogenic liquids that present a health and/or physical hazard.

Laboratory:

For the purposes of this document, “laboratory” refers to any space used for scientific activities that may involve hazardous materials and/or equipment, including teaching laboratories and research laboratories.

Laboratory support space:

For the purposes of this document, “laboratory support space” refers to any space that supports or serves as an extension of a laboratory where hazardous materials and/or equipment may be used or present. Examples include chemical storage rooms, equipment rooms, cold rooms, tissue culture rooms, microscope rooms, dark rooms, growth chambers, greenhouses, and animal housing and procedure spaces.

Children/Youth/Minor:

Any person under the age of 18 who is not (a) a registered student or (b) an employee of the University.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):

Personal protective equipment is equipment worn to minimize exposure to hazards. Examples of PPE include lab coats, gloves, eye protection (safety glasses or chemical splash goggles), hearing protection (earplugs or muffs), respirators, foot protection (steel-toed shoes), etc.

Qualified Adult:

A person over the age of 21 who has knowledge of the laboratory operations and hazards, and has the authority to take action in the event of a risk to children and youth. The qualified adult is the principal investigator or his/her designee assigned to interact, supervise, instruct, or otherwise have direct, non-incidental contact with children and youth.

Children and Youth Under age 13:

Children and Youth under the age of 13 are not permitted to enter a laboratory or laboratory support space unless they are participating in an observation-only tour or visit that does not involve the use of hazardous materials or equipment.

Children and Youth Participating in Observation-Only Tour or Visit:

The following are requirements for all children and youth participating in observation-only tours or visits: The tour or visit is approved by the department head and the principal investigator (PI).

• Children and Youth participating in tours or visits have written consent from their parent or guardian. Departments should retain the signed documents until four years after the child or youth reaches the age of 18 years.

• Children and Youth participating in tours or visits are supervised at all times while on the premises by a qualified adult designated for this responsibility.

• Children and Youth participating in tours or visits are provided with and wear the personal protective equipment (PPE) required for entry by the specific laboratory or facility.

• Children and Youth participating in tours or visits wear appropriate laboratory attire.

• Children and Youth participating in tours or visits do not perform any laboratory activities involving hazardous materials and/or equipment.

• Hazardous materials are properly stored and hazardous equipment is in a safe mode while children and youth are present.

Youth in University-Sponsored Programs:

Youth ages 13-17 are permitted in a laboratory when they are participating in a University-sponsored educational program, and the following requirements are met:

• Participation of the department and the laboratory in the program is approved by the department head and the PI responsible for the laboratory or laboratory support space

• Youth participating in the program have written consent from their parent or guardian. Departments should retain the signed documents until four years after the Youth reaches the age of 18 years.

• Youth participating in the program have received training on the hazardous materials and equipment they will use or have potential exposure to. The training length and content are specific to the program and may be provided by the Environment, Health and Safety Department (EHS), the principal investigator or direct laboratory supervisor, and/or the program leader as appropriate. The training must be documented and maintained by the laboratory supervisor, program coordinator, and/or EHS.

• Youth participating in the program are supervised at all times by a qualified adult designated for this responsibility.

• Youth participating in the program are provided with and wear all required personal protective equipment (PPE).

• Youth participating in the program wear appropriate laboratory attire.

Youth working and interning in laboratories:

Youth ages 16-17 are permitted to work and intern in laboratories, provided the requirements in the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the following requirements are met:

• Youth working or interning in a laboratory have written consent from their parent or guardian. Departments should retain the signed documents until four years after the Minor reaches the age of 18 years.

• Youth working or interning in a laboratory is under the direct supervision of a qualified adult designated for this responsibility.

• Youth working or interning in a laboratory are not permitted to work alone in the laboratory, regardless of the work they are performing.

• Youth working or interning in a laboratory has received all applicable laboratory safety training from EHS, and the training is documented through CULearn.

• Youth working or interning in a laboratory have received training on the specific hazardous materials and equipment present in the laboratory by the PI or designee, and the training is documented and maintained by the laboratory.

• Youth working or interning in a laboratory are provided with and wear all required personal protective equipment (PPE).

• Youth working or interning in a laboratory wear proper laboratory attire.

Children and Youth volunteering in labs:

Due to liability reasons, the University Volunteers Policy, 6.5, prohibits children and youth from working in university labs on any volunteer basis, regardless of the work being performed.

Children, Youth, or guests:

Children, Youth, or guests of university personnel and visitors are not permitted in university labs.

