12. Policy for Termination of Laboratory & Container Area Use of Hazardous Materials

Whenever a scientist or Laboratory Supervisor (or a person under their charge performing work with hazardous materials in their laboratory) leaves the Institute or is transferred to a different location within the Institute, proper disposition of hazardous materials is required. This includes faculty, staff, post-doctoral and graduate students.

The "host" department will be responsible for the execution of the following regulations and the WIS Safety Services will assist in their implementation. Should improper management of hazardous materials at close-out requires removal services from an outside contractor, the responsible Department will be charged for this service.

12.1 Hazardous Chemical Disposal in Laboratories and Containment Areas

The following procedures should be completed before the responsible individual leaves the WIS or transfers to a different location on campus:

• Assure that all containers of chemicals are properly labeled. All containers must be securely closed. Beakers, flasks, evaporating dishes, etc., should be emptied. Hazardous chemical wastes must not be sewered or trashed; they must be collected for proper disposal.
• Clean chemicals from glassware and assure proper waste disposal guidelines are followed. Never pour chemical residues down the sink.
• Check refrigerators, cold rooms, freezers, fume hoods, storage cabinets and bench tops for chemical containers and thoroughly clean these locations. If another room or facility (such as a freezer or refrigerator, stock rooms, etc.) is shared with other researchers, remove, transfer or dispose of items used by the departing researcher.
• Contact Safety Services (Tel: 3651, 3844) for pick-up of hazardous waste at least one week prior to vacating the lab.
  • For gas cylinders, remove regulators, replace cap and return to supplier. If cylinders are non-returnable, refer to the WIS Hazardous Waste Disposal Guide. Gas cylinders used in the containment area must be decontaminated prior to return.
  • As an alternative to disposal, if the chemical is still usable, transfer the responsibility of the chemical to another investigator or supervisor who is willing to take charge of the chemical.
• Follow all guidelines in the WIS Waste Disposal Guide for disposal of unwanted chemicals. The Safety Services will pick up all hazardous waste provided:
  1. all chemical containers are properly labeled as "hazardous waste" and are accompanied with a completely filled out hazardous waste tag, according to the five waste cathegories.
  2. all containers are securely closed.

Notify the Safety Services when laboratories or containment area/rooms have been cleared.

12.2 Disposal of Biological Materials

Hazardous biological material includes:

• Infectious substances: viable microorganisms, including bacteria, virus, rickettsia, fungus, or a recombinant, hybrid or mutant, that are known or reasonably believed to cause disease in animals or humans.
• Diagnostic specimens: any human or animal material including but not limited to, excreta, secreta, blood and its components, tissue and tissue fluids.
• Animal Tissue:
  • Large animal parts or whole animals will be picked up and incinerated. Small animal parts and tissues should be placed in a biohazard waste bag for incineration.
  • If tissue is held in a liquid preservative, the tissue and liquid should be separated. Liquid preservative usually needs to be disposed as a hazardous waste.
  • If appropriate disposal is uncertain, contact the Safety Services (3651).
  • Defrost, clean and dry refrigerators and freezers if they are empty.
  • If samples need to be saved, locate the scientist in-charge or supervisor to take responsibility for them.
• Microorganisms and Cultures:
  • Use an autoclave to decontaminate all liquid culture waste, and dispose of it as outlined in the Hazardous Waste Disposal Guide.
  • If the material cannot be decontaminated, place it in a biohazard bag for incineration.
  • Clean and disinfect incubators, drying or curing ovens, refrigerators and freezers.
  • If samples need to be saved, locate the scientist in-charge or supervisor to take responsibility for them.

Notify the Safety Services when laboratories or containment area/rooms have been cleared.

12.3 Radioisotopes and Radioactive Materials Use Areas - Close-out Procedures

Prior to close-out of radioactive materials use areas, release of radioactive use equipment and/or radioactive materials approvals, it is the responsibility of the principal investigator to assure that the following steps have been completed:

1. Notify the Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) of the intended transfer or close out. At that time, the materials to be moved will be reviewed.
2. The RSO must authorize any transfers to other principal investigator. The receiving principal investigator must be approved for the nuclide and quantity of activity, and must not exceed the authorized amount after receipt of the transferred material.
3. An inventory of the materials to be transferred must be supplied to the RSO prior to the transfer.
4. Package the radioactive materials in strong tight containers. Each container must be contained and segregated properly according to the nuclide and amount of activity in the material, whether it is waste, stock vials, sealed sources, contaminated equipment, samples, etc.
5. After the removal of all radioactive materials, sources and waste, the RSO performs a survey of the entire laboratory, including all use, storage and disposal areas. (Note: refrigerators and freezers, community use areas, incubators, fume hoods and all other areas which may potentially be contaminated must be included in the survey). This survey is documented in the safety records. If contamination is found, it must be decontaminated prior to release to new occupants. No further use of radioactive materials in the room is allowed until the close-out is finalized and the room or areas is released by RSO and warning labels may then be removed.
6. Prior to moving radioactive materials into a new use area, principal investigators must obtain prior approval from the Radiation Safety Officer. New rooms to be occupied must be approved for radioactive materials use, and facilities must be appropriate for the types and quantities of radioactive materials to be used.
7. Equipment used for or with radioactive materials must be surveyed and released by the RSO prior to transfer to other locations or users.
8. Note that all contaminated areas, equipment, materials etc., must be decontaminated to the unrestricted area release limits before release or must be treated as radioactive and managed accordingly.

Notify the department when laboratories or containment area/rooms have been cleared.

12.4 Mixed Hazards

Occasionally it is necessary to dispose of materials that contain more than one of the above hazards. Contact the Safety Services for chemical, radioactive or biological agent assistance.

12.5 Equipment

Equipment potentially contaminated with radioisotopes must be surveyed by the RSO prior to release or use by other persons.

12.6 Shared Storage 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.