University of Michigan- Dearborn
The Department of Environmental Health and Safety & Emergency Management
Biological and Laboratory Safety (BL&S) Decommissioning Criteria
If you are leaving the University of Michigan – Dearborn, or simply moving your laboratory to another
location, EHSEM is responsible for decommissioning the laboratory. EHSEM had developed criteria to
effectively implement this program, thus ensuring a safe working environment for everyone involved.
1. Before leaving the laboratory, specific safety measures must be taken while transferring
chemicals to another laboratory and/or disposing of chemicals which are no longer needed.
EHSEM should be contacted for specific chemical moving and disposal questions.
EHSEM strongly recommends disposing of all unwanted chemicals at least 14 days prior to
the actual move date.
2. Before leaving the laboratory all chemical storage areas should be completely clean. EHSEM
decommission inspection criteria includes wiping down all surfaces, emptying shelves, cabinets
and drawers. If non-fixed chemical storage equipment (corrosive cabinets, flammable liquid
storage cabinets, laboratory refrigerators and freezers, etc.) are relocated they must be
decontaminated prior to moving. See Laboratory Equipment Decontamination Form.
3. Before leaving a laboratory it is important to clean out all fume hoods. Please schedule current
fume hood research projects allowing adequate time to disassemble active chemical research
apparatus during the moving process. All research apparatus must be decontaminated prior to
moving.
4. All laboratory specific research apparatus should be correctly packaged and removed from the
laboratory prior to decommissioning. If non-laboratory personnel are involved with moving
research apparatus, the apparatus must be both chemically and biologically decontaminated.
5. All unnecessary compressed gas cylinders should be removed prior to leaving the laboratory.
Compressed gas cylinders must be properly secured and capped when they are transported.
Compressed gas cylinders must be transported with an approved cylinder cart.
6. All papers, rags, empty bottles, boxes, etc. should be properly disposed of prior to vacating the
laboratory.
If you have any questions regarding this memo, please contact EHSEM at 3-4314.