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CLEANING
AND REMOVING HAZARDS PRIOR TO VACATING, TRANSFERRING OR RELOCATING
LABORATORY AND SHOP SPACES
All
surfaces and equipment should be cleaned and put into a safe
condition prior to vacating, transferring or relocating Laboratory
and shop spaces. The Laboratory's Space Management Policy
in the Regulations and Procedure Manual (§
1.19 C.4) requires
that laboratory and shop spaces be cleared of debris and contamination
prior to transfer of ownership. This is to safeguard
the health and safety of Facilities, Transportation and contract
personnel who work in these areas during space demolition,
renovation, and construction activities. It also prevents
delays in renovation schedules and minimizes costs to the
Divisions who own the space.
Line managers, PIs and supervisors of laboratory
and shop spaces are responsible for ensuring chemical, physical,
biological, and radiological hazards have been removed prior
to releasing these spaces to Facilities or to new occupants.
This includes removing visible residues, standing liquids,
loose particulate material and quantifiable radiological hazards
on floors, bench tops, shelves, inside drawers, cabinets,
refrigerators, surfaces of local exhaust enclosures (e.g.,
chemical fume hood and Biological Safety Cabinet) and any
other potentially contaminated surfaces. This also applies
to any equipment that is to be moved. It is recommended
that surfaces be wiped down with mild detergents such as soap
and water. A 10% bleach solution may be used for surfaces
in labs where biological materials have been used. Use
acid/alkaline neutralizers for acid or caustic spill areas.
Laboratory and shop employees who have taken CHSP
Training (EH&S 348) can perform this work. In certain
cases, the amount of work may require using the services of
an outside contractor. Contact an EH&S
Industrial Hygienist for assistance with this determination.
Removal of Chemicals, Wastes and Other Materials
Equipment,
supplies, products and materials such as apparatuses, thermometers,
gas cylinders, medical waste containers, sharps containers,
sharps (needles and razor blades), trash, absorbent material,
and other miscellaneous lab or shop material must be removed
prior to vacating the space. Furthermore, chemicals and products
must be removed. This includes cleaning compounds, surplus
chemicals, stock solutions, experimental products, and hazardous
waste located in Satellite Accumulation Areas (SAAs). A Waste
Management Generator Assistance Specialist
should
be contacted for assistance.
EH&S Evaluation and Release of Laboratory
and Shop Spaces
Following
the decontamination of work surfaces and the removal of chemical,
physical, biological, and radiological hazards, EH&S
Industrial Hygienists and Radiological
Control Technicians (RCTs),
depending on the radiological use in the space, will perform
a final inspection prior to the release of the space. EH&S
Industrial Hygienists will evaluate the space for
pH, evidence of debris, "orphaned" chemicals and
materials (as previously discussed) and will check for mercury
in sink "P traps."
The cognizant
Radiological Control Technician will complete a green release
tag indicating the space has been cleared from radiological
hazards Pub
3000, Chapter 21 Release of Materials from Controlled Areas
. EH&S
industrial hygienists will release the space by posting
the entrance with the date and name of the industrial hygienist
who evaluated the space.
If
equipment and supplies are to be moved to salvage or another
building, an EH&S
Industrial Hygienist should
be contacted to evaluate these items and post them if they
are safe to be handled by LBNL personnel or subcontract employees.
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