Skip to Content

CLOSE-OUT PROCEDURES for LABORATORY OPERATIONS USING HAZARDOUS MATERIALS

INTRODUCTION

Proper disposal of hazardous materials is required whenever a responsible individual leaves the University or transfers to a different laboratory. ("Responsible individual" can include, but is not limited to: faculty, staff, post-doctoral, and graduate students.) Plan the disposal of hazardous materials carefully. Hazardous materials such as chemicals, microorganisms, tissues, and radioactive materials can injure faculty, students, staff, contractors and visitors if handled inappropriately.

The primary responsibility for the proper disposal of all hazardous materials used in laboratories lies with the principal investigator or researcher. Ultimate responsibility for hazardous materials management lies with each department.

When the proper management of hazardous materials at close-out requires the services of the Office of Environmental Health and Radiation Safety (EHRS), or an outside contractor, the responsible department may be charged for these services. EHRS is not responsible for costs incurred by individuals or departments as a result of lab close-out or transfers, or regulatory agency mandated removal of hazardous materials.

Any regulatory action or fines resulting from improper management or disposal of hazardous materials will accrue to the responsible department.

Please consult the University Biological Safety Manual, the University Chemical Hygiene Plan and the Radiation Safety User's Guide for guidance on University procedures regarding the transport and storage of potentially hazardous materials. Adhere to the following procedures when a responsible individual leaves the University or transfers to a different laboratory.

back to top

SHARED STORAGE AREAS

  • Shared facilities include storage units such as refrigerators, freezers, cold rooms, stock rooms, flammable liquids cabinets, waste collection areas, etc. They are of special concern, particularly if no one is assigned to manage the area.
  • Departing researchers must carefully inspect any shared facility in order to locate and appropriately dispose of their hazardous materials.

back to top

CHEMICALS

  • Determine which chemicals are usable. Transfer responsibility for these chemicals to a party willing to accept it. If a new user cannot be found, dispose of materials following University Guidelines for the Disposal of Chemical Waste.
  • Contact EHRS for waste collection. Do not flush hazardous chemicals down drains or discard them in the trash.
  • Label all chemical containers with the proper chemical name. Abbreviations, chemical formulas or structures are not acceptable. Close all containers securely.
  • Empty all beakers, flasks, evaporating dishes, etc. Remove all chemicals from refrigerators, freezers, fume hoods and bench tops as well as storage cabinets.
  • Prepare unusable chemicals for disposal following University Guidelines for the Disposal of Chemical Waste. This process may take quite some time. Start at least one month before planned departure from the laboratory. Complete chemical waste removal before vacating the laboratory. Allow two weeks for waste collection to occur after notifying EHRS that the waste is properly prepared for pickup.
  • Wash off fume hood surfaces and counter tops.
  • Notify Facilities Management (Building Administrator) when laboratory clean-up is complete. Facilities Management will contact EHRS to arrange a close-out inspection.

back to top

CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES

  • The US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) issues controlled substance permits to individual researchers. There is no central record of permit holders at the University.
  • Abandonment of a controlled substance is a violation of the DEA permit under which it was held.
  • Permission to dispose or transfer ownership of a controlled substance to another individual must be received from DEA.
  • Licensed individual may dispose of controlled substances through EHRS. Call 215-898-4453 for information.
  • If controlled substances are found and the licensee is unknown, contact EHRS.

GAS CYLINDERS

  • Remove gas connections, replace cylinder caps, and return cylinders to suppliers.
  • If cylinders are non-returnable, please contact EHRS.

back to top

ANIMAL and HUMAN TISSUES

  • Separate tissue from liquid preservative. Liquid preservatives may be hazardous waste. Do not assume that preservatives may be flushed down drains. Contact EHRS for information.
  • If human tissue is recognizable contact Dwayne Hallman, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, 215-898-8054, to arrange for its disposal. Place other human tissue specimens in a biohazard waste bag per University infectious waste procedures.
  • Discard animal tissue by placing it in a biohazard waste bag per University infectious waste procedures.
  • If tissue was stored in a refrigerator or freezer - defrost, clean and disinfect the refrigerator and freezer when emptied.
  • Locate an appropriate person to take responsibility for retained samples.
  • If appropriate tissue disposal is uncertain, contact the University Biosafety Officer at 215-898-4453.

MICROORGANISMS and CULTURES

  • If the material cannot be decontaminated, contact the University Biosafety Officer at 215-898-4453.
  • Locate an appropriate person to take responsibility for retained samples.

back to top

MIXED HAZARDS

  • Occasionally it is necessary to dispose of materials that may contain more than one hazard. Contact EHRS at 215-898-4453 for information on the disposal of any combination of biohazardous materials, and chemicals and/or radioactive materials.

back to top

 

SHARPS

  • Dispose of infectious waste sharps: Autoclave sharps container and discard in 55 gallon infectious waste drums.Infectious waste sharps include: all needles and syringes; broken or unbroken glass and plastic ware that has contacted infectious agents or was used in animal or human patient care or treatment, including plastic pipettes and other used plasticware that is recognizable after autoclaving or made of plastic that shatters on breakage or is considered breakable by the investigator.
  • Chemical contaminated sharps: Segregate from other sharps into special containers and label "Chemical contaminated Sharps Waste-Do Not Autoclave" Discard without autoclaving in 55 gallon infectious waste drums.
  • If uncertain, contact the University Biosafety Officer at 215-898-4453.

back to top

RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS

back to top

EQUIPMENT

  • Clean and disinfect equipment as is appropriate before departing. especially equipment in which biohazardous material was used or stored. Alert EHRS and Facilities Management of exhaust or filtration equipment used with extremely hazardous substances or organisms.
  • If moving biological safety cabinets, decontaminate before moving and recertify before use in the new location.
  • Deface or cover hazard labels on equipment to be moved or discarded.
  • When discarding laboratory equipment: remove capacitors, transformers, mercury switches, mercury thermometers, radioactive sources, chemicals and biohazards before disposal.

Questions regarding these procedures should be directed to EHRS:

The Office of Environmental Health and Radiation Safety
3160 Chestnut Street, Suite 400
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6287
phone: 215-898-4453
email: ehrs@ehrs.upenn.edu

web site: www.ehrs.upenn.edu

back to top