Dartmouth College
Environmental Health and Safety (EHS)
37 Dewey Field Road/ 646-1762
Fire or Medical Emergency 911
Clearance of Scientific Equipment
for Surplus, Repair or Disposal
In fairness to those who must move these items, we ask that you exercise care and good judgment by taking
the time to carefully survey and decontaminate equipment that may have been in
contact with potentially hazardous biological, chemical or radioactive materials.
A completed Procurement / EHS tag, Certification that Property is Free from Hazards
must be attached to each piece of equipment to be moved after it has been surveyed
and--if needed-- decontaminated. This responsibility rests with the owner/user(s)
of the equipment. No equipment is to be moved unless it has been properly, thoroughly
cleaned and certified.
General Considerations
Wear a lab coat, appropriate gloves and eye protection. Disconnect all electrically powered equipment before
cleaning or servicing. Tag all wastes with a properly completed EHS Waste Tag.
Drain and collect pump
oils or similar fluids for disposal by EHS. Remove replaceable batteries. In water
baths, incubators and other temperature regulated devices--remove and set aside
all mercury thermometers. EHS strongly encourages the minimization of mercury
and will accept all mercury and mercury thermometers for disposal--free of charge.
Potential
Biological Hazards
Examples include: Contact
with human blood and body fluids, primary human cell lines, crusty E. coli
deposits, etc. Prepare a fresh 1:10 solution of bleach and water, and then
thoroughly wipe down all exposed surfaces. Pre-clean soiled areas or deposits
with a warm detergent and water solution.
Potential
Chemical Hazards
Examples include: Ethidium
bromide residue spilled phenol/chloroform, salt deposits, etc. Prepare a mild
detergent and water solution, and then thoroughly wipe down all exposed surfaces.
Repeat or soak, as necessary. Do not use bleach or other corrosive-cleaning agents.
Special chemical hazards may require specific precautions--contact EHS first.
Potential
Radioactive Contamination
Survey internal and external
surfaces for removable contamination using swab tests. Use a decontamination
product like Count Off‚® Document your results in the radiation safety records
of your lab. All surface contamination must be < 220 dpm/ 100 cm2. For radioactive
iodine contamination, the limit is 20 dpm / 100 cm2. If you cannot reduce contamination
to below this level, please contact the Radiation Safety Officer.
9/02
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