UAMS ADMINISTRATIVE GUIDE

NUMBER: 11.4.11
DATE: 10/15/1996
REVISION: 10/11/2004, 9/1/2007

PURPOSE

This policy is to notify departments within the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) of the procedures to be followed to prevent hazardous chemicals from being left in areas that have been vacated for renovation purposes.

SCOPE

All UAMS employees, faculty and staff

PROCEDURE

(1)     The Vice Chancellor for Campus Operations and/or Office of Construction/Contract Management will notify the Department of Occupational Health and Safety whenever laboratory areas have been vacated and renovation is about to take place.

(2)     The Department of Occupational Health and Safety will inspect the designated areas to ensure that there are no hazardous chemicals remaining.

(3)     If such chemicals are found, the Department of Occupational Health and Safety will notify the appropriate Department Chairman of their existence.  The Department of Occupational Health and Safety will also notify the Vice Chancellor for Campus Operations who will delay the renovation until the chemicals have been cleared from the area.

(4)     If necessary, the Department of Occupational Health and Safety will assist the Department Chairman in arranging for the disposal of any excessive hazardous chemicals.  Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) hazardous waste regulations require the disposal of numerous chemicals only through permitted hazardous waste facilities.  Since the University does not possess an EPA permit to store hazardous waste, abandoned chemicals remain the property of the owning department until they are “lab packed” by an authorized hazardous waste contractor.  The owning department will be billed for all hazardous waste disposal costs.

SIGNATURE: ________________________________  DATE: _________________________