The $250 Chemical Lab Cleanout: Lessons Learned April Case CHMM, CSP Environmental Health and Safety University of Tennessee.

The $250 Chemical Lab Cleanout:

Lessons Learned

April Case CHMM, CSPEnvironmental Health and Safety

University of Tennessee

Background Information

In 2008, EHS completed a massive Chemistry lab cleanout.

The professor was no longer conducting research.

Professor had been at UT since 1961 and was a chlorine and fluorine chemist.

Cylinders

There were a total of 160 cylinders.

The cylinders varied on condition, size and chemical.

There were a total of 99 different types of gases shipped.

Chlorine and Phosgene Cylinders

Cylinders Examples of the types of cylinder gases

disposed include:– Arsine– Phosphine– Hydrogen Chloride– Chlorine– Methyl fluoride– Dimethyamine; Ethylamine– Ethylene Oxide– Trimethylfluorosilane– Tungsten Hexafluoride– Sodium Hydride

Cylinders The total cylinder disposal

cost was approximately $60,000.00.

A high haz team specialized in working with cylinders stabilized several of the cylinders before they could be transported safely for disposal. This service cost $17,000.00

Chemicals Many of the chemicals

were at least 20 years old.

Some were frozen solid in the freezers and could not be identified.

Many of the chemicals were incompatible with each other and could not be shipped in the same waste container, resulting in dozens of 5 gallon containers and PIH boxes.

Chemicals

Some chemicals were leaking and had illegible labels.

Chemicals Examples of chemicals

disposed include:– Reactive Lithiums– Sodium metal; Calcium

Hydride– Types A-E Peroxides– Phosphorus Oxychloride

(PIH Zone B)– Bromine (PIH Zone A)– Cyanides– Hydrofluoric acid

Chemicals

The chemicals disposal cost was approximately $80,000.00

Paperwork

Paperwork for chemical waste

Paperwork for cylinders

Substance WeightDHS Limit

% of DHS Limits

Hydrofluoric acid 23 lbs. 45 lbs 51.11

Phosphine 4 lbs 15 lbs. 26.67

Boron Trifluoride 5 lbs 45 lbs 33.33

Arsine 3 lbs. 15 lbs. 20

Phosgene 3 lbs. 15 lbs. 20

Silicon Tetrafluoride 3 lbs. 15 lbs. 20

Hexafluoroacetone 6 lbs 45 lbs 13.33

DHS CFATS The volumes of several chemical types

were close to exceeding the campus DHS CFATS.

Costs for Cleanup

Removal and disposal of rad source $93,000

Chemical Waste Disposal………………...$157,000

Total Cost…………………..$250,000

Note – Entire campus spends approximately $150,000-$200,000 annually for hazardous waste disposal.

Other DHS Substances - At 6.67% of DHS Limit

Carbonyl Fluoride

Chlorine Trifluoride

Hydrogen Sulfide

Tungsten Hexafluoride

Radioactive Waste Disposal Disposal for one

cesium radioactive source cost $93,000.00 to dispose.

Lessons Learned

1. Having a complete, accurate chemical inventory is imperative! EHS is actively encouraging labs to maintain an up-to-date chemical inventory that is to be revised annually. This will force labs to dispose of old chemicals so they don’t have to be included on the inventory.

Lessons Learned

2. EHS is working with new professors to ensure they are trained on hazardous waste management and how to properly manage their excess chemicals.

3. EHS has developed a laboratory hazardous waste management checklist.

Lessons Learned

4. Lab Cleanout not performed at EHS recommended intervals will be funded from the lab owner’s respective department budget.

Lessons Learned5. Faculty, staff and paid students who are leaving a lab must complete a lab checkout form before they can receive their last paycheck. This requires EHS to look at all chemicals being left behind to ensure they are properly labeled.6. Training and education has received greater priority.

Lessons Learned7. You might be surprised by what you will find in old labs – perhaps even hidden away. When we perform lab inspections, we look at chemical storage areas and make suggestions in the lab inspection report that old chemicals need disposed. Chemicals deemed unsafe or potentially unstable are dealt with immediately.

Lessons Learned

8. EHS provides several opportunities for people to dispose of hazardous waste (EHS picks up, collection events, set waste room hours). We try to make waste disposal as painless as possible.

Summary

In 2008, EHS completed a massive cleanout of a Chemistry lab, which was the largest lab cleanout in the University’s history.

EHS is being more proactive in dealing with ways to prevent this from happening in the future and to ensure people continuously cleanout chemicals in their labs.

Contact Information

[email protected]