Qualified Adult: 

Must clear a background check in accordance with University Policy 6.6.2 Reference Checks, Information Verification, and Background Checks and successfully complete the training CRS 2101-Protecting Children: Identifying and Reporting Sexual Misconduct in CULearn before the first day of interacting and supervising a minor.

Reporting Abuse: 

The Qualified Adult is required to take the following steps:

• Tell your supervisor and the Cornell Youth Program Administrator (607) 255-2800

• Call Cornell University Police at (607) 255-1111 or the local police agency

• Complete the Misconduct with a Minor Incident Report Form

Radioactive Materials Use:

• Per Cornell University’s NYDOH radioactive materials license, all use of radioactive materials is approved by the Radiation Safety Committee through the issuance of permits.

• The addition of any radioactive materials to a user's permit, including youth, must be approved by the Radiation Safety Officer (RSO).

• Specific restrictions for youth under the age of 18 years. old working with radioactive materials and radiation-producing equipment are listed in the following table.

Biological Materials Use:

• Contact the Biosafety Officer (BSO) for approval for minors to work with Risk Group 2 agents. A risk-based approach will be utilized to determine approval based on the specific agent.

• Cornell University’s Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) is responsible for the oversight of activities involving biohazardous materials, and use is approved via a Memorandum of Understanding and Agreement (MUA). The addition of individuals to the MUA, including youth under the age of 18 years old, requires an amendment.

• Cornell University’s Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) is responsible for the oversight of activities involving animals, and use is approved via a protocol review process. The addition of individuals to the protocol, including youth under the age of 18 years old, requires an amendment.

• Specific restrictions for youth working with biological materials are listed in the following table.

The following table outlines the specific materials, equipment, and spaces that are prohibited or restricted for youth in laboratories and laboratory support spaces.

Allowable & Non-Allowable Materials

Category	Materials, Equipment, and/or Spaces Prohibited for ALL Minors	Materials, Equipment, and/or Spaces Prohibited for Minors Under Age of 16 and Restricted for Minors Aged 16-18*
Biological	Risk Group 3 agents BSL-3/ABSL-3 facilities Toxins of biological origin with an LD50 of ≤ 100 μg/kg body weight	Risk Group 2 agents, unless specifically approved by BSO*
Chemical	Controlled substances Explosives Pyrophoric materials Hydrofluoric acid High acute toxicity materials (oral LD50 ≤ 50 mg/kg, dermal LD50 ≤ 200 mg/kg, gases with LC50 ≤ 500 ppm; GHS categories 1 and 2, GHS hazard statements H300/H310/H330 fatal if swallowed/in contact with skin/if inhaled)	Known carcinogens (NTP “known to be carcinogens,” IARC Group 1, GHS categories 1A, 1B)* Known reproductive toxins, teratogens, mutagens (GHS categories 1A, 1B)* Strong corrosives (acid with pH ≤ 2, base with pH ≥ 12; GHS category 1A, 1B, 1C for skin/eye corrosion)*
Radiation	Radioactive iodine Irradiator Any work with radioactive materials or radiation-producing equipment in which the dose may exceed the general public dose limit.	All radioactive materials and radiation-producing equipment* Open beam Class 3B and Class 4 lasers*
Physical Hazards	Equipment with electrical or high voltage hazards (i.e. electrophoresis, power supplies, capacitor banks) Federal and/or NY state law prohibits minors under 18 from operating specific machinery, including circular saws; band saws; guillotine shears; power-driven woodworking, metal-forming, metal-punching, and metal-shearing machinery; and power-driven hoisting apparatus	Power-driven tools and machinery (NY state law prohibits minors under the age of 16 from operating or assisting in operating any machinery unless all moving parts other than keys, levers, or handles are so guarded as to prevent any part of the person or clothing for the operator from touching them)* Cryogenic liquids* Pressurized gas cylinders* Hoists and cranes*

*Minors aged 16-18 must have proper training, supervision, and personal protective equipment to work with these materials or equipment. Contact EHS for review and approval.

Youth in labs resources below:

• Fair Labor Standard Act

• NYS Labor Standard-Laws Governing the Employment of Minors

• NYS Department of Labor-Federal Prohibited Occupations

• NYS Department of Labor-State Prohibited Occupations

Children and Youth Safety at Cornell University
395 Pine Tree Road, Suite 330
Ithaca, NY 14850
Phone: (607) 255-2800
Email: youthprogramadministrator@cornell.edu 
Website: Children and Youth Safety at Cornell

Environment, Health and Safety
Main Office: 395 Pine Tree Road, Suite 210
Ithaca, NY 14850
Phone: (607) 255-8200
Fax: 607) 255-8267
Email: askehs@cornell.edu
Website: Environment, Health and Safety