Procedure 11:
Laboratory Decommissioning

Policy

A "laboratory decommissioning" occurs when a room which contains a laboratory that uses hazardous chemicals undergoes:

• renovation,
• relocation, or
• a change in laboratory supervision.

During a laboratory decommissioning, hazardous chemicals stored in the laboratory will be evaluated to determine whether they are likely to be used in the new laboratory setting or if they should be labeled laboratory waste for possible disposal or recycling.

Prior to vacating a laboratory, laboratory personnel must segregate all chemicals that will not be used in new laboratory setting and tag each container with the UVM Laboratory Waste Tag.

It is the responsibility of laboratory staff to maintain the integrity and accuracy of chemical labels to avoid the occurrence of unknown chemicals. ESF staff must characterize unknown chemicals prior to disposal.

Plan

Who:

Laboratory supervisors are responsible for notifying the Environmental Safety Facility of the need to decommission a laboratory. This can be done by filling out the Laboratory Moving Form described below.

ESF staff are responsible for assisting laboratory personnel with laboratory decommissioning and unknown chemical identification.

When:

The Laboratory Moving Form must be filled out by laboratory personnel as soon as possible, but at least two weeks prior to the laboratory renovation, relocation or change which will result in any laboratory chemicals or wastes being transferred from that location.

Where:

UVM Decommissioning Procedures will be used in all laboratories covered by the UVM Chemical Hygiene Plan or the UVM Environmental Management Plan

Procedure

Records

Decommissioning information will be used to update and maintain the ESF's roster of campus laboratories and supervisors.

Laboratory decommissioning reports will be maintained in a database for at least three years for review by ESF staff, campus facility planners and auditors.