Chemical Lab Decontamination & Checkout

All chemical containers must be removed from the laboratory by the vacating group and taken to their new location or given to EH&S for disposal or recycling

For lab remodels, steps 1 - 5 are required as a minimum.

1. Vacating Group: notify EH&S of intent to vacate; include a timeline for activities and planned disposition of lab chemicals and equipment
2. EH&S (Radiation Safety): check records to determine whether a contamination survey is needed
   • If currently authorized, the room must be released prior to other use
   • Radioactive records show historical use of isotopes for the last 35 years
   • Previously canceled authorizations were subject to similar radiation surveys at cancellation
3. Vacating group: wash all horizontal surfaces where chemicals have been used or stored (bench tops, shelves, floors, chemical storage areas) with a soap solution followed by a water rinse
   • Wash/rinse procedure should proceed from the highest areas in the room to the lowest
   • The horizontal surface definition does not include light fixtures or overhead pipes
4. Vacating group: wash fronts and sides of lab bench cabinets with a soap solution followed by a water rinse
5. Vacating group: notify EH&S that they have cleaned and vacated the laboratory
   • EH&S will perform a visual survey noting any remaining chemical containers or remaining areas of gross chemical contamination
   • These issues will be addressed and corrected by the vacating group
6. EH&S: question vacating occupants about what chemicals were used in the laboratory to establish a chemical history
   • This will be used in determining what specific chemical indicators, if any, to survey for.
7. EH&S: perform contamination survey for the following chemicals, as a minimum, unless there is evidence that this is not necessary
   
   • Mercury
   • Volatile organic material
8. EH&S: release lab for reuse after it has been cleaned and results from contamination surveys are below occupational exposure standards
   • If the results from the contamination surveys are not below occupational exposure standards, additional cleaning will be performed by the vacating group after consultation with EH&S