Laboratory Decommissioning and Relocation Program
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The University of Chicago
Environmental Health & Safety
Laboratory Decommissioning and Relocation Program
Policy
This program has been developed as a guide to assist in the decommissioning or relocation of laboratories on campus in order to minimize hazards to University employees, to maintain compliance with all applicable federal, state and local regulations, and to promote environmental stewardship.
Scope
The program applies to all University research laboratories and any auxiliary laboratory support areas. The program lists the requirements for the removal of all chemical, physical, biological, and radiological hazards associated with research from the aforementioned spaces when the area is being vacated for any of the following reasons: The Principal Investigator is leaving the University of Chicago; The Principal Investigator is relocating to a new laboratory at the University of Chicago; The Principal Investigator is relocating to an off campus location; The space is being vacated for renovations; or The space is scheduled for demolition.
Authority and Responsibility
Environmental Health and Safety is responsible for: 1. Developing and implementing a Laboratory Decommissioning and Relocation Program; 2. Conducting pre-inspections of the space to identify all hazards present; 3. Conducting post-inspections of the space to ensure the area is free of recognized hazards using the Laboratory Close Out Form; and 4. Providing the arrangements for the relocation or disposal of hazardous materials; Laboratory Directors, Principal Investigators or Laboratory Facility Managers are responsible for: 1. Notifying Environmental Health and Safety 30 days before vacating the space; 2. Complying with all aspects of the Laboratory Decommissioning and Relocation Program; 3. Accompanying Environmental Health and Safety on pre-inspections of the space to identify all hazards present; 4. Accompanying Environmental Health and Safety on post-inspections of the space to ensure the area is free of recognized hazards; and
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Laboratory Decommissioning and Relocation Program
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5. Procuring the cost of the relocation or disposal of hazardous materials on a projectscale. Departments are responsible for: 1. Ensuring that the Principal Investigator complies with the procedures in this program; and 2. Procuring the cost of the relocation or disposal of hazardous materials on largescale renovation or demolition projects.
Notification
Environmental Health and Safety shall be notified at least 30 days prior to vacating the laboratory and any laboratory support areas and before commencing any evacuating activities. Environmental Health and Safety will conduct a pre-inspection of the space with the Principal Investigator to identify all chemical, physical, biological and radiological hazards within the space. If any radiological hazards are identified or are suspected to be associated with the space, the Office of Radiation Safety shall also be notified at 773-702 -6299 by the laboratory director or Principal Investigator. If a vacated laboratory or auxiliary laboratory support area is being occupied by a new Principal Investigator, it is the responsibility of the new Principal Investigator to ensure the space is free of recognized hazards prior to occupying the space. Environmental Health and Safety shall be contacted for assistance. If a vacated laboratory or laboratory support area has not been decommissioned properly, and becomes occupied, all materials found within the laboratory shall become the responsibility of the new Principal Investigator.
General Housekeeping
All garbage shall be removed from the space including empty containers, papers, and disposable materials. All non-hazardous materials may be disposed of as general waste. All surfaces, including bench tops and fume hoods shall be washed down with warm, soapy water after all garbage and debris has been removed. Any broken glass or unwanted glassware shall be disposed of in rigid, puncture-resistant containers designated for glass and shall be removed from the space. To schedule a pick -up for glass disposal, contact Environmental Services within the Medical Center or the facility manager for laboratories on campus. Any sharps such as needles or razor blades shall be disposed of in an approved sharpscontainer and shall be removed from the space. To schedule a pick-up for sharps, contact Environmental Services within the Medical Center or the facility manager for laboratories on campus.
Chemical Hazards
A current chemical inventory shall be submitted through the EH&S Assistant upon notifying Environmental Health and Safety of the intent to vacate. Labels on chemical containers shall be legible. Replace any damaged or illegible labels. Replacement labels shall be consistent with the NFPA labeling system. Refer to the Hazard Communication Program, for instructions on chemical labeling.
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Disposal of hazards chemicals into sinks, drains, commodes or other sewage disposal channels is STRICTLY PROHIBITED. Empty containers with 3% or less chemical residue may be disposed of as general waste. The label must be removed from container or the label must be completely defaced. All chemical waste shall be removed from the space prior to evacuating. Environmental Health and Safety shall make arrangements for the disposal of all chemical waste through the Universitys hazardous materials contractor. Check chemical containers for expiration dates and signs of damage, corrosion or crystallization. Any expired chemicals or any chemical containers exhibiting damage, corrosion or crystallization shall be disposed of as chemical waste and shall not be relocated to a new location. Any peroxide-forming materials within the space shall be disposed of as chemical waste and shall not be relocated to a new location if the container has been opened and is more than six months old, or if it has not been opened and is more than one year old. Environmental Health and Safety shall be notified if perchloric acid has been use within the space or in a fume hood so that the space may be tested for perchlorates. Chemicals that will be relocated to a new space on campus shall be packaged and transported by the Universitys hazardous materials contractor. All chemicals shall be moved during normal business hours (8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday) so that in the event of an accident or spill, Environmental Health and Safety can easily respond. Equipment and other, non-hazardous materials may be moved after hours or on the weekends. Laboratory personnel shall be present at the time that chemicals will be relocated to the new space.
