Setup and Exit Safety Surveys for Laboratories
It is the responsibility of all laboratory directors, faculty members conducting laboratory research and principal investigators conducting such work to ensure that the appropriate units below receive advance notification when they (1) move into new laboratories, (2) move into different laboratories, (3) expand into new laboratory space, (4) leave the University, (5) cease laboratory research, or (6) change, initiate or cease their use of radioactive materials, or of hazardous materials, or of infectious agents within their laboratories. They will also be responsible for prompt notification of the appropriate director or department chair concerning any such changes and will provide the director or chair with copies of all correspondence taking place between them and the units concerned. Directors and chairs should send new faculty a copy of the University's safety requirements for accepting or transferring hazardous, radioactive or infectious materials well in advance of their moving to UK. Directors and chairs are responsible for developing their own internal procedures to ensure that labs are not vacated and left in an unsafe condition.
Hazardous Materials Management or Radiation Safety, or both, will schedule an inspection of the old and new areas in advance of the move. Labs being vacated will be inspected for contamination and any hazardous or radioactive waste will be removed; unneeded chemicals and radioactive materials will also be removed. New lab spaces will be inspected for compatibility with the intended research operations and any safety deficiencies will be identified. Failure to give advance notification of laboratory moves could result in delays in start up of new labs, additional cleanup and disposal costs at old labs (which may be passed on to the department), and legal actions against the University and/or lab directors, faculty members or principal investigators.
Radioactive Materials
Exiting existing labs and set up of new labs for radioactive materials use must be approved by the Radiation Safety office as specified in the UK Radiation Safety Manual. Authorized users of radioactive materials must contact the Radiation Safety office for an inspection one week before the anticipated move or closure date. Authorized users are responsible for correcting any problems identified during the inspection
Hazardous Materials
Lab directors, faculty members and principal investigators are responsible for (i) knowing the identity of and labeling all chemicals and other hazardous materials in areas under their control and (ii) cleaning areas where chemical contamination has occurred prior to leaving and turning the space over to someone else. Hazardous Materials Management can consult on the clean up process. Hazardous waste and any unneeded chemicals that are suitable for redistribution to other users will be picked up by Hazardous Materials Management before departure of the responsible individual. Unusable chemicals must be ticketed as hazardous waste
Infectious Agents
An inventory of infectious agents (i.e., cell cultures, parasites, microorganisms, vectors, etc.) must be submitted to the UK Biological Safety Officer two weeks in advance of the lab move or closure date. Lab directors, faculty members and principal investigators are responsible for appropriately disposing of infectious material and decontaminating their areas of responsibility prior to departure.