New laboratory

If you are setting up a new lab space at VCU, VCU Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) is an essential resource to help make sure that a lab is safe and complies with state and federal regulations and VCU policies. Prior to establishing a new lab, contact EHS (dohs@vcu.edu) and:

• Register your lab in SciShield.
• Complete the e-Builder form to designate a space that is adequately built to support your lab needs.
• Determine the staff members’ roles to assign them the appropriate required training(s).
• Determine the need for respiratory protection and/or medical clearances.
• Submit required documents to committees and programs for review and approval (Institutional Biosafety Committee, Radiation Safety Committee, Controlled Substances Program, Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, Institutional Review Board and Field Research Safety).
• Add appropriate door signs to identify hazardous materials handled and/or stored in the space.
• Make sure fume hoods and/or biological safety cabinets have been certified before use.
• Make sure required preventative safety and incident response items have been obtained prior to starting work (personal protective equipment (PPE), respiratory protection equipment, first aid kit and spill kit).
• Develop required and recommended standard operating procedures.

Lab relocation

 To relocate a lab to a new space at VCU:

• Designate a lab move coordinator to be the point of contact between the lab, EHS and VCU Facilities Management.
• Submit a hazardous space change request so EHS can make sure  the new space meets required safety standards and practices.
• Contact EHS (dohs@vcu.edu) before moving any hazardous chemicals, biological or radioactive materials, lasers, or x-ray-producing devices to discuss the appropriate method.

Lab renovation

To renovation a lab space, including the addition of specialized equipment that involves hazardous materials:

• Designate a lab renovation coordinator to be the point of contact between the lab, EHS and Facilities Management.
• Submit a hazardous materials use change request so EHS can review the requested change to make sure it meets required safety standards and practices.
• Contact EHS (dohs@vcu.edu) to discuss the appropriate methods for securing and storing hazardous materials during the renovation.

Lab closure

To close a lab, contact EHS (dohs@vcu.edu) as soon as possible for guidance and: 

• Submit a hazardous waste pick up request to dispose of chemicals that will not be utilized by another lab.
• Submit a radioactive waste pick up request to dispose of radioactive materials.
• Follow biological waste management procedures to dispose of biological waste. 
• Follow the Universal Waste Management Plan to dispose universal waste (i.e., batteries, lamps, pesticides and mercury-containing equipment).
• Properly decontaminate equipment that was used to handle or store any hazardous materials appropriate to the specific hazard. See the equipment clearance section to relocate or surplus equipment.

Equipment clearance

In order for some types of equipment to be moved to a new space or removed for surplus, lab personnel and responsible parties must first make sure that it has been decontaminated and is safe. The EHS Hazardous Waste Team inspects and clears all lab equipment that is sent to surplus or for lab moves (does not include office furniture or computers). Any equipment that has stored or been exposed to chemical, biological or radioactive hazards must first be decontaminated before relocation or disposal. Once the equipment has been decontaminated, follow the steps below to initiate a move or surplus removal:

1. Submit a service request via the Facilities Self Service (FSS).
2. Once you have submitted an FSS request, complete the Surplus Property Removal & Moving Services Request Form available on this page and email it to:
• The department's fixed asset custodian
• Surplus Property Management (jmware@vcu.edu)
• Occupational Health & Safety (OHS) (dohs@vcu.edu)
3. OHS will come to the location of the equipment and confirm it has been properly decontaminated. They will let Facilities Management know that the equipment has been cleared to move.
4. Facilities Management will contact the person who submitted the request to discuss next steps.

Principal investigators are responsible for making sure that all areas have been decontaminated by personnel using the appropriate PPE and protecting the health and safety of VCU students, staff and contractors. The procedure for proper decontamination and clearance of equipment can be found here.