Chemical Recycling
Environmental Health and Safety encourages chemical exchanges among researchers of chemicals that may be beneficial to other research associates on campus. Chemicals acceptable for recycling should be in their original containers, unused and unopened with the original label still affixed to the container. Chemicals shall also be viable or nonexpired. Such chemical exchanges shall adhere to the Hazardous Materials Management policy, which include storage, packaging, and transportation of chemicals.
Physical Hazards
All recognized physical hazards that exist within the space that are not considered to be apart of the space shall be removed prior to vacating the space. Such hazards include, but are not limited to: items, objects or equipment that may cause slips, trips, falls, heat stress, cold stress, high noise, vibrations, and any bodily harm or damage. All laboratory specific research apparatus must be dismantled, and removed from the space.
Refrigerators, Freezers and Equipment
Refrigerators shall be emptied and contents segregated into hazard classes before removing from the space. A cooler with dry ice may be used to move items that must be refrigerated. Freezers may be removed with the contents inside as long as they do not contain breakable containers, are labeled as to what is inside the freezer, and are locked and securely strapped shut.
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All laboratory equipment contaminated or potentially contaminated with chemicals or biological materials shall be decontaminated before removal from the space. Equipment shall have chemicals safely removed, drained or discharged from the equipment. Contact Environmental Health and Safety to schedule a pick-up of the chemical waste collected. Clean all surfaces with warm, soapy water. Biological materials shall be removed from the equipment. Disinfect surfaces that may be contaminated with biological agents by cleaning with a bleach and water solution consisting of one part of bleach to ten (1:10) parts of water. As a final step, wipe equipment down with a 70% alcohol solution. This equipment includes, but is not limited to: Centrifuges; Glassware; Plasticware; Glove boxes; Flammable cabinets; Corrosive cabinets; Water baths; Refrigerators; Ovens; Microfuges; Incubators; Microwave ovens; Shakers; Vacuum pumps; Biological safety cabinets; and Compressors.
If typical decontamination procedures may damage the equipment or cause a safety issue, please refer to the manufacturers recommendations for decontamination of the equipment. All equipment that previously contained hazardous materials or was utilized with hazardous materials shall have a Notice of Equipment Decontamination Form accompanied with the equipment before it can be removed from the space. Compressed Gasses Compressed gas cylinders and dewars shall be properly secured and capped when they are transported. Cylinders shall be transported in an upright position in an approved cylinder cart. Never move a cylinder by rolling it across the floor. Do not leave a cylinder unattended in the corridor. Never drop cylinders or bang them against each other or another object. Empty cylinders shall be labeled empty. Contact the Physical Sciences Division (PSD) Dock to schedule the removal of cylinders and dewars. Biological Hazards All biohazardous materials (materials containing or previously containing microorganisms, toxins, and allergens derived from those organisms, plants and animals) shall be removed from the space by a vendor specializing in biohazardous materials handling.
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All select agents shall be removed in accordance with the University of Chicagos Select Agent Material Management Program. If any select agents are identified or are suspected to be associated with the space, the Biological Safety Officer shall also be notified at 773834-7496 by the laboratory director or Principal Investigator. Clean all surfaces that may be contaminated with biological agents with warm, soapy water. Disinfect surfaces that may be contaminated with biological agents with a bleach and water solution consisting of one part of bleach to ten (1:10) parts of water. As a final step, wipe surfaces down with a 70% alcohol solution. Sterilize all potentially infectious waste and dispose of according to the procedures for your biosafety level and the Potentially Infectious Waste policy for further instructions. Remove all media and supplies from drawers, shelves, and cabinets. Biological Safety Cabinets require professional decontamination prior to removing and require re-certification if it is being relocated. Refer to the Biological Safety Cabinets policy for further instructions.
Radiological Hazards
If any radiological hazards are identified or are suspected to be associated with the space, the Office of Radiation Safety shall be notified at 773-702-6299 by the laboratory director or Principal Investigator. Scintillation Vials All scintillation vials containing amounts of radioactive material reading above background levels shall be disposed of through the Radiation Safety Office with the exception of H-3, C-14, or I-125. These are de-regulated vials if they are below 0.05 microcuries per milliliter and shall be disposed of in accordance with the Hazardous Materials Management policy. All other vials greater than 0.05 microcuries per milliliter of those three nuclides shall be disposed of through the Radiation Safety Office. Miscellaneous Hazards Certain laboratory equipment and apparatuses may materials or chemicals which are potentially harmful to human health or the environment. These may include: Asbestos (e.g., autoclaves, ovens, gloves, curtains, hot plates); Mercury (e.g., manometers, thermometers, barometers, silent switches); PCBs (e.g., batteries, batteries supplies, high voltage systems, capacitors, pump oils); Acids (e.g., batteries); and Solvents (e.g., degreasing equipment). Notify Environmental Health and Safety if you have knowledge or suspect equipment to have any of these materials.
Chemical Emergencies
The University of Chicagos Police Department shall be notified immediately upon an emergency incident by dialing 123 or 773-702-8181.
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Refer to the Chemical Spill Response procedure for instructions on how to respond to a chemical spill. If a chemical spill occurs, contact the University of Chicago Police Department. The Police Department shall notify the On-Call Safety Officer to help assist in a chemical spill clean-up. Reviewed: May 2011
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