Spotlight: Lab Decommissioning
Most people are aware that construction poses many hazardous conditions regardless of the type of project. One type of project that has variable safety and environmental concerns is renovation of existing laboratory spaces for new or transferred faculty. These renovation projects are iterative in that faculty move from one space to another triggering a host of issues for both the new and old spaces. This being the case, Harvard University, as the Owner, has an obligation to provide a safe working environment for the renovation contractors, many of whom are unfamiliar with the risks posed to them by conditions of an existing laboratory.
As part of the Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology project to be located in the Sherman Fairchild Building, there have been many enabling projects taking place in the Biology Building, Northwest Laboratories and Bauer Laboratory. The Environmental, Health and Safety (EH&S) Construction Services Group, together with the FAS Division of Science have developed a protocol to ensure that contractors are provided a safe working environment as well as the information necessary to protect their employees and subcontractors.
The first step in this process is to ensure that Building Operations or its representative has conducted a laboratory cleanout process with the Principal Investigator. This cleanout process includes collection, removal and proper disposal of hazardous waste and controlled substances; cleanout of sharps and broken glassware; decontamination/wipedown of laboratory working surfaces; cleanout of darkrooms and photoprocessing equipment; decontamination and disinfection of any biologically impacted material, equipment and surfaces; and assessment, cleaning and decontamination of any radiologically impacted materials, equipment and surfaces.
Concurrently, the University will have a Hazardous Materials Survey performed with a copy provided to the contractor. This survey will identify all remaining hazardous materials such as asbestos, lead paint, fluorescent light bulbs, ballasts, CFCs, oils, etc. The University will provide containers for the collection of universal waste (fluorescent bulbs and light ballasts) by the contractor with handling and disposal conducted through EH&S. As part of the hazardous materials survey the contractor will be provided with a lead-based paint survey as applicable to the project’s scope of work. The contractor should conduct work that impacts painted surfaces in accordance with OSHA standards. Any remaining hazardous materials will be handled and disposed by the University.
Following the cleanout, the contractor, Building Operations and EH&S Construction Services Group shall inspect the space to ensure there are no apparent safety or environmental hazards remaining from the previous research operations. Once completed, the contractor (or the Owner) conducts make-safe activities to ensure that utilities such as gas, water and electricity are made safe prior to any construction/demolition activity. It is important to note that the contractor should not initiate any make-safe activity which may be affiliated with existing laboratory operations (plumbing traps, laboratory waste lines) without the proper training and safety precautions as there may be hazardous materials remaining from the prior operations. These systems should be handled and decontaminated by a hazardous material contractor. A similar approach is necessary for the decontamination of fume hoods where a specialized contractor is necessary to decontaminate the hood and its associated ductwork.
Subsequent to make-safe, the University will coordinate the necessary abatement of asbestos containing materials. These typically include transite panels in fume hoods, floor tile and mastic, pipe insulation and lab benches and drying racks.
The last step is to ensure that laboratory equipment to remain or removed by the contractor has been appropriately decommissioned. The decommissioning, to be performed by the University, shall include purging and properly disposing of any remaining hazardous materials or gasses from the supply and drain lines of the identified equipment.
