{"id":22138,"date":"2016-11-03T11:21:22","date_gmt":"2016-11-03T18:21:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/policies.wsu.edu\/prf\/?page_id=22138"},"modified":"2025-11-12T10:01:59","modified_gmt":"2025-11-12T18:01:59","slug":"sppm-4-30","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/policies.wsu.edu\/prf\/index\/manuals\/safety-policies-procedures-manual\/sppm-4-30\/","title":{"rendered":"4.30 Maintenance and Construction Activities in Laboratories"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading wsu-font-size--xxmedium\">Safety Policies and Procedures Manual<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Maintenance and Construction Activities in Laboratories<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wsu-row wsu-row--single\" >\r\n    \n<div class=\"wsu-column\"  style=\"\">\r\n\t\n\n<p><strong>SPPM 4.30<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>For more information contact:<\/strong><br>&nbsp; &nbsp;Facilities Services, Operations<br>&nbsp; &nbsp;509-335-9000<br>&nbsp; &nbsp;Environmental Health and Safety<br>&nbsp; &nbsp;509-335-3041<\/p>\n<hr>\n<h3>Overview<\/h3>\n<p>This section provides an overview of the operating procedures which Environmental Health and Safety (EH&amp;S) and Facilities Services, Operations have developed for maintenance and construction activities conducted in laboratory facilities.<\/p>\n<p>The purpose of these operating procedures is to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Protect maintenance and construction personnel from the chemical, biological, and radiological hazards found in laboratories.<br>&nbsp;<br>For radiological hazards, contact the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.rso.wsu.edu\/\">Radiation Safety Office<\/a> (RSO); telephone 509-335-8916.<\/li>\n<li>Protect laboratory personnel from the hazards associated with maintenance and construction activities.<\/li>\n<li>Protect research during construction or maintenance activities (e.g. utility interruptions).<\/li>\n<li>Promote safer and more efficient maintenance and construction activities in laboratories.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4>Procedures and Work Permit<\/h4>\n<p>Environmental Health and Safety provides the detailed procedures and a work permit form in the <a href=\"https:\/\/ehs.wsu.edu\/laboratory-safety-manual\/\">Laboratory Safety Manual<\/a>, which is the University&#8217;s general Chemical Hygiene Plan.<\/p>\n<p>The detailed procedures are titled Operating Procedures for Performance of Maintenance\/Construction Activities in Laboratory Facilities (see also <a href=\"#process\">Process<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p>The work permit form is titled Work Permit for Maintenance\/ Construction Activities in Laboratories and is referred to in this section as the <a href=\"#permit\">Work Permit<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3>Responsibilities<\/h3>\n<h4>Department Chair\/Director<\/h4>\n<p>The department chair or director is to ensure that the operating procedures are implemented.<\/p>\n<h4>Principal Investigator or Designee<\/h4>\n<p>The principal investigator (PI) or their designee:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Trains employees and students on the components of the Work Permit and operating procedures.<\/li>\n<li>Submits a work request to Facilities Services, Operations when maintenance and\/or constructions activities are to be performed by Facilities Services, Operations in a University laboratory.<br>&nbsp;<br>The PI or designee submits the work request through the <a href=\"http:\/\/myfacilities.wsu.edu\">myFacilities Event Notification System<\/a> or by contacting Facilities Services, Operations; telephone 509-335-9000.<br>&nbsp;<br><strong>Note:<\/strong> The requester must use the Internet Explorer browser version 5.0 or higher in order to submit project requests through this website.<\/li>\n<li>Clears and decontaminates the authorized work zone in the laboratory (see <a href=\"#definitions\">Definitions<\/a>).<br>&nbsp;<br>If an area cannot be decontaminated, the PI or designee is to contact EH&amp;S for recommendations and standard operating procedures.<\/li>\n<li>Completes the <a href=\"#permit\">Work Permit<\/a> form.<\/li>\n<li>Discusses and reviews the Work Permit with Facilities Services, Operations.<\/li>\n<li>Contacts Facilities Services, Operations if the department resumes research activities in an authorized work zone before the maintenance and\/or construction activities are completed.