Dear Fellow Faculty and Colleagues: We are writing to alert you to a new Working Alone Policy for the Institute. This policy is relevant to all departments, labs and centers where research or teaching involves working with potentially hazardous conditions that may result in immediate injury or serious harm. The policy resulted from concerns raised after a student died from injuries sustained while working alone at Yale University in April 2011. The policy has been vetted through the various Institute EHS-related committees (CAB/ESCRO, RPC, and CTC). It was discussed and endorsed at the February 1, 2012 Institute Council on EHS. It was approved and adopted by the Academic Council on May 22, 2012. Each PI is responsible for the safety of his or her lab. If you are a PI whose research includes such potentially hazardous conditions as defined in the policy, you are responsible for ensuring that your lab personnel are familiar with the Working Alone policy. Please refer to Guiding Principles in Support of the Working Alone Policy for documentation requirements associated with the policy. Your Department, Lab or Center EHS Coordinator and the EHS Office are available to provide assistance to you and your lab should you have any questions about the implementation of this policy in your lab. Thank you for your attention to this important matter. I appreciate your ongoing commitment to ensuring your world-class research continues to be conducted with safety as a fundamental practice and core value.