"A service like that would be much more effective if Harvard would advertise it more thoroughly" says William Jaeger, a HUCTW organizer. University officials "want to make that service available, but at a cheap cost."

"Most people don't know enough about [the EHS]," says Yvete L. Rheault, a HUCTW organizer. Information about EHS services "just doesn't seem to be communicated enough [to employees]."

"I just wish more information were put forward," says the former Harvard lab technician.

Heads of the various laboratories on campus say that although lab research can often put technicians in contact with hazardous materials, conditions are carefully monitored and all employees receive proper training. They say that all radioactive materials are disposed of with great care and according to NRC regulations.

When lab technicians are placed in work situations where they might be exposed to hazardous chemicals, "we try to equip them with whatever equipment and training they might need and monitor the workplace," Vautin says.

"A lab setting is certainly more hazardous. We work with many things that can cause you grief," says Director of Administration of the Biological Laboratories Charles J. Ciotti. "But people go into science knowing that."

"The labs are constantly inspected," Ciotti says. "We live by all the rules and regulations."

The radiation program in Harvard labs pose a particular danger because it involves using radioactive material, but EHS monitors regularly look through the labs for potential safety violations. Vautin says it "is a very tightly regulated program."

Others disagree, saying that violations occurregularly in the labs. They say that abuses, suchas food being kept in the labs and technicianshandling materials they are not supposed to,abound, and that EHS inspectors often fail to seewhat's going on.

"A lot of times [supervisors] take a lot ofthings for granted," Rheault said. But since manylab technicians are fresh out of college and havelittle or no on-the-job experience, "some of thestuff they're working with they have to know moreabout."

"I started working with radioactive materialsimmediately, which is not supposed to happen,"says the technician. "It happens all the time....Alot of the time I've seen people come into thelabs and not know the [type of] materials they'redealing with," she says.

Although many supervisors show genuine concernfor worker safety, "there are other people whohave a very cavalier attitude that `you know whatyou're getting into,' " Rondeau says.

EHS officials "don't come and pick up much ofthe abuses going on," the technician says. "Peoplebreak the rules all the time when they're notsupposed to."

The use of radioactive materials in the labs"is not regulated enough," Rheault says.

Although many EHS investigators do a good jobof inspecting the research areas, some are muchless thorough, employees say.