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

2. 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.

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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.

7. Chemicals  Some chemicals were leaking and had illegible labels.

8. 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

9. Chemicals  The chemicals disposal cost was approximately $80,000.00

10. Paperwork  Paperwork for chemical waste  Paperwork for cylinders

11. SubstanceWeight DHS Limit % of DHS Limits Hydrofluoric acid 23 lbs.45 lbs51.11 Phosphine4 lbs15 lbs.26.67 Boron Trifluoride5 lbs45 lbs33.33 Arsine3 lbs.15 lbs.20 Phosgene3 lbs.15 lbs.20 Silicon Tetrafluoride3 lbs.15 lbs.20 Hexafluoroacetone6 lbs45 lbs13.33 DHS CFATS  The volumes of several chemical types were close to exceeding the campus DHS CFATS.

12. 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.

13. Other DHS Substances - At 6.67% of DHS Limit Carbonyl Fluoride Chlorine Trifluoride Hydrogen Sulfide Tungsten Hexafluoride

14. Radioactive Waste Disposal  Disposal for one cesium radioactive source cost $93,000.00 to dispose.

15. 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.

16. 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.

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

18. Lessons Learned 5.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.

19. Lessons Learned 7. You might be surprised by what you willfind 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.

20. 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.

21. 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.

22. Contact Information  acase3@utk.edu acase3@utk.edu