Laboratory Equipment Disposal

Before disposing of or transferring laboratory equipment, it must be thoroughly cleaned and decontaminated to ensure it is free of any potential hazards, such as chemical residues, biological contamination, radioactive materials, or sharp objects. It is the responsibility of the laboratory to follow the appropriate procedures to eliminate these hazards.

Cleaning and Decontamination Procedures:

1. Chemical Residues: Use appropriate solvents (e.g., acetone (100%), isopropyl alcohol (70-90%), ethanol (70-95%)) to clean equipment. Ensure proper ventilation and wear personal protective equipment (PPE), including gloves and goggles.
2. Biological Contamination: Disinfect with 10% bleach solution or another suitable disinfectant. Ensure all surfaces are thoroughly wiped down and allow sufficient contact time for deactivation of biological agents.
3. Radioactive Materials: Follow radiation safety protocols. Use appropriate decontamination methods for radioactive contamination, such as neutralizing agents specific to the type of isotope and consult with EHSLO for guidance.
4. Sharp Objects: Carefully inspect and remove any sharp objects (e.g., broken glass) from equipment. Dispose of them in designated sharps containers.

Submit the Laboratory Equipment Disposal/Transfer Form to EHSLO for review.
After the requestor has submitted the Laboratory Equipment Disposal/Transfer Form, our safety specialist will inspect the equipment to ensure that no hazardous materials are present and that it is safe to be handled by our contractor, Raki, for disposal and recycling.
Please note that Raki only comes out to the university once a month at the beginning of the month, typically within the first two weeks of the month. The Requestor's name and contact information will be shared with a Raki representative, who will schedule a date to pick up the equipment and ensure ease of access.