<br>&nbsp;<br><strong>Note:<\/strong> If the department resumes research activities in the authorized work zone before maintenance\/construction activities are completed, the PI or designee must clear and decontaminate the area and submit a new Work Permit to Facilities Services, Operations.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4>Facilities Services, Operations<\/h4>\n<p>Facilities Services, Operations:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Trains employees on the components of the Work Permit and operating procedures.<\/li>\n<li>Contacts the PI or designee before performing maintenance and\/or construction activities in a laboratory.<\/li>\n<li>Requests, reviews, and discusses the completed Work Permit with the PI or designee.<\/li>\n<li>Signs the completed Work Permit, if satisfied.<\/li>\n<li>Completes a CAUTION sign (see <a href=\"#sign\">Caution Sign<\/a>).<\/li>\n<li>Posts the signed Work Permit and the completed CAUTION sign at the entrance to the laboratory. See Step 4 under <a href=\"#primary\">Primary Steps<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Posts a description of the maintenance and\/or construction activity at <a href=\"http:\/\/myfacilities.wsu.edu\">myFacilities<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Conducts maintenance and construction activities.<\/li>\n<li>Informs the PI or designee if the maintenance\/construction activities will create additional hazards or require additional work and decontamination.<\/li>\n<li>Consults with the PI or designee to review the completed project to ensure that the work conforms to the PI&#8217;s specifications. Obtains a signature from the PI indicating that the project is completed as specified.<\/li>\n<li>Closes out the construction and maintenance activities (e.g., contacts PI or designee, removes signs, maintains files).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4>Employee or Student<\/h4>\n<p>The employee or student:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Knows and complies with the Operating Procedures for Performance of Maintenance\/Construction Activities in Laboratory Facilities.<br>&nbsp;<br>View the operating procedures document in the <a href=\"https:\/\/ehs.wsu.edu\/laboratory-safety-manual\/\">Laboratory Safety Manual<\/a>, Section III.E.<\/li>\n<li>Reviews and follows all laboratory signs, Work Permits, and CAUTION signs before entrance into laboratories. <\/li>\n<li>Contacts the PI or designee or Facilities Services, Operations if questions arise concerning construction and\/or maintenance activities conducted in a laboratory.<\/li>\n<li>Reports unsafe conditions to the PI, designee, faculty member, immediate supervisor, or EH&amp;S.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4>Environmental Health and Safety (EH&amp;S)<\/h4>\n<p>Environmental Health and Safety:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Provides detailed procedures and the Work Permit form in the <a href=\"https:\/\/ehs.wsu.edu\/laboratory-safety-manual\/\">Laboratory Safety Manual<\/a>, Section II Laboratory Facilities.<\/li>\n<li>Provides assistance to department chairs, directors, PIs, laboratory supervisors, and Facilities Services, Operations in the implementation of the Operating Procedures for Performance of Maintenance\/Construction Activities in Laboratory Facilities.<\/li>\n<li>Provides consultation to the PI or designee and Facilities Services, Operations concerning proper decontamination procedures and standard operating procedures.<\/li>\n<li>Periodically reviews work areas to ensure compliance with the operating procedures.<\/li>\n<li>Reviews and modifies the Operating Procedures for Performance of Maintenance\/Construction Activities in a Laboratory Facility.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><a name=\"process\">Process<\/a><\/h3>\n<h4>Request for Maintenance\/Construction<\/h4>\n<p>The PI or designee submits a work request for Facilities Services, Operations to perform maintenance and\/or construction in a University laboratory.<\/p>\n<p>The PI or designee submits the work request through the <a href=\"http:\/\/myfacilities.wsu.edu\">myFacilities Event Notification System<\/a> or by contacting Facilities Services, Operations; telephone 509-335-9000.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Note:<\/strong> The requester must use the Internet Explorer browser version 5.0 or higher in order to submit project requests through this website.