IUPUI Environmental Health & Safety

Chemical & Laboratory Safety > IUPUI Decommissioning Guidelines
For Termination of Laboratory Use

IUPUI DECOMMISSIONING GUIDELINES FOR TERMINATION OF LABORATORY USE (Link to doc file)

When leaving a laboratory for the last time, due to resignation, termination, transfer, renovation, or other reasons, there are requirements that need to be met. The purpose of these guidelines is to inform responsible individuals of the required activities to prepare the lab for safe future use. These activities include disposition of all chemical and biological agents, equipment and final decontamination of the laboratory.

Proper disposition of all hazardous materials used in laboratories is the responsibility of the principal investigator or researcher to whom a laboratory is assigned. Ultimate responsibility for hazardous materials management lies with each department.

If improper management of hazardous materials at closeout requires removal services by the Department of Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) or from an outside contractor, the responsible department will be charged for this service. Any regulatory action or fines resulting from improper management or disposal of hazardous materials will accrue to the responsible department. EHS will not be responsible for loss incurred by individuals or departments as a result of regulation-mandated removal of hazardous materials.

The following procedures should be completed when the responsible individual leaves the University or transfers to a different laboratory.

GENERAL GUIDELINES	Notify EHS of the planned decommissioning. Package and move lab items only during normal business hours so staff will be available to help if there is a spill or accident. Never transport hazardous materials alone. Follow the IUPUI Chemical Move Guidelines for all chemical transportation. Wear appropriate personal protective equipment for the material being handled. Review the location of safety glasses, eyewashes, fire extinguishes and exits if the lab closeout involves moving to another campus lab. Notify EHS after all activities have occurred for a final inspection of the area.
CHEMICALS	Ensure that all containers of chemicals are securely closed and labeled with the name of the chemical. Empty beakers, flasks, evaporating dishes, etc. into appropriate containers with tight-fitting lid. Hazardous chemical wastes are collected for disposal, not sewered or placed in the trash. Refrigerators, freezers, fume hoods, bench tops and storage cabinets are checked for chemical containers. Usable chemicals are transferred to another party who is willing to assume responsibility for them. If a new user cannot be found, the materials are disposed through the EHS hazardous waste program. Detailed instructions for chemical disposal are available in the IUPUI Waste Disposal Guideline. This process may take quite some time and should be started at least a month before departure from the laboratory. Chemical pickup should be completed before the laboratory is vacated. Waste collection will take at least a week after notification that waste is ready for pickup. When transporting chemicals, refer to the IUPUI Chemical Move Guidelines.
CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES	Controlled substance permits are issued by the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and are issued to individual researchers. There is no central record of permit holders. Abandonment of a controlled substance is a violation of the DEA permit under which it was held. Permission to transfer ownership of a controlled substance to another individual must be received from DEA. EHS is notified if controlled substances for which the licensee is unknown are found.
GAS CYLINDERS	Cylinders are disconnected, their caps replaced and the cylinders returned to suppliers. Non-returnable cylinders (i.e., lecture bottles) are manifested and packed as chemical waste.
ANIMAL AND HUMAN TISSUE	Tissue held in a liquid preservative is separated from the liquid. Recognizable human tissue requires special handling; contact EHS for directions. Other human tissue specimens are placed in an appropriate biohazard waste container for autoclaving or incineration. Recognizable animal parts or carcasses should be returned to LARC for proper disposal. Animal tissue is disposed in a biohazard waste bag and autoclaved or incinerated. Liquid preservatives may require disposal as hazardous wastes. Do not assume that the preservative can be disposed of in the sewer. Contact EHS for guidance on disposal options.
MICROORGANISMS AND CULTURES	Waste is decontaminated by autoclave, incineration or other approved method and disposed. The Biosafety Officer is notified of the transfer of NIH Risk Group 2 agents or higher. The Biosafety Officer is notified of the intent to transfer Risk Group 2 agents or higher from the university. Such transfers may fall under DOT or IATA shipping regulations and/or require additional permits. These transfers must be arranged well in advance.
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS	Prior to closeout of a radioactive materials use area and/or a radioactive materials use permit, it is the responsibility of the department and the authorized permit holder to contact Radiation Safety for proper lab decommissioning.
EQUIPMENT	Laboratory equipment to be left for the next occupant is cleaned, decontaminated, and tagged before the laboratory is vacated. Cleaning freezers, refrigerators incubators and drying ovens is included. EHS is alerted if exhaust or filtration equipment had been used with extremely hazardous substances or organisms. EHS is notified of disposal of mercury or chemical containing laboratory equipment (capacitors, transformers, mercury switches, mercury thermometers). Radioactive sources and chemicals are removed before disposal. Equipment potentially contaminated with microbial agents is decontaminated with an effective disinfectant before departing the laboratory or arranging for its relocation. Equipment disposed through the Surplus Property program must be decontaminated and tagged as decontaminated prior to pickup. All hazard warning labels (radioactive, biohazard, etc.) must be removed before transfer to Surplus Property. Damaged equipment (i.e., frayed wires, missing guard) should be for repaired during the move, accomplishing the repair during lab downtime.
SHARED USE AREAS	One of the most problematic situations is the sharing of storage units such as refrigerators, freezers, cold rooms, stock rooms, waste collection areas, etc., particularly if no one has been assigned to manage the unit. Departing researchers must carefully survey any shared facility in order to locate and appropriately dispose of their hazardous materials.
CLEANUP AND DECONTAMINATION	All areas of chemical and biological agent use or storage must be cleaned. This includes areas such as benchtops, chemical storage cabinets, fume hoods, biological safety cabinets, shelves, ovens, incubators, refrigerators and freezers. All surfaces potentially contaminated with chemicals or biological agents must be effectively decontaminated and tagged/labeled as such.
REFERENCE TELEPHONE NUMBERS	• Environmental Manager - 274-4351 • Lab Safety Manager - 274-2829 • All other areas - 274-2005
DOCUMENT REFERENCE	Documents referenced in these guidelines may be obtained at the Environmental Health and Safety website - www.ehs.iupui.edu