<\/p>\n<p>See <a href=\"https:\/\/policies.wsu.edu\/prf\/index\/manuals\/business-policies-and-procedures-manual\/bppm-80-56\/\">UPPM 80.56<\/a> and Facilities Services, Operations for more information.<\/p>\n<h4><a name=\"primary\">Primary Steps<\/a><\/h4>\n<p>After Facilities Services, Operations receives the work request to perform maintenance and\/or construction in a laboratory, the following six primary steps must be completed.<\/p>\n<h5>Step 1<\/h5>\n<p>Facilities Services, Operations contacts the PI or designee before performing maintenance and\/or construction work activities.<\/p>\n<h5>Step 2<\/h5>\n<p>The PI or designee submits a completed Work Permit to Facilities Services, Operations and prepares the authorized work zone where the maintenance and\/or construction activities are to be conducted. For a definition see <a href=\"#wkzone\">Authorized Work Zone<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h6><a name=\"permit\">Work Permit<\/a><\/h6>\n<p>The Work Permit For Maintenance\/Construction Activities in Laboratories is a tool used to assist in effective communication between the PI or designee, Facilities Services, Operations, EH&amp;S, and personnel entering the laboratory.<\/p>\n<p>Principal investigators or designees obtain and complete the Work Permit form from the <a href=\"https:\/\/ehs.wsu.edu\/laboratory-safety-manual\/\">Laboratory Safety Manual<\/a> Section III.E.<\/p>\n<h5>Step 3<\/h5>\n<p>Facilities Services, Operations discusses and reviews the completed Work Permit with the PI or designee.<\/p>\n<p>If Facilities Services, Operations&#8217; personnel are not satisfied with the safety conditions of the authorized work zone or laboratory, Facilities Services, Operations does not proceed with the work activities. The department may contact EH&amp;S for assistance with improving the safety conditions of the work zone or laboratory.<\/p>\n<h5>Step 4<\/h5>\n<p>When Facilities Services, Operations&#8217; personnel are satisfied, Facilities Services, Operations signs and posts the Work Permit at the laboratory entrance and prepares for work activity.<\/p>\n<h6><a name=\"sign\">Caution Sign<\/a><\/h6>\n<p>The caution sign is a tool used to display pertinent information about the construction and\/or maintenance activities being conducted in the laboratory.<\/p>\n<p>Facilities Services, Operations provides and completes the caution sign.<\/p>\n<h5>Step 5<\/h5>\n<p>Facilities Services, Operations conducts the work activity.<\/p>\n<h5>Step 6<\/h5>\n<p>Facilities Services, Operations performs closeout of work activity.<\/p>\n<h5>Detailed Procedures<\/h5>\n<p>Detailed procedures for each of the primary steps described above are included in the Operating Procedures for Performance of Maintenance\/ Construction Activities in Laboratory Facilities. Environmental Health and Safety provides this document in the <a href=\"https:\/\/ehs.wsu.edu\/laboratory-safety-manual\/\">Laboratory Safety Manual<\/a> Section III.E.<\/p>\n<h4>Assistance<\/h4>\n<h5>Facilities Services, Operations<\/h5>\n<p>For assistance, contact the Facilities Services, Operations representative identified on the work permit or the Facilities Services, Operations dispatcher; telephone 509-335-9000.<\/p>\n<h5>EH&amp;S<\/h5>\n<p>For assistance, contact the EH&amp;S representative identified on the work permit or the EH&amp;S office; telephone 509-335-3041.<\/p>\n<h3><a name=\"definitions\">Definitions<\/a><\/h3>\n<p>The following definitions apply to the operating procedures for maintenance and construction activities in laboratories:<\/p>\n<h4>Authorized Personnel<\/h4>\n<p>Authorized personnel are defined as employees specifically authorized by the PI or designee whose duties require the personnel to enter a laboratory where maintenance and\/or construction activities are being conducted.<\/p>\n<h4><a name=\"wkzone\">Authorized Work Zone<\/a><\/h4>\n<p>An authorized work zone is defined as the area, as identified by the principal investigator, where construction\/maintenance activities are conducted (e.g., building, room number, and location). The authorized work zone may be an entire laboratory or a portion of the laboratory.<\/p>\n<p>If a portion of a laboratory is designated as an authorized work zone, areas within the laboratory that are outside of the authorized work zone are off-limits to unauthorized personnel.<\/p>\n<h4>Decontamination<\/h4>\n<p>Decontamination is defined as the use of physical or chemical means on materials and surfaces to remove, inactivate, or destroy pathogens and\/or hazardous chemicals. Decontamination is used to ensure that the materials will not expose employees and students to biological or chemical concentrations above the regulatory requirements. See <a href=\"https:\/\/policies.wsu.edu\/prf\/index\/manuals\/safety-policies-procedures-manual\/sppm-2-44\/\">SPPM 2.44<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/policies.wsu.edu\/prf\/index\/manuals\/safety-policies-procedures-manual\/sppm-4-20\/\">4.20<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/policies.wsu.edu\/prf\/index\/manuals\/safety-policies-procedures-manual\/sppm-5-10\/\">5.10<\/a>, and EH&amp;S for more information.<\/p>\n<h4>Laboratory<\/h4>\n<p>Laboratory means:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>A workplace facility where relatively small quantities of hazardous chemicals are used on a non-production basis.\n<p>The laboratory activities involve research and quality control activities. The procedures discussed in this section do not apply to &#8220;dry&#8221; laboratories such as computer labs.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>A workplace facility where potentially biohazardous materials are stored or used.\n<p>For the current definition of <a href=\"https:\/\/biosafety.wsu.edu\/potentially-biohazardous-materials\/\">potentially biohazardous material<\/a>, see the Biosafety website.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>See also <a href=\"https:\/\/policies.wsu.edu\/prf\/index\/manuals\/safety-policies-procedures-manual\/sppm-2-44\/\">SPPM 2.44<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/policies.wsu.edu\/prf\/index\/manuals\/safety-policies-procedures-manual\/sppm-4-12\/\">4.12<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/policies.wsu.edu\/prf\/index\/manuals\/safety-policies-procedures-manual\/sppm-4-20\/\">4.20<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/policies.wsu.edu\/prf\/index\/manuals\/safety-policies-procedures-manual\/sppm-5-10\/\">5.10<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/ehs.wsu.edu\/\">EH&amp;S<\/a> for more information.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size: .8rem\">_______________________<br><strong>Revisions:<\/strong>&nbsp; Reviewed July 2013; Jan. 2013 (Rev. 97); Aug. 2008 (Rev. 76); Mar. 2004 &#8211; new policy (Rev. 52).<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\r\n\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Safety Policies and Procedures Manual Maintenance and Construction Activities in Laboratories<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1061,"featured_media":0,"parent":21864,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"wsuwp_university_location":[],"wsuwp_university_org":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/policies.wsu.edu\/prf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/22138"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/policies.wsu.edu\/prf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/policies.wsu.edu\/prf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/policies.wsu.edu\/prf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1061"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/policies.wsu.edu\/prf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22138"}],"version-history":[{"count":36,"href":"https:\/\/policies.wsu.edu\/prf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/22138\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":69069,"href":"https:\/\/policies.wsu.edu\/prf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/22138\/revisions\/69069"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/policies.wsu.edu\/prf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/21864"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/policies.wsu.edu\/prf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22138"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"wsuwp_university_location","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/policies.wsu.edu\/prf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wsuwp_university_location?post=22138"},{"taxonomy":"wsuwp_university_org","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/policies.wsu.edu\/prf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wsuwp_university_org?post=22138"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}